• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.815-825
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• 2007

The study was designed to investigate food waste management practices and to identify factors affecting food waste generation at school food services. A total of 202 dietitians employed at elementary schools participated in the survey. The mean food waste weight per school was 77.54 kg, forty percent of the schools generated food waste of $50{\sim}100kg$ every day and 53% generated plate waste less than 50 kg. Three quarters of the dietitians perceived plate waste as a major component of the food waste and vegetable dishes were a major source of the plate waste. Half of the dietitians used a food waste pick-up service for waste disposal, which was the most preferred waste disposal method. Approximately 90% of the dietitians conducted education on plate waste reduction for students but their perceptions on the effectiveness of the education was inconsistent. The contents were environmental issues (70.3%) and unbalanced food choice (56.7%). According to factor analysis based on performance score, solid waste management practices were grouped into 'information collecting and education', 'supervision of production process', 'cooperation with related groups', and 'control over production planning'. Practices appertaining to 'cooperation with related groups', 'information collecting and education' factor need to be improved. Dietitians should pay attention to 'recycle and reuse of left over' practice. Waste generation differed significantly by dietitians' ages and working experience. In order to reduce plate waste, more effective education materials and methods need to be developed and support from principals, teachers, and parents is necessary.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.149-163
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of application of the draft nutritional standards for school lunches in the Republic of Korea (South Korea) from the supplier perspective. SUBJECTS/METHODS: In November 2018, a pilot operation was conducted at 104 participating schools for 2 weeks each by applying the draft standards A and B. To evaluate the ease and appropriateness of application of the standards, we analyzed the nutritional values and food cost of the school lunches for 2 weeks before and for 4 weeks under the pilot operation. We conducted an online survey of school dietitians or nutrition teachers of the participating schools to evaluate the feasibility of application of the standards in school lunch sites. RESULTS: The proportions of schools of which lunches met the reference values of the school's own nutritional standards were 19.2% for the standards A and 21.2% for the standards B. The food cost of school lunches applying the standards A (KRW 2,880) was significantly lower than that of school lunches applying the standards B (KRW 3,030) or the existing standards (KRW 2,980). As a result of the survey, the mean score for the ease of application was significantly higher for the standards B (2.75) than for the standards A (2.24). The proportions of school dietitians or nutrition teachers reporting no problem in meeting an existing food cost standard were 72.5% for the standards A and 61.8% for the standards B, respectively. The overall appropriateness of application was higher for the standards B, because almost two-thirds (58.8%) of the respondents answered that the standards B were more appropriate than the standards A. CONCLUSION: The standards B were more feasible to apply as nutritional standards for school lunches than the standards A from the supplier perspective.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.146-159
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• 2010

This study was conducted to determine the appropriateness of the indicators and items on teacher evaluations for professional development and to provide insight for their improvement. To accomplish this, the perception of the importance and performance frequency of 318 nutrition teachers regarding their roles inherent in the indicators and items were evaluated through a survey questionnaire based on a five-point Likert scale. The quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a paired t-test. In addition, the reflective analysis and constant comparison method were employed to analyze the responses to the open-ended questions asking problems in the indicators and items. The results revealed that the mean scores for the importance and performance frequency of most indicators and items were over four points, which implies that most indicators and items are appropriate for evaluating the job tasks of nutrition teachers. However, it was suggested that a few items be revised or removed for their improvement and appropriateness. This study concluded that nutrition teachers should have more chances to provide nutrition education for students to enable them to perform as teachers and not simply dietitians.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.1-18
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• 2018

Sustainable practices of school foodservices are gaining more attentions. The study aimed to investigate dietitians' performance levels of sustainable practices in school foodservice settings in Gyeonggi Provinces. Using a survey method was used, and data were collected from 358 participants (response rate 59.7%) to be analyzed using the SPSS program. The evaluation tool for sustainable practices of school foodservices consisted of four sections and 34 criteria with 100 points. Employment status of the respondents was as follows: nutrition teachers 40.9%, dietitians (permanent) 45.1%, and temporary position dietitians 13.2%. Dietitians' performance for sustainable practices marked 65.67 points out of 100 (performance rate 66%) and were in the following order by section: sustainable foodservice management criteria (69%), support activities (69%), planning and evaluation (68%), and outcome management (52%). Regarding sub-sections, criteria that acquired higher performance rates were labelling of food origin (99%), use of seasonal vegetables and fruits (98%), food waste management by contract dealer (98%), and planning for reducing of food waste and solid waste (91%). Meanwhile, criteria that showed the lowest scores were installing water conservation devices on equipment (19%), operating food donation programs for communities (21%), use of sensor lights for electricity conservation (24%), planning for annual energy conservation (40%), and implementation of education programs for foodservice workers on sustainable activities (42%). Performance scores differed according to school levels and working experience of dietitians, indicating that dietitians at elementary school foodservices or with work experience of 15 to 20 years showed higher performance than those at high schools or with less than 5 years of work experience (P<0.001, P<0.05). Based on the results, action plans for improvement were suggested.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.573-588
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• 2013

