CHAPTER I

Introduction

The concept of choosing is difficult to define because

choosing or selecting means different things to different people.

The way one customer will experience a product or service is not

the same way another will experience it. Selecting can be

categorized in terms of various perspectives like judgement,

pricing, product, user, value or perspective. With the judgement

perspective, the selecting a product cannot be defined but one

can decide on it one if he or she sees it. Time is always been

emphasized as an important factor that influences food choices

for students.

Research on habits and information processing has

demonstrated that when behavior has become habitual and when

people are not motivated or cognitively involved enough (or are

too distracted) to engage in effortful reasoning and

deliberation, their decision-making will likely be powered by the

impulsive system. This implies that when people have well-

developed eating habits and is not very much involved in their

food choices (and as a result do not invest much time and effort

in thinking about their choices), the environment is likely to

determine their eating behavior to a large extent.1

1
Fréderike Mensink, Journal of Environmental and Public Health (2012)

1
 Whereas school cafeterias offer great potential to improve

students’ eating behavior. When taken into consideration that

most students tend to engage in impulsive decision making, when

it comes to their food, this implies that environmental cues can

also nudge them in the direction of more vigorous choices.

Statement of the Problem

Interestingly, the impact of the environment on people’s

food choices and eating behavior is dependent on the way in which

2
people make their food decisions. Specifically, decision-making

and choice behavior usually results from one of two distinct

cognitive processes: reflective or impulsive processes. When

decision-making is powered by the reflective system, people think

carefully and rationally and they usually act upon their

intentions. It is under these circumstances that environmental

cues can strongly affect people’s decisions and behavior. When we

apply these insights to the current topic of eating behavior, it

is to be expected that the environment strongly influences such

behavior when people make food choices via the impulsive system

(as opposed to the reflective system).

This paper will present if which food stall among the rest

is the most favorable or being patronized by college students

inside the school premises of Southville. It will also try to

prove a point by assessing the students’ own factors or standards

in choosing the food that they will eat. What this paper

generally aims to do is to know if which is being patronized the

most by the students, and to also determine their own standards

in food.2

Significance of the Study

This research will try to provide answers and information

about the food stall preferences of college students. The

2
Fréderike Mensink, Journal of Environmental and Public Health (2012)

3
selection procedure of food and eating is not a simple theory; it

consists of multiple aspects that require constructionist

thinking. Taste responses are influenced by a range of genetic,

physiological, and metabolic variables. Reactions to sensual

taste, smell and texture of food, are factors that helps to

understand the preference of the person for food, but this fact

alone is not enough to know the actual food intake of the person.

In fact, it is said that people who prefer the sweet taste, are

vulnerable to obesity more than their peers are. However, this is

over-simplified, because in fact there are many links between

tastes and preferences. In addition, we cannot forget that

personal differences play an active role in influencing the

choices and food selection.

This paper will prove a point to the students, future

researchers, and business stall owners inside school if what is

the winning stall for the college students. The researchers chose

to work on this because of the fact that they wanted to know the
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most profitable and productive stall.

Scope and Limitations

As pointed out, this study will try to present an analysis

of Food Preferences of Southville College Students. It will not

3
Sobal J, Bisogni CA, Constructing food choice decisions (2009)

4
generally focus on the food quality being sold, instead, it will

discuss about the standards and most favored food stalls. The

discussion about Food Stall preferences will mold the idea of the

people around the said school. It will try to have a clear and

concise study by doing a survey tests to prove a claim. Food

choice decisions are multi-componential and no specific theory

explains the factors that influence food choices and preferences,

but multiple perspectives, frameworks and theories are needed to

simplify the factors and interactions in food choices.4

Organization

This Research paper is mainly composed of four (4) chapters.

The first chapter tackles about introduction, statement of the

problem, significance of the study, and scope and limitations. It

4
Sobal J, Bisogni CA, Constructing food choice decisions (2009)

5
also provides the reader an overview about choosing, decision

making and eating habits.

The second chapter will discuss the studies that are related

to the topic such as the following: influential factors in

choosing a food, low-cost foods, labeling and signage (promotion)

of food in school campus, students spending most of their time at

school and what the students are considering upon purchasing

food.

