Satisfaction of Middle School Lunch Program Participants and Non-Participants with the School Lunch Experience

Autor/inn/en	Smith, Stephanie; Cunningham-Sabo, Leslie; Auld, Garry
Titel	Satisfaction of Middle School Lunch Program Participants and Non-Participants with the School Lunch Experience
Quelle	In: Journal of Child Nutrition & Management, 39 (2015) 2 PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1559-5676
Schlagwörter	Lunch Programs; Student Surveys; Middle School Students; Statistical Analysis; Gender Differences; Age Differences; Institutional Characteristics; Attitude Measures; Aesthetics; Olfactory Perception; Grade 6; Grade 8; Preferences; Likert Scales; Colorado + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Mittagessen; Schülerbefragung; Middle school; Middle schools; Student; Students; Mittelschule; Mittelstufenschule; Schüler; Schülerin; Statistische Analyse; Geschlechterkonflikt; Age; Difference; Age difference; Altersunterschied; Ästhetik; School year 06; 6. Schuljahr; Schuljahr 06; School year 08; 8. Schuljahr; Schuljahr 08; Likert-Skala
Abstract	Purpose/Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine middle school students' satisfaction with the school lunch experience, using two validated surveys; the Middle/Junior High School Student Participation Survey and the Middle/Junior High School Student Non-Participation Survey, both developed by the National Food Service Management Institute (NFSMI). Methods: A convenience sample of students from three Northern Colorado middle schools participated in a cross-sectional survey administered during the lunch period. Those who ate lunch three or more days per week were asked to take the Participation Survey and those eating school lunch fewer than three days per week were asked to take the Non-Participation Survey. Descriptive statistics and Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficients were calculated. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine differences in survey factor means by participants' gender, grade level, and school. Results: Two hundred eighty-eight Participation Surveys and 185 Non-Participation Surveys were used for analyses. Participation Survey results demonstrated that students perceived aspects of the foods served such as visual appeal, aroma, and taste as needing improvement Sixth graders were more likely to agree than 8th graders that statements relating to food preference were reasons for eating school lunch (3.47 vs. 2.51, p<0.0001). Similarly, more than 50% of Non-Participation Survey respondents agreed or strongly agreed with 6 of 10 food quality statements. Applications to Child Nutrition Professionals: Responses from both surveys indicated there are opportunities to gain and retain more students in the lunch program by improving factors related to food quality such as flavor, aroma, visual appeal, and freshness of foods served. By using these two surveys, school nutrition professionals will have an opportunity to learn about their students' attitudes toward and satisfaction with the school lunch program. This will aid them in providing the best possible school lunch environment for their student customers with the most effective use of resources. (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	School Nutrition Association. 120 Waterfront Street Suite 300, National Harbor, MD 20745. Tel: 301-686-3100; Fax: 301-686-3115; e-mail: servicecenter@schoolnutrition.org; Web site: http://schoolnutrition.org
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2020/1/01