The objective of this study is to investigate various jobs and foodservice environments, as well as work performances of school foodservice dietitians and nutrition teachers in accordance to the years of service in Daejeon and Chungnam provinces. A survey was conducted among school foodservice dietitians and nutrition teachers; a total of 415 from selected elementary, middle and high schools in the areas. In this study, we surveyed the participants and analyzed the current state of general characteristics, status of their job environments and foodservice environments by frequency, and the averages and differences in work performance with regard to 12 work parts and 57 works using one-way ANOVA and Duncan's multiple range test according to the years of service. Six parts among 12 work parts were significantly different in work performance according to the years of service. The 6 work parts were menu (nutrition) management, utensil recovery and management, sanitation management, foodservice administration & evaluation, dietary habit guide, and other works. The 11-15 years group ranked as the top on the total score and means of work performance. While the 16-years or more group, 6-10 years group, and under 5 years group followed consecutively. Correlation analysis between job or foodservice environments and work performances showed that work performances of school dietitians were mostly influenced by employment status, education level, and annual salary among the variables of job or foodservice environments. Other works, dietary habit guides and menu management were mostly influenced by variables of job and foodservice environments.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.310-320
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• 2021

This study aimed to investigate the use of environmentally friendly agricultural products (EFAPs) in Chungcheongbuk-do and the perception and satisfaction of school dietitians with EFAPs. The study survey was conducted from April to Jun 2018. Among 195 dietitians, 54.4% were nutrition teachers and 51.3% were working in elementary schools. Of the participants, 65% answered that the percentage of EFAPS in the total food cost was 10~30%. The most used EFAP food group was grains (64.6%), followed by vegetables (26.2%). The main reasons for using EFAPs were subsidies for EFAPs from local governments (85.1%) and students' health (52.3%). The average daily subsidy for EFAPs from the local governments was 201~500 won at 45.1%, and 200 won or less at 34.9%, which was based on one meal per student. In questions on satisfaction with using EFAPs, satisfaction with safety (3.93 out of 5 points) scored the highest, followed by nutrition (3.74), freshness (3.70), appearance (3.32), diversity (2.85), and price (2.78). Therefore, to expand the use of EFAPs in school food service, it is necessary to expand the provision of subsidies and increase EFAP production diversification.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.369-381
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• 2013

The aim of this study was to investigate the perception of students, their parents, and nutrition teachers regarding environment-friendly foods (EFF) and the satisfaction with school meals at elementary schools. Questionnaires were sent to nutrition teachers at five elementary schools located in the Jindo area, Jeonnam province, and were distributed to students and their parents. A total of 351 questionnaires from students and 334 from parents were collected from March to April, 2013. In addition, 43 nutrition teachers/dietitians working at elementary schools in the Jindo area responded to questionnaires. Nutrition teachers primarily recognized the classification and certification standards of EFF, and verified the certification mark of EFF when they purchased foods. However, 13.4% of students and 38.6% of parents replied as 'know well' regarding the classification and certification standards of EFF and they verified the mark of EFF less often than the nutrition teachers (p<0.001). Most of the nutrition teachers and parents indicated 'safety' as the main advantage of EFF. The students and parents were satisfied with EFF at home and school meals because of the safety and favorable effect on health. The results showed that EFF compromised 20~40% of monthly food costs for 51.1% of nutrition teachers. The overall score for satisfaction with school meals for students was 3.88 based on a 5-point Likert scale; however, that of the parents was 3.72. The nutrition teachers realized that the parents were more interested in EFF and satisfied with EFF than the students. The major barriers to using EFF in school meals were 'lack of information about EFF' and 'unstable supply.' Therefore, the above results suggested that there should be improvement in the supply of EFF to include more EFF in school meals and efforts should be made to provide students and parents with more information for understanding EFF.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.107-118
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• 1998

