A Systems‐Focused Exploration of the Perspectives of School Nutrition Directors on Integrating Frozen Fruit Smoothies Into School Meals

INTRODUCTION: This qualitative study explored school nutrition directors' perspectives on the feasibility, alignment, and sustainability of integrating a frozen fruit smoothie program into the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). Directors were viewed as system-level actors who operate within interconnected organizational, policy, and environmental structures that shape program implementation. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with five school nutrition directors as part of the process evaluation of a pilot program titled HEALTHY (Helping Early Adolescents Live Their Healthiest Youth), which features smoothie tastings with integrated nutrition education. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed by three independent coders using inductive thematic analysis that considered patterns across individual, organizational, and policy systems. RESULTS: Nutrition directors described smoothies as feasible, aligned with NSLP requirements, and reported strong student preference: "Kids that might not eat whole fruit […], but maybe they'll drink the whole smoothie." They also identified system-level barriers related to staffing, equipment, funding, and time that limit the implementation of smoothies. Finally, directors described the importance of standardized recipes, tools, and external partnerships. CONCLUSION: Findings highlight frozen fruit smoothies as a promising systems-focused strategy to support fruit intake among adolescents. Insights will guide the development of a scalable implementation toolkit to support the sustainable integration of smoothies into the NSLP.