Mississippi School Food Service Directors' Interest and Experience With Local Food Procurement and Farm to School Activities.

BACKGROUND.: The purpose of this study was to collect updated school food service purchasing practices from K-12 public school food service directors (SFSD) in Mississippi and to determine their current abilities, experiences, and desires to engage in Farm to School (F2S) activities. METHODS.: The online survey was created using questionnaire items from existing F2S surveys. The survey opened in October 2021 and closed in January 2022. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data. RESULTS.: Of the 173 SFSD sent email invitations, 122 (71%) completed the survey. The most common fresh fruit and vegetable purchasing practices included Department of Defense Fresh Program (65%) and produce vendor (64%). Forty-three percent of SFSD purchased at least one locally sourced fruit and 40% purchased at least one locally sourced vegetable, while 46% did not purchase any locally sourced foods. The most common challenges for purchasing from farmers included no relationship with farmers (50%) and food safety regulations (39%). Sixty-four percent of SFSD were interested in at least one F2S activity. CONCLUSIONS.: Most SFSD do not purchase local foods directly from farmers and almost half do not purchase any local foods regardless of source. Lack of connection with local farmers is a significant challenge to F2S. Recently proposed framework by USDA for shoring up the food supply chain and transforming the food system may help reduce or remove ongoing challenges to F2S participation.

Causal relationship among quality factors, emotional responses, and satisfaction of school food service in Henan province, China.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: School food service has played an important role in promoting the health and physical condition of students by providing students with a balanced and nutritious diet. Therefore, boosting the quality of school food service and improving the students' satisfaction is critical. For this purpose, this study examined the structural causal relationship among the quality of school food service factors, emotional responses, and satisfaction in China. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This study was conducted with 4th-6th-grade students from 6 junior high schools in Henan province of China, with 590 questionnaire responses (87.3%) collected and statistically analyzed. RESULTS: The school food service quality factors (including menu management, dietary education, facilities management, price and food distribution management, and personal hygiene during meals) must be enhanced to boost the students' satisfaction. In addition, the study used questionnaire survey data to validate the full mediation of students' emotional responses between school food service quality factors and student satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: Students' emotions also play an important role in influencing the quality of school food service, all of which affect the emotional responses of students. Therefore, students' positive emotions are an important indicator for improving the quality of school food service. A national support policy is necessary for the ongoing maintenance and development of various programs that drive students' satisfaction and promote the adoption of education guidelines for school food service in China.

Facilitators to healthy canteen policy implementation: A qualitative approach.

ISSUE ADDRESSED: Governments across the world use guidelines and policy to support improving the quality and nutrition in school canteens, yet little is known about what makes for success in supporting school canteens. This study aimed to investigate the factors influencing the implementation of a healthy school canteen policy. METHODS: A qualitative descriptive approach using interviews with a purposive sample of Victorian schools that had successfully implemented a healthy school canteen was conducted. Twelve interviews were conducted with principals (n = 4), assistant principal (n = 1), canteen managers (n = 5), food services manager (n = 1) and canteen staff members (n = 3) across six Victorian schools. Data were analysed using a content analysis approach. RESULTS: Three key themes explained the adoption of policy: Values - emphasising service over profit; Knowledge - understanding of nutrition and the policy; and Support - from within and external to the school. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of school canteen policy is more likely to be achieved when a school can focus on the service and educative component of the policy and where there is a shared priority for healthy eating across the entire school community. SO WHAT?: Creating a culture of service and community engagement with a healthy school canteen may increase policy implementation and should be the focus of future health promotion efforts.

