Abstract
Perceptions and concerns of parents about elementary school lunch service were investigated by questionnaires in March, 1998. Five hundred and ten parents were selected randomly from schools in the city area, the rural area or the islands in Incheon Metropolitan city. 95% of parents preferred the school lunch service because nutritious food was available to the children regardless of family income or mother's occupation. Meal cost per capita was in the range of 1,000 and 1,200 won, which satisfied most parents (74%). Moreover, many parents (68.8%) were willing to pay extra money to support the school lunch program and they actually had such experiences (82.4%). More than 90% of the respondents wanted to be adviced about the menu. Subjects chose nutrition and sanitation(25%), taste (18%), and meal size (16%) as aspects of improvement in school lunches. Parents wanted to participate in serving foods, cooking, and washing dishes once (23%) or twice (31%) a year and they considered this as a good opportunity to join the school activities. 98% of parents showed very positive responses to the nutritional education provided by the school dietitian.
