Dissertations and Theses @ UNI
Availability
Open Access Thesis
Keywords
Diet--United States; Diet; Nutrition; Restaurants--Employees; United States;
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the nutrition knowledge of wait staff in 24-hour, full menu/table service restaurants. Also explored was the relationship of sex, age, education level, average number of hours worked per week, total length of employment as a wait staff member, and personal dietary interest to knowledge of nutrition in wait staff. In the fall of 1990, 160 questionnaires were delivered to wait staff at eight 24-hour, full menu/table service restaurants in the Waterloo/Cedar Falls area. The instrument was designed to obtain data concerning nutrition knowledge, and elicit the selected demographic information. The information received by 76 (47.5%) respondents was analyzed using frequencies and percentages, of response. Means and standard deviations were calculated from cross tabulations of independent variables and total number correct. The majority of the respondents were female, aged 24 years or less, with a 12th-grade education level. The average number of correct responses to the 15 item nutrition questionnaire was 4 to 14. Those demographic variables which appeared to have some influence on knowledge include age, education level, average number of hours worked per week, and total time employed as a wait staff member. The relationship between personal dietary interest and nutrition knowledge can not be determined accurately from this study. It was concluded that the majority of information obtained from the survey shows wait staff to be knowledgeable enough to provide accurate information regarding fats, sodium, and low-fat/well-balanced meals. Areas in which wait staff might provide questionable information include calories, caffeine, cholesterol, fiber, and miscellaneous categories. On the basis of the results of this study, it is recommended that awareness and education programs be developed to increase nutrition knowledge among wait staff, and to aid in the development of restaurant nutrition programs.
Year of Submission
1990
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
School of Health, Physical Education, and Leisure Services
First Advisor
Jane E. Richards
Second Advisor
Larry D. Hensley
Third Advisor
Forrest Dolgener
Date Original
1990
Object Description
1 PDF file (76 leaves)
Copyright
©1990 Donna Jean Fischer
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Recommended Citation
Fischer, Donna Jean, "Nutrition Knowledge of Wait Staff in 24-Hour, Full Table Service Restaurants" (1990). Dissertations and Theses @ UNI. 1893.
https://scholarworks.uni.edu/etd/1893
Comments
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