Effectiveness of a Multistrategy Behavioral Intervention to Increase the Nutritional Quality of Primary School Students' Web-Based Canteen Lunch Orders (Click & Crunch): Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: School food outlets represent a key setting for public health nutrition intervention. The recent proliferation of web-based food ordering systems provides a unique opportunity to support healthy purchasing from schools. Embedding evidence-based choice architecture strategies within these routinely used systems provides the opportunity to impact the purchasing decisions of many users simultaneously and warrants investigation. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to assess the effectiveness of a multistrategy behavioral intervention implemented via a web-based school canteen lunch ordering system in reducing the energy, saturated fat, sugar, and sodium content of primary students' web-based lunch orders. METHODS: The study used a parallel-group, cohort, cluster randomized controlled trial design with 2207 students from 17 Australian primary schools. Schools with a web-based canteen lunch ordering system were randomly assigned to receive either a multistrategy behavioral intervention that included choice architecture strategies embedded in the web-based system (n=9 schools) or the standard web-based ordering system only (n=8 control schools). Automatically collected student purchasing data at baseline (term 2, 2018) and 12 months later (term 2, 2019) were used to assess trial outcomes. Primary trial outcomes included the mean energy (kJ), saturated fat (g), sugar (g), and sodium (mg) content of student lunch orders. Secondary outcomes included the proportion of all web-based lunch order items classified as everyday, occasional, and caution (based on the New South Wales Healthy School Canteen Strategy) and canteen revenue. RESULTS: From baseline to follow-up, the intervention lunch orders had significantly lower energy content (-69.4 kJ, 95% CI -119.6 to -19.1; P=.01) and saturated fat content (-0.6 g, 95% CI -0.9 to -0.4; P<.001) than the control lunch orders, but they did not have significantly lower sugar or sodium content. There was also a small significant between-group difference in the percentage of energy from saturated fat (-0.9%, 95% CI -1.4% to -0.5%; P<.001) but not in the percentage of energy from sugar (+1.1%, 95% CI 0.2% to 1.9%; P=.02). Relative to control schools, intervention schools had significantly greater odds of having everyday items purchased (odds ratio [OR] 1.7, 95% CI 1.5-2.0; P<.001), corresponding to a 9.8% increase in everyday items, and lower odds of having occasional items purchased (OR 0.7, 95% CI 0.6-0.8; P<.001), corresponding to a 7.7% decrease in occasional items); however, there was no change in the odds of having caution (least healthy) items purchased (OR 0.8, 95% CI 0.7-1.0; P=.05). Furthermore, there was no change in schools' revenue between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Given the evidence of small statistically significant improvements in the energy and saturated fat content, acceptability, and wide reach, this intervention has the potential to influence dietary choices at a population level, and further research is warranted to determine its impact when implemented at scale. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) ACTRN12618000855224; https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=375075. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): RR2-10.1136/bmjopen-2019-030538.

Feeding Children and Maintaining Food Service Operations during COVID-19: A Mixed Methods Investigation of Implementation and Financial Challenges.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs are critical for the health and food security of U.S. schoolchildren, but access to these programs was disrupted by COVID-19 pandemic-related school closures in spring 2020. While temporary policy changes to the programs enabled school food authorities (SFAs) to pivot towards distributing meals throughout their communities instead of within school buildings, SFAs faced complex challenges during COVID-19 with minimal external support. This mixed methods study investigates the implementation and financial challenges experienced by twelve of the largest urban SFAs in the U.S. during COVID-19. We conducted semi-structured interviews with SFA leaders and analyzed alongside quantitative financial data. We found that SFAs reconfigured their usual operations with nearly no preparation time while simultaneously trying to keep staff from contracting COVID-19, accommodate stakeholders with sometimes competing priorities, and remain financially solvent. Because student participation was much lower than during regular times, and revenue is tied to the number of meals served, SFAs saw drastic decreases in revenue even as they carried regular operating costs. For future crises, disaster preparedness plans that help SFAs better navigate the switch to financially viable community distribution methods are needed.

The Impact of State Farm to School Procurement Incentives on School Purchasing Decisions.

BACKGROUND: The most recent Farm to School (FTS) Census reported that of the 42% of US schools that participate in FTS, 77% procure food locally. In 2019, Colorado joined many other states in passing legislation that provides per-meal incentives for purchasing local foods. However, little is known about how these incentives impact procurement decisions of school Food Service Directors (FSDs), and purported benefits of FTS cannot accrue without additional local purchases by school FSDs. METHODS: We constructed a unique, primary dataset of fresh fruit and vegetable purchases from 18 months of school invoices in 3 Northern Colorado school districts and parameterized an optimization model that mimics FSD decisions. Subsequently, we simulated how procurement is impacted by local food reimbursements. RESULTS: Assuming 2017 and 2018 purchasing behavior, at $0.05 per meal reimbursement, FSDs would increase fresh fruit and vegetable purchasing by 11-12% in August-October, but by only 0-1% in November-December, likely due to seasonality constraints. CONCLUSIONS: While an increase in FTS procurement was expected, the magnitude of the potential increase when aligned with the Colorado growing season is notable. This work underscores that adequately funded reimbursement-based FTS policies can increase FTS procurement without disrupting normal cost-minimizing purchasing behavior.

Hiring Requirements and Qualifications of School Food Authority Directors Changed in Some Districts After Implementation of US Department of Agriculture Professional Standards.

