Factors affecting plate waste results

Menu item served

Focusing in on one group

item with
low popularity
A
A menu
menu item
with low
popularity being
being
served on the day of a plate waste
study may cause the plate waste to be
abnormally high.
A menu item with high popularity
being served on the day of the plate
waste study may cause the plate
waste
waste to
to be
be abnormally
abnormally low.
low.

Conducting a plate waste study on just

one
students (for
(for instance
one group
group of
of students
instance
only
may not
only kindergarteners)
kindergarteners) may
not show
show
the
the overall
overall acceptability
acceptability of
of the
the food
food for
for
all other students.

Quality of food

Student participation

Food
Food may
may not
not be
be cooked
cooked well,
well, held
held at
at
proper temperature, look appealing, or
taste
taste good.
good.

Students may choose to socialize.

enough time
Students
Students may
may not
not have
have enough
time to
to
finish
finish lunch.
lunch.

Ways to reduce
Utilize plate waste

participation
Assure foods
and non
Make food
are cooked
participation
appealing
adequately,
lunch
and create
held at
surveys to
menus with
proper
receive
foods that
temperature
feedback
, and
complement
about
each other.
seasoned
factors
correctly.
affecting
plate waste.

Ensure that
culturally
acceptable
foods are
being
offered.