Denise M Brown, PhD, RD, LD Project Coordinator Associate Professor Department of Nutrition and Food Systems The University of Southern Mississippi Hattiesburg, MS Leadership 2006: Preparing Our Children for the Future 2006 MASS/Alliance Winter Conference

Changing Beverage Vending Machine Choices in Schools Case Study Project Sponsorship by The Bower Foundation in coordination with the MDE Office of Healthy Schools

Study Objectives Introduce changes to beverages offered in vending machines at school Assess the financial impact on individual school profits

Study Objectives Identify approaches to encourage student choice of healthy beverages while maintaining profits to schools and beverage vendors

Desoto County Hernando Middle School Olive Branch High School Tishomingo County Tishomingo County High School Union County West Union Attendance Center Ingomar Attendance Center Bolivar County West Bolivar Junior High School West Bolivar High School Hinds County Raymond High School Utica Elementary Middle School Bolton Edwards Elementary Middle School Simpson County Mendenhall Junior High School Forrest County Hattiesburg High School Burger Middle School Pearl River County Picayune Junior High School Picayune Memorial High School Harrison County Gulfport High School Gulfport Central Middle School Bayou View Middle School Participating Schools

Initial Project Requirements Change Advertising on Beverage Machines – No advertisement for soft drinks – May include company name – School logo

Initial Project Requirements Change choices in vending machines – 50% of slots in vending machines Soft drinks or other fruit flavored drinks – 50% of slots Healthier Beverage Choices Water, 100% fruit juices, Sports Drinks

Initial Project Requirements Price Healthier Drinks 25% below soft drinks Collect and submit monthly financial data and drink sales data throughout School Year

School District Characteristics Enrollment – 350 in smallest school – 2000 in largest school – 12,000+ students in all participating schools Children receiving Free Meals ranging from: – 14% low – 100% high (including coastal counties after hurricane Katrina)

Lessons Learned Location of current vending machines – Power sources – Marketing strategies Size of Cans and or Bottles Pricing strategies – 25% lower for healthier choices – Price all beverages the same – Price based on ounces

Lessons Learned Choosing beverages to offer – Plain water – Flavored water – Sports Drinks – 100% Fruit drinks Potential profits – Smaller profit margins – Increase volume of sales

Project Timeline Site selection and initial visits August-September 2005 Changes to vending machines implemented as soon as possible Data collection August May/June 2006 Data analysis and reporting August 2006

Expected Study Outcomes Encourage children to select healthier beverages Compare School Year beverage sales to sales Determine financial impact of changing beverage choices

Expected Study Outcomes Determine student purchasing preferences for healthier beverages Identify approaches to recommend to superintendents and principals

The Ultimate Goal Help Children Make Lifelong Healthier Choices