BACKGROUND: In 2015, the US Department of Agriculture set minimum education and training requirements (ie, professional standards) to ensure that school nutrition professionals have the knowledge and experience to operate school meal programs. No study to date has examined whether hiring requirements and qualifications of school food authority (SFA) directors have changed since 2015. OBJECTIVE: To assess changes in hiring requirements and qualifications of SFA directors since the US Department of Agriculture professional standards were established, overall and by district size. DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis of nationally representative district-level data from the 2012 and 2016 cycles of the School Health Policies and Practices Study. PARTICIPANTS/SETTING: In 2012, 660 sampled districts completed the School Health Policies and Practices Study Nutrition Services questionnaire. In 2016, 599 sampled districts completed the questionnaire. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Hiring requirements for newly hired SFA directors and reported qualifications of SFA directors. STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED: Differences in prevalence estimates from 2012 to 2016 for all districts and by district size were assessed with χ2 tests. RESULTS: Significant increases were found for 3 hiring requirements: degree in nutrition or related field, registered dietitian credential, and food safety certification. Significant changes in 4 of the 5 reported qualifications were found including an increase in the percentage of district directors with a degree in nutrition or a related field and decreases in the percentage of directors with a School Nutrition Specialist credential from the School Nutrition Association, School Nutrition Association certifications, and certified dietary managers. Changes were found in small and medium districts, but not large districts. CONCLUSIONS: District hiring requirements and SFA director qualifications have changed since the implementation of the US Department of Agriculture professional standards, including some differences by district size. Future research could identify challenges facing districts in hiring directors who have a degree in nutrition or related fields or who have specialized nutrition credentials or certificates (eg, registered dietitians).

The Relationship between Written District Policies and School Practices among High-Need Districts in New York State.

BACKGROUND: This study tested the hypothesis that written district wellness policies are associated with higher rates of implementation of nutrition and physical activity practices. METHODS: Written wellness policies and building level practices were assessed for schools (N = 295) within high-need districts (N = 70) in New York State. The relationship between policies and practices was measured using multi-level mixed-effects logistic regressions. RESULTS: Overall, stronger written district policies significantly increase the likelihood of practice implementation in schools. This relationship is strongest for physical education and physical activity items, followed by nutrition standards for competitive foods in middle and high schools. Most elementary schools implemented nutrition practices with or without a policy and there were differences in implementation rates between elementary and middle/high schools. When examined separately, policies were for the most part not significantly associated with implementation of corresponding practices. CONCLUSIONS: Strong and comprehensive written policies are associated with higher rates of practice implementation overall, but the consistency of this relationship varies by policy-practice domain. The newer policy topics areas of school wellness promotion and marketing were less frequently included in written policies. Future research should examine whether districts that strengthen their written policies achieve greater implementation over time.

The perception of school food-service professionals on the implementation of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010: a mixed-methods study.

OBJECTIVE: To: (i) understand the nutrition attitudes, self-efficacy, knowledge and practices of school food-service personnel (SFP) in Nebraska and (ii) identify potential barriers that schools face in offering healthy school meals that meet the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) nutrition standards. DESIGN: Convergent parallel mixed-methods study. SETTING: Kindergarten-12th grade schools in Nebraska, USA.ParticipantsSFP (260 survey participants; fifteen focus group participants) working at schools that participate in the USDA National School Lunch Program. RESULTS: Mixed-methods themes identified include: (i) 'Mixed attitudes towards healthy meals', which captured a variety of conflicting positive and negative attitudes depending on the situation; (ii) 'Positive practices to promote healthy meals', which captured offering, serving and promotion practices; (iii) 'Mixed nutrition-related knowledge', which captured the variations in knowledge depending on the nutrition concept; and (iv) 'Complex barriers', which captured challenges with time, support and communication. CONCLUSIONS: The study produced relevant findings to address the barriers identified by SFP. Implementing multicomponent interventions and providing training to SFP may help reduce some of the identified barriers of SFP.

Use of a Model Wellness Policy May Not Increase the Strength and Comprehensiveness of Written School Wellness Policies.

