Feeding Concept, Military Vs Civilian System

Four Navy sites were compared to four equivalent civilian sites with regard to feeding concepts as assessed by average foodservice cost, menu adequacy, and customer reactions on questionnaires. Customers rated food items in their own dining hall, the same items as served in commercial restaurants, the environment in their dining hall, and the environment in commercial restaurants. The Navy's average daily food cost was $3.46, while the equivalent civilian institutions averaged $3.73, Menu analysis indicated the variety of food offered at Navy sites was more than adequate and that Military Recommended Dietary Allowances for all nutrients except folacin were exceeded. Sailors rated their dining hall food and environment significantly higher than the civilian rated theirs, though some of these differences could be traced to difference in sample composition. Sailors rated their food and foodservice environments lower, however, than that offered by commercial restaurants, indicating room for further improvement.