Direct regulation of school lunch content seems an intuitive approach for improving the nutrition of many American children. However, little is known about substitution patterns in response to such efforts, particular the likelihood that children and parents will turn to competitive foods...

Policymakers and school district officials hope to reduce childhood obesity by improving the nutrition of school lunches. The Healthy, Hungry-Free Kids Act of 2010 requires that the calorie content of lunches served as part of the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) must fall within ranges that...