BACKGROUND: Many state agencies have developed model wellness policies (MWPs) to serve as examples for schools when writing their own school wellness policy (SWP). The purpose of this study was to evaluate if a MWP aids schools in writing stronger, more comprehensive SWPs. METHODS: For this cross-sectional study, 91 school districts submitted their current SWP and completed a survey that classified districts into either districts that utilized the state MWP (N = 56; 61.5%) or those that did not (NMWP, N =35; 38.5%). The Wellness School Assessment Tool (WellSAT) was used to assess the strength, comprehensiveness, total overall score, and subsection scores of each policy. Dependent variables were compared between groups using t tests. Statistical significance was set at p ≤ .05. Data are presented as mean ±SD. RESULTS: No significant differences were found between groups in total overall (MWP 76.8 ± 37.9; NMWP 62.1 ± 34.3), strength (MWP 25.3 ± 17.6; NMWP 19.1 ± 12.8), or comprehensiveness scores (MWP 51.5 ± 21.2; NMWP 43.0 ± 22.1). The only subsection score difference identified between groups was the Nutrition Standards comprehension score (p = .02). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest MWPs may not improve the quality of written SWPs. Further research is needed to better understand the needs of school districts in SWP development.

Use of Community Readiness Model to Develop and Evaluate a Pilot Culinary Training Program for School Nutrition Staff.

OBJECTIVE: Use the Community Readiness Model (CRM) to develop and evaluate a contextually appropriate pilot culinary training program for school nutrition staff members. DESIGN: Mixed methods to guide intervention development. SETTINGS: Six school districts in rural and urban areas of a southwestern state. PARTICIPANTS: School nutrition staff (n = 36; female; <1 to >20 years' experience). INTERVENTION: Pre- and post-training assessments used the CRM. Findings from the pre-assessment were used to develop the pilot culinary training intervention. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Readiness to integrate new food preparation methods into existing practices. ANALYSIS: The researchers used t and Wilcoxon tests to compare overall readiness and dimension scores (P ≤ .05). Thematic analysis was used to identify themes from the discussion component of the assessments. RESULTS: Overall readiness increased from vague awareness to preparation (P = .02). Improved dimensions were knowledge of efforts (P = .004), leadership (P = .05), and knowledge of issues (P = .04). Themes included barriers, leadership, and motivation. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: The CRM was useful for developing and evaluating a contextually appropriate and effective culinary training program for school nutrition staff. Future efforts should address the provision of additional resources such as on-site chefs, small equipment grants, and engaging school stakeholders.

Effects of 12-week Vegetarian Diet on the Nutritional Status, Stress Status and Bowel Habits in Middle School Students and Teachers.

This study investigated the effect of switching normal diet to vegetarian diet rich in vegetables and fruits for school foodservice and home meal on the nutritional status, bowel habit improvement and stress reduction of teachers and adolescents. A total of 40 research subjects (26 students, 14 teachers) from one middle school voluntarily participated in the research. Questionnaire surveys and blood analysis were conducted before and after a 12-week vegetarian diet period. The participants were asked on their dietary habit, bowel habit and stress measurement. After 12 weeks, reduction of BMI (kg/m(2)) in the students (p < 0.05) and reduction of TC (mg/dL) in both teachers and students (p < 0.05) were observed. Also reduction of LDL-C (mg/dL) was observed in the teachers (p < 0.05) whereas serum calcium and Vitamin B12 was increased in the students and teachers (p < 0.005). The teacher's stress level was reduced (p < 0.05) after the 12-week vegetarian diet. As for the changes in bowel habit, the number of the students and teachers classified as experiencing functional constipation was decreased respectively from 10 to 7, from 7 to 5. Based on the result, it is considered that the vegetarian diet rich in fruits and vegetables improved general health status of study subjects suggesting that such a dietary habit would substantially contribute to improving nutritional status and bowel habit.

Effects of 12-week Vegetarian Diet on the Nutritional Status, Stress Status and Bowel Habits in Middle School Students and Teachers

This study investigated the effect of switching normal diet to vegetarian diet rich in vegetables and fruits for school foodservice and home meal on the nutritional status, bowel habit improvement and stress reduction of teachers and adolescents. A total of 40 research subjects (26 students, 14 teachers) from one middle school voluntarily participated in the research. Questionnaire surveys and blood analysis were conducted before and after a 12-week vegetarian diet period. The participants were asked on their dietary habit, bowel habit and stress measurement. After 12 weeks, reduction of BMI (kg/m2) in the students (p < 0.05) and reduction of TC (mg/dL) in both teachers and students (p < 0.05) were observed. Also reduction of LDL-C (mg/dL) was observed in the teachers (p < 0.05) whereas serum calcium and Vitamin B12 was increased in the students and teachers (p < 0.005). The teacher's stress level was reduced (p < 0.05) after the 12-week vegetarian diet. As for the changes in bowel habit, the number of the students and teachers classified as experiencing functional constipation was decreased respectively from 10 to 7, from 7 to 5. Based on the result, it is considered that the vegetarian diet rich in fruits and vegetables improved general health status of study subjects suggesting that such a dietary habit would substantially contribute to improving nutritional status and bowel habit.

