meal_appeal

Delivering Customer Service
Students at Silver Trail Middle School in Broward County, Florida created a
mural of fruits and vegetables along one wall of the cafeteria. It gave students
a learning experience, added color and design to the blank walls of the
cafeteria, and created interest in the salad bar.
Middle school students at Kingsbridge Middle School in Michigan routinely
help with decorating the cafeteria. They do this seasonally and get a sense of
ownership of the space.
Work with the
teachers, particularly
the art teachers, to
have students create
decorations.
If your school has a multipurpose room instead of a separate dining room,
concentrate on decorating your service line area. Develop a portable display to
place outside the line for students as they enter the multipurpose room. It is
a great place to showcase your menu items and create interest before the
students enter the food line area.
Ask for Feedback
Knowing what the students think about your school foodservice is important.
Techniques that can be used to find out include:
• Formal questionnaires and surveys
• Informal interviews
• Small group discussions
• Suggestion boxes
• Focus groups
•Taste parties
• Advisory groups
Small group discussions and focus groups can be very beneficial in getting
suggestions for improvement, along with help in making the changes.
If you or another member of your foodservice team circulates routinely
throughout the dining room during lunch period, you will get plenty of
opinions and suggestions. Employees can also receive feedback and identify
unhappy customers on the serving line, at the dish room window, or near the
disposal areas in the cafeteria.
It is very important to monitor customers’ acceptance of new menu items,
new brands of products, new recipes, and other changes. It is also good public
relations to let the customers know that the staff cares. You can use the
interview form on page 41 to assess customer opinions about your operation.
Now that you have evaluated the quality and appearance of your food and
dining area, considered your customer service, received some customer
input, and planned for necessary improvements, it is time to think about
creating excitement about the nutritious and appealing foods and meals
you have to offer.
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