A study of public schools students' consumption of school buffet snacks

This study investigates the quality and quantity of school foodstuff available to the students. The survey was conducted utilizing questionnaire for collecting data. The samples were 490 students at the last grade of daily elementary school, junior high school, and high school in cities of Bojnord, Esfarayen and Shirvan selected randomly. The findings indicate that about half of the students (54%) purchase foodstuff once a day and around 20% never buy from the buffet. The majority of the people buying foodstuffs from the buffet (56.8%) have an average rate of purchasing. The number of students who buy rarely and limited stuff from the buffet (31.5%) was three times more than those who purchase frequently and various stuff (11.7%).In regard with the food being purchased most of the students (75.3%) prefer cakes. The students who buy juice and biscuits stand on the second and third rank (with 33.3 and 22.2% of the sample respectively). Another finding is that no significant correlation exists between students inclination for purchasing from school buffets and the independent variables including the city where the students study, gender, parents' jobs, and the pocket money. It was also found that the students' evaluation of the school buffet, their grade, important others (parents, teachers and friends) expectations and approval contribute to the students tendency for buying from school buffets.