The third chapter will tackle the survey results. Each and

every graph will be shown along with explanation per question so

that we will know the most preferred food stall of Southville

College students as well as to know what are their preferences,

and standards upon buying food inside school. Or if there are any

influences being involved upon buying.

Lastly, the fourth chapter of this study tackles about

Summary, Evaluation and Recommendation. It will give the total

analysis of the paper.

CHAPTER II

One of the most influential factors on the decisions of the

selection of food is the person's sense of hunger and desperate

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need of food. Other factors identified are the time that it takes

to prepare food, the availability of the food and the role of

parents in influencing the behavior of their children. In

addition, other factors plays visible and influential role on the

food choice behaviors such as cultural and religious background,

and other personal factors such as cost, body image and mood. The

media and person’s perception of the benefits of a particular

food product also influence food choices.

The work cited above has been determined to be related to the

study being undertaken since the researchers has limited

materials and knowledge about the said topics. The relation of

this article is to provide support or claims that there are

certain factors in selecting a food especially if the person is

suffering hunger, time management, influences, and availability

of food to be consumed.5

Based on the authors Birch and Fisher, human food demands are

similar but research proved that belonging to different ethnic

groups would influence people's food choices.6

The article of State Government of Victoria of 2016 stated

that the school canteen must ensure that they offer a selection

of low-cost items that can fill the hunger of the students and

ensure their vitamin needs. They must offer students products

5
Neumark-Sztainer D, Factors influencing food choices of adolescents (1999)
6
Leann L. Birch and Jennifer O. Fisher, 1998

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that they can buy with their small change or pocket money.

Promotion is the further development or growth of something.

Promotions can be simple and positive that is concerned only with

the health of the students. Then we consider a certain product,

we must also include the image of the canteen as a whole and not

just the item itself.7

The work cited has been determined to be related or helpful to

the topic being studied because it shows that filling the empty

stomach of students can be low-cost after all. With the right

promotional strategies and encouragement, it can boost their

sales.

Food items sold in and around the school during school

hours/recess play a special role in school life because it

provides refreshment and fulfills energy requirements of

students. Choosing food is influenced by peers and friends and is

enhanced by the environment where food is presented.8

The Food Marketing Group of 2010 had a study which states

that labeling and signage on school campuses affect students’

food selections at school. This is a problem because many of the

foods marketed in schools are of poor nutritional quality. A

national survey found that 67% of schools have advertising for

7
State Government of Victoria, 2016
8
The Healthy School Canteen Programme: A Promising Intervention to Make the School Food Environment
Healthier: Fréderike Mensink, Saskia Antoinette Schwinghammer, and Astrid Smeets

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foods that are high in fat and/or sugar.6 Such marketing

undermines parents’ efforts to keep their children healthy, which

is especially9 problematic when companies promote the consumption

of sugary, fatty foods while kids and youth are away from home

and parents are not there to guide their children’s food choices.

It also undermines nutrition education.

The work cited is related because it shows which among all the

factors is most effective, which can also be very helpful in

terms of boosting their market / sales.

According to Cartagena way back in 2014. Schools are the

best places in implementing solutions to the problems in

nutrition since the students, teenagers, and young adults spend

more time in school than being at home. This means they eat more

in school rather than at home. This statement shows how important

that the canteens must satisfy the students because it shows that
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they spend more time eating in school than at their own homes.

9
Food Marketing Group, 2010
10
Roland S. Cartagena, Are the foods and drinks in your school canteen healthy? (2014)

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 The work cited above states that students tend to spend more

time at school rather than at home, therefore, they eat more in

school.

According to the study of the researchers, Yumul,

Longga, Dimmal, Cariano, Sotto, and Pangilinan of Tarlac State

University, in the year 2014. Level of Students' Satisfaction in

TSU cafeteria Services recommended that good ambience,

cleanliness and taste of food are the main satisfactory condition

that students look for. The factor that most students are

dissatisfied with is the price.11

They recommended that the school canteen must understand the

situation of the students that they cannot afford the price of

their food on a regular basis and offer low priced foods to give

the students other options to buy.

