Table 1.

Observations of the food environments of primary schools in Northern Ireland (n 18)

		Schools
School food environment observations		n	%
Canteen area	Welcoming eating area?
	Yes	6	33·3
	Scope to enhance	12	66·7
	Clean eating area?
	Yes	18	100·0
	Scope to enhance	0
	Adequate space and seating in eating area?
	Yes	15	83·3
	Scope to enhance	3	16·7
	Busy atmosphere in eating area?
	Yes	14	77·8
	No	4	22·2
	Ambient temperature in eating area?
	Yes	11	61·1
	Scope to enhance	7	38·9
	Ambient lighting in eating area?
	Yes	15	83·3
	Scope to enhance	3	16·7
	Pleasant smell in eating area?
	Yes	5	27·8
	No distinct smell	13	72·2
Canteen systems	Do pupils queue?
	Yes, all pupils	17	94·4
	Younger pupils are served, older pupils queue	1	5·6
	Reasonable queue time?
	Yes	17	94·4
	Scope for improvement	1	5·6
	Multiple serving points?
	Yes	8	44·4
	No	10	55·6
	Arranged seating?
	Yes, packed lunch and school meal pupils seated separately	15	83·3
	No	1	5·6
	Packed lunch pupils eat in separate room to dining area	2	11·1
	Sense of rush to eat?
	Yes	7	38·9
	No	11	61·1
Display and presentation of food	Daily menu displayed?
	Yes	7	38·9
	No	11	61·1
	Menu for term displayed?
	Yes	15	83·3
	No	3	16·7
	Foods labelled?
	Yes	0
	No	18	100·0
	Foods displayed?
	Yes	3	16·7
	No	15	83·3
	What is food served on?
	Segmented tray	17	94·4
	Plate	1	5·6
	Appealing food presentation?
	Yes	3	16·7
	Scope to enhance	15	83·3
	Choice of meal available?
	Yes	16	88·9
	No, set meal	2	11·1
Encouraging eating and promotion of nutrition messages	Teaching staff eating school meals in canteen?
	Yes	4	22·2
	No	14	77·8
	Monitoring/ encouraging pupil food intake?
	Yes	8	44·4
	No/ not clear	9	50·0)/ 1 (5·6)
	Healthy eating posters displayed?
	Yes	13	72·7
	No	5	27·8