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- Title
Online Pre-Order Systems for School Lunches: Insights from a Cross-Sectional Study in Primary Schools.
- Authors
Alkhunain, Nahlah; Moore, Jennifer Bernadette; Ensaff, Hannah
- Abstract
Schools are increasingly using online pre-order systems for children to select school meals in advance. This study aimed to explore how children use and interact with these systems. Using a combination of direct observation and an online questionnaire, the operation of these systems in four UK primary schools was examined. This included how the menu options were displayed, how these were selected by children (4–11 years), and the interactions between children and others when making food selections. Where possible, most children pre-ordered their school lunch in the classroom, and differences in the food choice process among children were observed. These apparently related to children's ages; older children (8–11 years) showed more independence when making food selections, whereas younger children were often supported by others. Most parents reported that their child was the decision maker when pre-ordering the school lunch, and the role of children in the selection of school lunches was evident. This may be accentuated by the online pre-order systems, and given the likely expansion of these systems in schools, there is an opportunity to implement interventions to influence children towards specific or different meal options from the school menu.
- Subjects
ONLINE information services; FOOD habits; PARENT attitudes; SCHOOL health services; NUTRITION; CROSS-sectional method; AGE distribution; FOOD supply; FOOD preferences; QUESTIONNAIRES; MENU planning; INTERPERSONAL relations; DECISION making; DESCRIPTIVE statistics; ELEMENTARY schools; CHILD psychology; DATA analysis software; FOOD service
- Publication
Nutrients, 2022, Vol 14, Issue 5, pN.PAG
- ISSN
2072-6643
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.3390/nu14050951