Abstract
A survey on meal preferences from 693 middle school students was conducted with the objective to enhance the quality of the school food service in Gwangju and the Chollanamdo area. Data were collected by questionnaires and analysed with the SAS program. The most preferred rice was cooked rice; the most unusual meal preference was laver rice; and the most-liked bread was sweet red bean jam bun. The noodle of choice was Tchajangmyon, and the most-liked rice cake was reasoned bar rice cake. The highest ranted korean soups were boiled fish paste soup, kimchi stew, and short rib sour. The most preferred fried meal included fried beef with sweet and sour sauce, and favorite side-dishes were seasoning vinegar squid and kimchi. Yogurt and strawberry were the preferred desserts. A gender difference in preferred foods was seen. The males tended to favor rice with blackish bean sauce, dumpling soup, beef bean curd soup, beef soup, short rib soup, beef bone and tripe soup, hot shredded beef soup, chopped roast chicken, pork roast, roast meat, steamed pork short-ribs, fried port, fried ham, sausage, milk, and yogurt. Males were partial to staple foods and side dishes, The, females favored laver rice, seasoned bar rice cake, bean sprouts soup, fried squid ring, seasoned cucumber, seasoned bean sprouts, fried kimchi, fruits salad, corn salad and citrus fruits. Females tended to choose lighter meals. Meal preference according to residential area showed that, students in Gwangju had more preferences than students in the Chollanamdo area. Classified according to grades, third graders had the greatest meal preference.
