Abstract
This study was performed to investigate the preference and perception on fruits especially, focusing on apples and pears served in elementary school lunch programs. The subjects of this study were 1,106 students (504 female and 595 male students)from seven elementary schools in Seoul. The survey was conducted by using self-administered questionnaire from July 10 to July 20, 2006. Based on the frequency analysis results, 45% of respondents ate fruits every day and 42% had fruits 2-3 times per week. Approximately, 53% of respondents indicated their usual time to eat fruits was after dinner and secondly 27% had fruits between lunch and dinner. Majority of respondents chose a watermelon as the most preferred fruits and the first chosen among nine fruits (apple, pear, madarin, strawberry, cherry tomato, watermelon, grape, melon, and peach). Cherry tomato was found as the least preferred fruits by 30% of students, however cherry tomato was most frequently offered fruits in elementary school lunch menu. About 50% students were satisfied with the served fruits in their school lunch program. In addition, most students said that they would have fruits more frequently in their lunch menu. However, one fifth of students addressed that they were not satisfied with the fruits in school lunch program because of kinds of fruits, freshness of fruits, taste of fruits, and quantity of fruits. Almost 71% of students preferred apples. Seventy three percents of students preferred eating apples without peel and 78% of students ate apples as slices of apples. In addition, 61% of students indicated their preference of apple salads. Many students responded they did not eat apples and pears frequently since they do not have a chance to eat them. The implications to increase the chance to eat fruits and promote elementary children's fruits consumption were discussed.