{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,24]],"date-time":"2026-03-24T06:52:52Z","timestamp":1774335172466,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":41,"publisher":"Wiley","issue":"8","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,16]],"date-time":"2025-06-16T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1750032000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/termsAndConditions#vor"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["onlinelibrary.wiley.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Journal of School Health"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,8]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>ABSTRACT<\/jats:title><jats:sec><jats:title>Background<\/jats:title><jats:p>School meals were served free of charge to all public school students in the United States during the COVID\u201019 pandemic, but some students still did not participate.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title><jats:p>In this mixed\u2010methods study, surveys and interviews were conducted with food service directors (FSDs) from California (<jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic>\u2009=\u2009556 surveys; <jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic>\u2009=\u200929 interviews) and Maine (<jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic>\u2009=\u200943 surveys; <jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic>\u2009=\u200920 interviews) during spring 2022. Survey data was analyzed using multivariable logistic regression models, and interview data was analyzed using the immersion\/crystallization approach.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results<\/jats:title><jats:p>Students' preference to eat meals from home or elsewhere (81.5%) and negative perceptions of the school food's taste (67%) were the most common barriers reported. Schools' prior community eligibility provision (CEP) participation and smaller student enrollment were associated with fewer reported barriers. Inadequate time to eat lunch and stigma were also reported as barriers to participation.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Implications for School Health Policy, Practice, and Equity<\/jats:title><jats:p>Investments are needed to help schools partner with students to optimize school meal experiences and to improve food taste. Policies that provide school meals free of charge for all students can also help reduce negative social barriers such as stigma.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title><jats:p>Despite the provision of USM, barriers to participation remain. Policies to enhance meal quality and program implementation are needed.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1111\/josh.70019","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,17]],"date-time":"2025-06-17T02:15:39Z","timestamp":1750126539000},"page":"575-586","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Foodservice Directors' Perceived Barriers to Student Participation in School Meals When Meals Were Served Free of Charge During the 2021\u20132022 School Year"],"prefix":"10.1111","volume":"95","author":[{"given":"Deborah A.","family":"Olarte","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Nutrition and Food Studies, Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development New York University  New York New York USA"},{"name":"Department of Nutrition &amp; Public Health, School of Nursing and Health Science Merrimack College  North Andover Massachusetts USA"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Wendi","family":"Gosliner","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Nutrition Policy Institute University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resource  Oakland California USA"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3773-2996","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Leah E.","family":"Chapman","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Nutrition &amp; Public Health, School of Nursing and Health Science Merrimack College  North Andover Massachusetts USA"},{"name":"Center for Health Inclusion Research and Practice  North Andover Massachusetts USA"},{"name":"Harvard T.H. 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