Table 1 School food environment characteristics of participating COMPASS secondary schools (n = 78) at Wave 1 (2013/14) within three policy groups: Alberta (n = 9), Ontario – Public (n = 64), and Ontario – Private (n = 5)
Characteristic | Total n (%) | Alberta n (%) | Ontario – Public n (%) | Ontario – Private n (%) | p valuea |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Food outlets present within the school | |||||
 Cafeteria | 0.003 | ||||
  Not present | 5 (6.4) | 2 (22.2) | 1 (1.6) | 2 (40.0) |  |
  ≥ 1 present | 73 (93.6) | 7 (77.8) | 63 (98.4) | 3 (60.0) |  |
 Tuck shop | 0.036 | ||||
  Not present | 69 (88.5) | 7 (77.8) | 59 (92.2) | 3 (60.0) |  |
  ≥ 1 present | 9 (11.5) | 2 (22.2) | 5 (7.8) | 2 (40.0) |  |
 Beverage vending machines | 0.682 | ||||
  No machines present | 3 (3.8) | 0 (0.0) | 3 (4.7) | 0 (0.0) |  |
  1 machine present | 8 (10.3) | 1 (11.1) | 6 (9.4) | 1 (20.0) |  |
  2 machines present | 24 (30.8) | 3 (33.3) | 21 (32.8) | 0 (0.0) |  |
  ≥ 3 machines present | 43 (55.1) | 5 (55.6) | 34 (53.1) | 4 (80.0) |  |
Food outlets present within 1-km buffer of schools | |||||
 Restaurants | 0.398 | ||||
  Not present | 10 (12.8) | 0 (0.0) | 9 (14.1) | 1 (20.0) |  |
  ≥ 1 present | 68 (87.2) | 9 (100.0) | 55 (85.9) | 4 (80.0) |  |
 Variety stores | 0.086 | ||||
  Not present | 45 (57.7) | 8 (88.9) | 35 (54.7) | 2 (40.0) |  |
  1 present | 33 (42.3) | 1 (11.1) | 39 (45.3) | 3 (60.0) |  |
 Food stores | 0.204 | ||||
  Not present | 15 (19.2) | 0 (0.0) | 15 (23.4) | 0 (0.0) |  |
  ≥ 1 present | 63 (80.8) | 9 (100.0) | 49 (76.6) | 9 (100.0) |  |
Contents of beverage vending machines b | |||||
 Sugar-sweetened beverages | |||||
  Sugar-containing carbonated soft drinks (e.g., non-diet Coca-Cola, non-diet Sprite, etc.) | < 0.001 | ||||
   0 types drinks available | 64 (82.0) | 5 (55.6) | 59 (92.2) | 0 (0.0) |  |
   1 types drink available | 5 (6.4) | 0 (0.0) | 5 (7.8) | 0 (0.0) |  |
   2 types drinks available | 3 (3.9) | 1 (11.1) | 0 (0.0) | 2 (40.0) |  |
   ≥ 3 types drinks available | 6 (7.7) | 3 (33.3) | 0 (0.0) | 3 (60.0) |  |
 Sugar-containing non-carbonated soft drinks (e.g., non-diet lemonade, fruit drinks, iced tea, etc.) | < 0.001 | ||||
  0 types drinks available | 36 (46.1) | 0 (0.0) | 36 (56.2) | 0 (0.0) |  |
  1 types drink available | 3 (3.9) | 1 (11.1) | 1 (1.6) | 1 (20.0) |  |
  2 types drinks available | 11 (14.1) | 1 (11.1) | 9 (14.1) | 1 (20.0) |  |
  ≥ 3 types drinks available | 28 (35.9) | 7 (77.8) | 18 (28.1) | 3 (60.0) |  |
 Sugar-containing sports drinks (e.g., Gatorade, PowerAde, etc.) | < 0.001 | ||||
  0 types drinks available | 67 (85.9) | 3 (33.3) | 63 (98.4) | 1 (20.0) |  |
  1 types drink available | 3 (3.8) | 2 (22.2) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (20.0) |  |
