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School Food and Lifestyles Survey

As an initiative of the Cumberland County School Food Project (CCSFP) students of Oxford Regional High and Elementary Schools participated in a school food survey.  A written survey was administered to high school students.  Small focus groups were used at the elementary level to conduct oral surveys. The school survey was designed to assess the current eating habits and lifestyles of students at Oxford schools.  It also provided an opportunity for students to share input regarding current meals and snacks being offered at the school cafeteria.

 The following is a brief summary of the interesting data we were able to collect:

·        38.5% of all high school students surveyed claim they eat breakfast everyday and 18.1% of all high school students surveyed claim they never eat breakfast. 

·        All elementary school students surveyed in the focus groups claim they eat breakfast everyday.

·        48.5% of all high school students surveyed claim they have thrown away part or all of a lunch purchased at the school cafeteria and 56.3% claim they have thrown away part or all of a lunch packed from home.

·        53.3 % of all high school students surveyed did not know that the food they eat affects their concentration. 

·        50.2% of all high school students surveyed did not know that poor eating habits as a teenager may interrupt normal growth and development. 

·        70.0% of all high school students surveyed claim they eat lunch at the school cafeteria at least one day a week.  Pizza was found to be the favorite cafeteria food of students as well as the least favorite.

·        All elementary school students surveyed in focus groups claim they like most if not all of the food items offered at the school cafeteria.

·        66.9% of all high school students surveyed claim they did not know where the items offered at the school cafeteria come from. 

·        35.2% of all high school students surveyed would like to see locally produced/processed products offered at the school cafeteria, 4.4 % would not, and 56.3% have no opinion.

·        When asked what locally produced processed products high school students would like to see offered at the school cafeteria, the most common responses were blueberries, maple products, and fruits and vegetables.

These results are only a few of the many we were able to collect through the school food survey.  Student cafeteria meal suggestions from the survey are currently being used to guide taste-testing sessions. These sessions offer students the opportunity to sample locally produced/processed foods and have the final say in what new items will be introduced to the cafeteria menu.

Last modified: June 30, 2003