When asked what their favorite subject in school is, some students eagerly respond, “Lunch!” At YISS, part of the reason why students and teachers alike look forward to lunch is the effort that J&J Catering puts into making sure that the YISS community is provided with healthy and delicious meals made on-site daily. As part of J&J’s efforts to fine-tune their offerings and services, students and staff are asked to participate in a survey twice a year.

The most recent J&J survey was conducted in December, and there were a total of 259 responses collected. Middle schoolers made up 44.4% of the respondents, which was impressive given that they are the smallest portion of the YISS student body. This goes to show how important lunch is for our growing teenagers!

The majority of the survey participants purchase lunch at school five days a week, while a quarter of them purchase lunch three or four days a week. The survey indicated 61.2% were either satisfied or very satisfied with the choice of meals available and that the YISS community loves noodles and pasta. The five most popular dishes were:

• U-dong Noodles

• Macaroni & Cheese

• Jjajang Noodles

• Ham & Cheese Sandwiches

• Teriyaki Chicken

The griddle, which was a new addition to the YISS cafeteria last spring, has been popular with those who enjoy eating freshly made, piping hot food. For those who prefer a variety of side dishes, including kimchi, and for those who do not want to wait for food to be prepared on the griddle, the Guardian Set is a great choice. One of the things that survey respondents would like to see improved on the Guardian side is to make sure the food is served hot. Some also commented that they wished for fewer onions and bean sprouts to be included in the griddle dishes. This type of constructive feedback is important as it enables J&J to re-evaluate their menu and services in light of satisfaction.

Especially among the older students and staff, the daily salad bar has been a favorite for the variety of healthy fruits, pasta salads, and vegetables available. For the same group, the deli provides an alternative to the set meals, with the most popular offerings being kimbap, paninis, pizza, cookies, and ice cream. The survey served the additional purpose of informing the YISS community that J&J offers a boneless option for chicken and fish, a halal option, a less spicy option for spicy dishes, and additional portions at no charge.

At the end of the survey, most respondents took the opportunity to thank the J&J staff for their kindness and hard work. The students and staff are grateful to be able to learn and teach on full stomachs!