Food Service Perspectives on National School Lunch Program Implementation.

OBJECTIVES: Explore barriers and facilitators to implementation of the new National School Lunch Program (NSLP) policy guidelines. METHODS: Interviews with eight food service directors using an interview guide informed by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. RESULTS: Food service personnel; parents, teachers, school staff; and students were important stakeholders. Characteristics of the new NSLP policy guidelines were reported to create increased demands; resources alleviated some barriers. Directors reported increased food and labor costs, food sourcing challenges, decreased student participation, and organizational constraints as barriers to implementation. Creativity in menu planning facilitated success. CONCLUSIONS: Factors within the food service department, characteristics of implementing individuals and the new NSLP policy guidelines, and stakeholder involvement in the implementation process relate to successful implementation.

A food service intervention improves whole grain access at lunch in rural elementary schools.

BACKGROUND: Whole grain (WG) options are often limited in schools, which may impact rural, low-income students who rely on school meals for a substantial portion of their food intake. This study examined the changes in the availability and quantity of WG and refined grain foods offered in schools participating in the Creating Healthy, Active and Nurturing Growing-up Environments (CHANGE) study, a randomized, controlled intervention among rural communities (4 intervention and 4 control). METHODS: Foods were assessed using production records, recipes, and nutrition labels from breakfast and lunch over 1 week during fall 2008 and spring 2009. Key informant interviews were conducted with school food service directors in the spring 2009. RESULTS: The CHANGE intervention schools significantly increased the average percent of school days WGs were offered (p = .047) and the amount of WGs offered/food item (ounces) at lunch compared with control schools (p = .02). There was a significant decrease in the percent of students with access to refined grains at lunch compared with control schools (p = .049), although there were no significant differences in WG availability during breakfast. CONCLUSIONS: The CHANGE schools improved WG availability, enabling student's WG consumption to be closer to national recommendations.

Prevalence of food allergy and perceptions on food allergen labeling in school foodservice among Korean students

PURPOSE: Prevalence of food allergy and perceptions on food allergen labeling in school foodservice among elementary, middle, and high school students were investigated in Korea. METHODS: A total of 1,000 elementary, middle, and high schools were selected in 16 cities and provinces of Korea and students attending the schools were surveyed using a questionnaire modified from the Korean International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire in July 2012. Responses from 27,679 students were used for data analysis. RESULTS: The ratio of the students who had experienced food allergy was 12.6%; 7.6% of the responding students had food allergy reactions last 12 months and 6.8% of the students had been diagnosed for food allergy by doctors. Eggs, milk, peach, and crabs were the most frequent allergenic foods for the elementary school 1st graders, 5th graders, middle, and high school students, respectively, who had experienced food allergy last 12 months. The students with food allergy read menus more frequently and were more interest in food allergen labeling in school foodservice than their counterparts. Both of the student groups with and without food allergy perceived food allergen labeling important for the students with food allergy and their parents. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of food allergy and major allergenic foods varied by school years. The Korean students had positive perception on allergic food labeling in school foodservice. An effective food allergen labeling system for school foodservice should be developed and implemented that reflects prevalence, symptoms, and food allergens among Korean students.

Dieticians' Perception of Nutrient Preservation Management Practices during Meal Production by School Food Service in Daegu Area

The purpose of this study was to explore nutrition teachers/dietitians' perception towards production management practices as well as the importance & performance of nutrient preservation during production by school foodservices. A total of 120 school nutrition teachers/dietitians in the Daegu area participated in this study. The data were analyzed by descriptive analysis, t-test, and ANOVA using SPSS/Windows (ver 17.0). A questionnaire consisted of three dimensions with 66 items concerning the general characteristics of schools and respondents, production management practices, and perceived importance and performance of nutrient preservation. Exactly 79.2& of dietitians responded that scheduling of production management is necessary, and 52.5% of respondents perceived that their knowledge for nutrient preservation is of normal/average level. Thirty-eight percent of respondents did not establish scheduling of production management; according to them, cooking stage has priority over other stages of nutrient preservation. Perceived importance score was higher than perceived performance score in all stages of production management. The difference between perceived importance and performance in the production scheduling stage was found to be statistically significant. The results indicate that nutrition control point should be established and managed to prevent nutrient loss in all production stages. Further, dietitians who do not take measures to reduce nutrient loss should be carefully educated on the importance of nutrient control and be motivated to follow guidelines on nutrient preservation.

