Purpose: Compare meal sources of Penn State students based on sociodemographics

23 responses out of 30 surveys 76.7% response rate 1 Freshman, 1 Sophomore, 11 Juniors, 6

Seniors, 2 Fifth-Year Seniors, 1 Graduate Student, and one non-response. 5 Students had meal plans.

Student Meal SourcesGroup #2Clayton Delancey, Lauren Downey, and Adam Folk

Statement & Scale = Not at all (1); 1-2 times a week (2); 3-4 times a week(3); 5-6 times a week (4); Every day(5)

Mean Freq. (n)

On a weekly basis, how often do you prepare your own meals?

3.27 22

On a weekly basis, how often do you eat at the dining commons on campus?

2.0 23

If you go grocery shopping, you are most likely to go to:

Freq. (n)

Wal-Mart 9

Weis 2

Giant 3

Wegman’s 4

Trader Joe’s 1*

McLanahan’s 1

Other 0*The single response of Trader Joe’s cited vegetarian and health selections as her biggest determining factor.

Findings:◦ As students progress through class standings, they

tend to prepare more of their own meals.◦ Wal-mart was the response of an overwhelming

majority as their grocery shopping destination.◦ Despite expected trends, few were actually observed.

Conclusion:◦ Students have a wide variety of meal sources, but as

they age, they tend to prepare more meals for themselves and depend less on the dining commons.

Recommendations:◦ This survey should be re-administered with more time

in order to achieve a larger sample size.