Lay people's views of the school food supply

Abstract

PurposeThis article aims to examine lay‐persons' views of school food services in Victoria, Australia.Design/methodology/approachA cross‐sectional postal questionnaire survey of a random sample of electors on the Electoral Roll in Victoria, Australia. Out of 1,000 potential respondents, 377 completed the questionnaire. Main outcome measures included responses to closed questions about foods supplied to children at school using five‐point scales. Data analyses included frequency and cross‐tabulation analyses, and multivariate analyses of principal component scores by demographic and personal values variables.FindingsMany respondents were critical of children's school food services but they were generally supportive of food and health education, whilst holding ambivalent attitudes towards snacks and marketing practices.Research limitations/implicationsThis was a cross‐sectional survey with a relatively low response rate.Practical implicationsUnderstanding of laypersons' views of children's food services is likely to facilitate nutrition communication and promotion of healthy children's foods.Originality/valueLay views of children's food provision have rarely been reported, despite their importance for the support of public nutrition policies. The study identifies likely antecedents of lay people's views.