Study on Job Satisfaction and Foodservice Management of Dieticians and Nutrition Teachers in Special Schools for the Disabled: Focused on Gyeonggi Area

This study examined students' menu preferences as well as the job satisfaction and specific considerations concerning foodservice operation of dieticians and nutrition teachers at special schools for the disabled. Semi-structured interview questionnaires were sent to all of the 21 special schools with direct school food service in Gyeonggi-do, and 16 dieticians and nutrition teachers agreed to participate in this study. Among the various menu groups, the subjects perceived the meat group as the most preferred and the vegetable group the least preferred. They were generally satisfactory with their job and duty, and had a strong sense of belonging to the school. However, most of them answered that they needed more time for nutritional education and counseling. While most had pride and pleasure in their job, they expressed a desire to change the system to better fit with their roles as professional nutritionists. The content analysis revealed that the subjects mainly focused on safety issues in planning the food menu and were thus limited in selecting menu items. They also felt difficulty in menu planning due to various tastes and preferences, since special schools tend to consist of a wider grade range. However, most subjects reported little trouble in food distribution and food leftovers owing to practical support from teachers and parents. The necessity for education concerning table manners and obesity prevention was generally a shared opinion, and education programs for parents were also perceived as necessary to better understand the special considerations for developing proper eating habits in their child. The study findings provide useful basic data to improve the foodservice system at special schools.

Satisfaction and Recognition Level of Environment-Friendly Agricultural Products in Cheongju Area / 대한지역사회영양학회지

The purpose of this study was to investigate basic data on the degree of parents' recognition and satisfaction with the use of environment-friendly agricultural products. The conclusions of this study are as follows. The survey on the use of environment-friendly products in households showed that 68.7% of the respondents used environment-friendly products at home. The frequency of purchasing organic products by household consumers showed that 25.1% of the respondents bought organic products one to two times per week. The most popular items of the environment-friendly agricultural products used were vegetables, comprising 63.9%. The households with more than 3,000,000 won of monthly income tended to consume more domestic livestock products (p < 0.05). In comparison to general agricultural products, environment-friendly agricultural products users showed higher satisfaction level with a better quality in term of safety, quality, nutrition, taste, appearance, diversity and price. The degree of satisfaction with safety was the highest (3.8 +/- 0.68), and price showed the lowest (2.76 +/- 0.79). The degree of parents' recognition of the governmental support for environment-friendly agricultural products showed that those who were aware of the supporting policy were 44.5%, but 55.5% of them didn't know about the fact that 46.6% of the respondents agreed that environment-friendly agricultural products should be used in more than 50% of the foods used for school food service. The respondents pointed out that vegetables (45%) sprayed with pesticide are the most urgent food item that need to be replaced by environment-friendly farm products.

School Food Service Satisfaction and Menu Preferences of High School Students: Focused on Iksan, Cheonbuk / 대한지역사회영양학회지

The purpose of this study was to investigate school food service satisfaction and menu preferences of high school students in Iksan, Cheonbuk area. Self-administered questionnaires were completed by 692 high school students. Data was analyzed by SPSS 11.5 statistical software. Significant differences between genders were tested by the chi-square-test or t-test. The mean satisfaction score with school food service were 2.8 points out of 5 points. The satisfaction scores for menu (2.8 points) and food temperature (3.1 points) were low, but satisfaction with hygiene and facilities (2.7 points) and service (2.6 points) were lowest. The reason that high school students left food was 'the food taste is not good' (65.3%). The school food service areas needing improvement according to the subjects were food taste (39.3%), hygiene (24.3%). The mean score for menu preference was 3.7 points. The highest menu preference menu for the rice category was stir-fried rice (bokeumbap), for the soup was meat soup, for the kimchi was Korean cabbage kimchi. Based on the results we made the following suggestions: To increase the satisfaction with school food service, changes in the school food service policies are needed at the government and school levels. Efforts should be made to improve the taste of school food. The school food service menu should be improved by taking into account the preferences of the users. There is also a need for the development of nutrition programs like nutrition consulting linking students and family, and nutrition camps that will encourage correct dietary habits.