Abstract

This study examines and finds differences in satisfaction regarding school lunch, explicitly focusing on the factors related to food, staff service, and the built-in environment. Survey responses from a middle school were analyzed using the partial proportional odds (PPO) logit model. The PPO model allows different slopes for the same variable at different dependent variable values. Several attributes were positively related to lunch satisfaction, implying that those attributes positively influenced lunch satisfaction. These attributes include taste, a large variety of menu items, proper cooking, friendly service, and sufficient eating time. Cooked well (or well done) is the strongest predictor of lunch satisfaction, followed by adequate eating time, friendly service, and a variety of items. Demographic factors also influence satisfaction with lunch. Females and non-Hispanic students tend to have neutral viewpoints, while males and Hispanic students possess non-neutral perspectives. A comprehensive study that applies Furst et al.’s model of food choice framework to estimate students’ perceptions and attitudes toward the food, service staff, and the dining environment is lacking in the literature. The asymmetric influence of the factors, which we find, has been ignored in the past.