A Study on Nutrition Management of Dietitian for School Lunch Program in Seoul and Incheon Provinces

Kim, Gyoung Mi; Lee, Yoon Hee

Abstract

The purpose of this survey was to investigate the status of dietitians' nutrition management in school lunch program. Questionaries were distributed to 233 dietitians of elementary schools and 10 dietitians of high schools in Seoul and Incheon provinces. The statistical analysis of data was completed using SPSS program. The results were summarized as follows : 78.4% of Seoul and 48.6% of Incheon among the whole students were served their meals in the classrooms. 70.0% of dietitians were 30-39 years old and 31.4% had a career less 5-7 years old. The standardized recipe was used in 71.6% of total schools but not effectively in both provinces. The students' nutrition and preferences were the very first to be considered in menu planning in both provinces. The nutrient value of meals was evaluated by the dietitians in most schools. Nutrition surveys of the meals which students are eating at home were surveyed in 27.3% of Seoul and 53.2% of Incheon. Students' preferences were studied regularly in 65.4% of Seoul and 78.9% of Incheon, and students evaluations of meals were carried out by the school lunch program in 74.6% of Seoul, and 68.8% of Incheon. In 49.6% of Seoul and 53.2% of Incheon, leftover foods were measured for each meal. 38.5% of Seoul used per a week and 48.6% of Incheon used per 2-3 week the processed foodstuffs. In 17.2% of Seoul and 25.2% of Incheon, nutrition education was executed by direct education, but educational methods were done mostly by letterssent to students' parents(76.9% of Seoul and 85.3% of Incheon). Evaluation studies on nutrition management, and nutrition education were hardly correlated to the dietitian's career and educational level. The number of meals served by the school lunch program have no related with the students' preferences. For improvement of nutrition management of school lunch program, it is necessary to develop new nutrition management model and nutrition education program.