Gerontology

Demography

Balance (ability)

Endocrinology

Developmental psychology

Anthropology

Environmental health

Psychology

Exploratory research

Physical therapy

Sociology

Energy expenditure

Medicine

Physical activity

Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior

Objective To examine the relationship between school lunch timing (before vs after recess) on physical activity (PA) during recess and energy balance and food intake at lunch. Methods A cross-sectional study design was used to examine lunch intake and PA during recess among fourth- and fifth-graders (n = 103) over 5 school days. Lunch and PA were measured using a weighted plate waste technique and accelerometry, respectively. Results Children who received lunch before recess accumulated lower residual energy (ie, energy intake at lunch minus energy expenditure during recess) and consumed a greater proportion of milk servings. No timing effects were observed for other lunch and PA variables. Conclusions and Implications Lunch intake and activity during recess are related to lunch timing policy. Findings warrant further examination using experimental and quasi-experimental studies to better understand the impact of timing on health behaviors.

School Lunch Timing and Children's Physical Activity During Recess: An Exploratory Study