Alternate lunch patterns in high schools. III. Food acceptability.
Food acceptability was assessed in forty-eight high schools using alternate methods of menu planning for school lunches. The free-choice pattern resulted in a significant reduction of total plate waste, particularly in the vegetable and salad categories. Girls consistently wasted more food than did boys, regardless of menu pattern. Overall plate waste was 7 and 13 per cent of food service for boys and girls, respectively. The data suggest that a free-choice lunch may be effective in reducing plate waste, particularly for poorly consumed menu items.
D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences; D005522:Food Services / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008612:Menu Planning / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards; D009313:National Health Programs; D012574:Schools; D012737:Sex Factors; D014481:United States