  2 types drinks available | 2 (2.6) | 1 (11.2) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (20.0) |  |
  ≥ 3 types drinks available | 6 (7.7) | 3 (33.3) | 1 (1.6) | 2 (40.0) |  |
 Flavoured milk (e.g., strawberry, chocolate milk) | 0.625 | ||||
  0 types drinks available | 42 (53.8) | 6 (66.7) | 33 (51.6) | 3 (60.0) |  |
  1 types drink available | 9 (11.5) | 1 (11.1) | 8 (12.5) | 0 (0.0) |  |
  2 types drinks available | 3 (3.9) | 1 (11.1) | 2 (3.1) | 0 (0.0) |  |
  ≥ 3 types drinks available | 24 (30.8) | 1 (11.1) | 21 (32.8) | 2 (40.0) |  |
Non-sugar-sweetened beverages | |||||
 Diet carbonated soft drinks (e.g., Diet Coke, Coke Zero, Sprite Zero, etc.) | 0.244 | ||||
  0 types drinks available | 22 (28.2) | 3 (33.4) | 19 (29.7) | 0 (0.0) |  |
  1 types drink available | 8 (10.3) | 1 (11.1) | 5 (7.8) | 2 (40.0) |  |
  2 types drinks available | 8 (10.3) | 1 (11.1) | 6 (9.4) | 1 (20.0) |  |
  ≥ 3 types drinks available | 40 (51.2) | 4 (44.4) | 34 (53.1) | 2 (40.0) |  |
 Diet non-carbonated soft drinks (e.g., diet lemonade, Fresca, diet iced tea, etc.) | 0.285 | ||||
  0 types drinks available | 40 (51.3) | 6 (66.7) | 31 (48.5) | 3 (60.0) |  |
  1 types drink available | 11 (14.1) | 2 (22.2) | 7 (10.9) | 2 (40.0) |  |
  2 types drinks available | 10 (12.8) | 0 (0.0) | 10 (15.6) | 0 (0.0) |  |
  ≥ 3 types drinks available | 17 (21.8) | 1 (11.1) | 16 (25.0) | 0 (0.0) |  |
 Diet sports drinks (e.g., G2, Powerade Zero, etc.) | 0.126 | ||||
  0 types drinks available | 62 (79.5) | 6 (66.7) | 53 (82.8) | 3 (60.0) |  |
  1 types drink available | 4 (5.1) | 1 (11.1) | 2 (3.1) | 1 (20.0) |  |
  2 types drinks available | 4 (5.1) | 0 (0.0) | 3 (4.7) | 1 (20.0) |  |
  ≥ 3 types drinks available | 8 (10.3) | 2 (22.2) | 6 (9.4) | 0 (0.0) |  |
 Plain white milk | 0.851 | ||||
  0 types drinks available | 58 (74.4) | 8 (88.9) | 46 (71.9) | 4 (80.0) |  |
  1 types drink available | 4 (5.1) | 0 (0.0) | 4 (6.2) | 0 (0.0) |  |
  2 types drinks available | 10 (12.8) | 1 (11.1) | 9 (14.1) | 0 (0.0) |  |
  ≥ 3 types drinks available | 6 (7.7) | 0 (0.0) | 5 (7.8) | 1 (20.0) |  |
 100% fruit juice | 0.033 | ||||
  0 types drinks available | 11 (14.1) | 1 (11.2) | 9 (14.1) | 1 (20.0) |  |
  1 types drink available | 2 (2.6) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 2 (40.0) |  |
  2 types drinks available | 32 (41.0) | 4 (44.4) | 27 (42.2) | 1 (20.0) |  |
  ≥ 3 types drinks available | 33 (42.3) | 4 (44.4) | 28 (43.7) | 1 (20.0) |  |
 Water | 0.011 | ||||
  0 types drinks available | 21 (26.9) | 0 (0.0) | 21 (32.8) | 0 (0.0) |  |
  1 types drink available | 19 (24.4) | 4 (44.4) | 12 (18.7) | 3 (60.0) |  |
  2 types drinks available | 23 (29.5) | 5 (55.6) | 17 (26.6) | 1 (20.0) |  |
  ≥ 3 types drinks available | 15 (19.2) | 0 (0.0) | 14 (21.9) | 1 (20.0) |  |