Reimagining School Meals From a Systems Thinking Perspective: A Case Study of School Meal Supply Chain Collaboration in California

IF 2.3 3区医学 Q3 NUTRITION & DIETETICS

Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics Pub Date : 2026-08-12 DOI:10.1111/jhn.70332

Amy DeLisio, Shannan Young, Alyssa McClelland

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Introduction

Food policies and standards regulate school meal equity and quality, yet there is a complex system involved in translating and implementing these standards. To catalyze systems-level thinking in school meals, stakeholders across the supply chain were asked to collaborate in examining the role of dairy as representative of broader food system opportunities and challenges in California school meals.

Methods

This descriptive case study applied the What, So What, Now What reflective framework, 19 phone interviews of school nutrition directors and dairy processors, conducted from August to September 2024, logged current practices, infrastructures, supports and insights. Results informed an in-person convening of 40 supply chain stakeholders in January 2025. At the convening, three presentations, four themed small-group dialogues and a strategic planning session sought options for improving student wellness by modifying the school meal system.

Results

Interviews focused on the “what,” gathering facts about procurement, nutrition and policy compliance challenges. Convening dialogues focused on the “so what,” making meaning of the challenges and expanding knowledge on dairy innovation and the future of school meals from different perspectives across the supply chain. The strategic planning session (the “now what”) revealed opportunities that were shaped into actionable next steps emphasizing farm-to-cafeteria nutrition education, incorporating a wider cultural variety of dairy foods and activating local food system partnerships and professional development across the food supply chain.

Discussion

Collaboration and structured systems thinking identified next steps for dairy that support the supply chain from processors to foodservice professionals to student consumers. Using a systems thinking framework allowed stakeholders to understand the issues more objectively, consider different perspectives and identify actionable solutions. Outcomes also suggest supply chain collaboration can be a replicable blueprint for troubleshooting other institutional food systems.

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从系统思考的角度重新构想学校膳食：加州学校膳食供应链合作的案例研究。

食品政策和标准规范了学校供餐的公平性和质量，但在翻译和实施这些标准时涉及一个复杂的系统。为了促进对学校膳食的系统级思考，整个供应链的利益相关者被要求合作研究乳制品作为加州学校膳食中更广泛的食品系统机遇和挑战的代表的作用。方法：本描述性案例研究采用What， So What， Now What反思框架，于2024年8月至9月对19名学校营养主任和乳制品加工商进行了电话访谈，记录了目前的做法，基础设施，支持和见解。结果通知了在2025年1月亲自召集40个供应链利益相关者。在会议上，三场演讲、四场主题小组对话和战略规划会议寻求通过修改学校膳食制度来改善学生健康的方案。结果：访谈集中在“什么”上，收集有关采购、营养和政策合规挑战的事实。召开关于“那又怎样”的对话，从整个供应链的不同角度理解挑战的意义，并扩大有关乳制品创新和学校膳食未来的知识。战略规划会议（“现在是什么”）揭示了形成可操作的后续步骤的机会，强调从农场到自助餐厅的营养教育，纳入更广泛的乳制品文化多样性，并激活当地食品系统伙伴关系和整个食品供应链的专业发展。讨论：协作和结构化系统思维确定了乳制品支持供应链的下一步，从加工商到食品服务专业人员再到学生消费者。使用系统思维框架允许利益相关者更客观地理解问题，考虑不同的观点并确定可行的解决方案。结果还表明，供应链协作可以成为解决其他机构食品系统问题的可复制蓝图。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics 医学-营养学

CiteScore

5.30

自引率

15.20%

发文量

133

审稿时长

6-12 weeks

期刊介绍： Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics is an international peer-reviewed journal publishing papers in applied nutrition and dietetics. Papers are therefore welcomed on: - Clinical nutrition and the practice of therapeutic dietetics - Clinical and professional guidelines - Public health nutrition and nutritional epidemiology - Dietary surveys and dietary assessment methodology - Health promotion and intervention studies and their effectiveness - Obesity, weight control and body composition - Research on psychological determinants of healthy and unhealthy eating behaviour. Focus can for example be on attitudes, brain correlates of food reward processing, social influences, impulsivity, cognitive control, cognitive processes, dieting, psychological treatments. - Appetite, Food intake and nutritional status - Nutrigenomics and molecular nutrition - The journal does not publish animal research The journal is published in an online-only format. No printed issue of this title will be produced but authors will still be able to order offprints of their own articles.