The work of the students of Tarlac State University above is

related to this study because it tackles about what students

consider in purchasing school food.12

11
Yumul, Longga, Dimmal, Cariano, Sotto; Level of Students' Satisfaction in TSU cafeteria Services
12
Tarlac State University (2014)

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 CHAPTER III

This Chapter presents the Presentation, Analysis, and

Interpretation of the study that is based on the results of the

survey. It aims to determine A Study about Food Stall Preferences

of Southville International School and Colleges Students in

Tertiary level. The researchers have come up with the survey

which consists ten (10) questions to support the study with the

total of fifty (50) respondents. The researchers assumed that the

data presented analyzed and interpreted in this chapter is

accurate and correct.

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What kind of food do you usually eat whenever you are at
school?

20% 16%

64%

Packed food/lunch On the go Rice Meals

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 As of the results, majority of the correspondents consumes on

the go type of food whenever they are in school because students

tend to always be in a hurry that’s why this types of food are in

demand.

Do you buy food in school?

42%

56%

2%

Yes No Sometimes

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 According to the results, twenty-eight (28) correspondents

or 56% mostly buy food in whenever they are in school. It shows

that students do not bring packed food / lunch so that they can

have something to eat inside.

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 Do you have a certain amount of budget in selecting food?
9% 4%
9%

19%

58%

P30 P50 - P80 P80 - P100 P100 - P150 over P200

This shows that fifty-nine percent have an estimated budget

of P80 – P100 for their daily expenses of food inside the school.

With that certain range of budget, you can already purchase rice

meal or sandwich along with a drink.

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 Do you have your own standards in choosing food?

4; 8%

46; 92%

Yes No

Forty-six (46) respondents or 92% of the college students

admitted that they have their own standards. Standards in food is

normal because of the fact that each and every one of us has

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preferences, different taste buds, and different perspectives in

terms taste or value for money.

If yes (follow up from question above)

6%

47%

47%

Affordability Availability Flavors

In line with the previous statement, two standards are tied

at forty-seven percent (47%). Affordability and Flavors of food

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being sold inside the school premises is one of their standards.

It shows that students value money in terms of being picky of

what to eat.

How often do you purchase food inside the school? (In a week)
2%
10%

24%

64%

One to two Three to four Five to six Seven to eight

Thirty-two (32) college students or 64% buys food in school

once or twice daily. This shows that the correspondents purchase

food once or twice a day inside the school. Appetite cannot be

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controlled, that’s why students tend to eat whenever they feel

it.

Does your friends / schoolmates influence you in choosing food?

18%

50%

32%

Yes No Sometimes

This chart shows that twenty-five (25) participants or fifty

percent (50%) are being influenced by their friends / schoolmates

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in choosing their food. Influence is a big factor in food, it may

be because of experience or the taste preference of student.

Pick your most favored food stall.

10% 12%
4%

8%

26%
8%

8%

24%

Hen Lin Waffle Time Tender Juicy Shawarma

Hidden Chef Nachos and Quesadillas Takoyaki Churros
Subway Cafeteria Junk foods and Drinks Angels Pizza
Potato Corner

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 The pie chart below shows that the most favored food stall

of the thirteen (13) participants or twenty-six percent (26%)

inside the school is Waffle Time. Basically it is the crowd

favorite mainly because the price starts at 18 pesos and would

not reach 30 pesos per waffle. It also has different flavors and

types of hotdogs.

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 Pick your second best food stall.
12% 6%

2%
2%
4% 22%

8%

6%

6%
32%

Hen Lin Waffle Time Tender Juicy Shawarma

Hidden Chef Nachos and Quesadillas Takoyaki Churros
Subway Cafeteria Junk foods and Drinks Angels Pizza
Potato Corner

The pie chart above states that the second best food stall

of the sixteen (16) participants or thirty-two (32%) percent

inside the school is Tender Juicy. This stall are the students’

alternative on the go food because it sells hotdogs on stick or

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on bread. But the catch here is that Tender Juicy is pricey

unlike the crowd favorite’s Waffle Time.

Pick your third best food stall.

6%

12%
34%
4%

6%

2% 14%
4%
2%
12% 2%2%

Hen Lin Waffle Time Tender Juicy Shawarma

Hidden Chef Nachos and Quesadillas Takoyaki Churros
Subway Cafeteria Junk foods and Drinks Angels Pizza
Potato Corner

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 The pie chart below shows that the third best food stall of

the sixteen (17) participants or thirty-four (34%) percent inside

the school is Potato Corner. Even though this is only ranked at

3rd, it shows that French Fries will always be a favorite even if

the price is a bit expensive.

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