A nutrition education program for teachers and caregivers of the preschool children can be most effective when it is based on a comprehensive needs assessment dealing with sociodemographic factors, dietary habits, and nutrition. The purpose of the present study was to investigate current dietary habits and nutrition knowledge of the teachers and caregivers of the day-care centers. Two hundred forty two teachers and caregivers were administered a questionnaire which was designed to ascertain informations on sociodemographic data, dietary habits and nutrition knowledge. Dietary habits of the teachers were found to be significantly different by sociodemographic variables; breakfast skipping/meal irregularities (age, p=0.011); frequency of snacking (education level p=0.031); preference for salty taste(age, p = 0.000, marital status p=0.038); preference for sweet tarte (age p=0.009); preference for vegetables (income level p=0.050); frequency of eating out (age p=0.028, marital status p=0.001); frequency of coffee drinking (age p=0.019). Daycare center teachers' nutrition knowledge level was found to be less than adequate expecially on nutrients that are liable to be deficient in young growing children and their food sources. Proportions of the teachers who answered correctly to the questions on foods rich in vitamin A, iron content of milk, bioavailability of calcium in plant foods were as low as 20.2%-54.5%. The most frequently used sources of nutrition information were mass media such as TV, radio, newspaper and magazines. Only 2.9% of the subjects reported that they obtain nutrition information from health professionals such as nutritionists/dietitians, physicians, and nurses. These findings are applicable at the planning and implementation stages of various nutrition programs for the improvement of dietary habits and nutrition knowledge of the teachers and caregivers of the daycare centers. Further studies are needed to investigate the effects of teachers' dietary of habits and nutrition knowledge on food habits of young growing children.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.229-242
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• 2008

This study examined foodservice management performance in child-care centers and suggests ways in which meal service quality can be improved. Questionnaires were distributed to 51 child-care facilities. The majority of respondents were facility directors (dietitians) and their facility type was tax-paid (92.2%). The dietitian response rate was 51.0%, and the majority (96.2%) were hired with co-management status, visiting a facility once a week (76.0%). Only 52.1% of the facilities had menu planning by a dietitian, and improvements were needed in terms of planning menus with standardized recipes, especially for infant meals. The monthly food cost per child was 47,394 won, and the labor cost for a co-management dietitian was 3,670 won per child, indicating 21.8% and 1.8% of the tuition fee, respectively. Other necessary improvements included: more reliable food purchasing management, securing additional foodservice equipment, and better sanitation management. In addition, respondents rated the following as requirements to ensure high quality meal service: 'modernized foodservice equipment and facilities', 'government financial support', and 'information on nutrition and foodservice management provided by dietitians'. Based on the study results, the following are recommendations for improving meal service quality in child-care centers: Dietitian placement should be extended to facilities of over 50-capacity in addition to their current placement in facilities of over 100-capacity, and co-management dietitians should have their control span restricted to two facilities instead of five. Finally, nationwide nutrition support plans and nutrition education programs should be developed and implemented by dietitians, and their roles should be extended to foodservice mangers as well as nutrition teachers.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.37 no.10
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• pp.928-937
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to investigate the elementary school teacher's status and recognition of nutrition education (NE) in Incheon. A cross-sectional study was carried out using a self-administered questionnaire and subjects were 147 elementary school teachers. The results are as follows. Only 9.5% of the teachers had training in NE and 71.4% of the teachers with training increased concern about NE after training. As for experience of NE, 61.6% of the teachers experienced NE and more than half of them gave NE less than twice per month. There was a significant difference in reason for not giving NE between subgroups by teaching career; 57.7% of the teachers with career more than 10 years did not give NE due to too much other work. As for existence of nutrition educator in school, 48.9% of the teachers recognized its existence and 91.3% of them answered that dietitians have done NE. For correction of unbalanced diet, good table manner, and nutrition and growth, 97.9% of the teachers answered that NE is necessary in elementary school. As for proper time to start NE, 57.5% of the teachers answered kindergarten and 39,7% answered lower grade of elementary school. As for effective type for NE, 47.3% of the teachers answered NE as a part of other subject and 28.1 % answered NE as a separate subject. Also 69.8% of the teachers answered dietitian as suitable person for NE. As for newly establishing a NE subject, 37.9% of the teachers disagreed and as for most effective method for NE, 73.3% answered NE linked with school lunch program. Most of teachers recognized elementary school students' eating habit problem severe and change of their eating habit such as various food choice, no plate waste and good table manner after school lunch program. Therefore, it should be nationally supported that a standardized NE program is developed and coordinated among teachers, school lunch dietitian as NE specialist, family and community for elementary students' health and well-being.