The purpose of this study was to examine parents' perceptions towards, and the importance and performance levels of, foodservices in child-care centers and to suggest ways to increase foodservice quality and promote efficient operations in the future. A questionnaire survey was provided to 540 parents and the return rates 82%. The survey period was from June 20 to July 27,2007. The collected data were statistically analyzed with the SAS package program using descriptive statistical analysis, t-tests, ANOVA, Duncan's multiple comparisons, factor analysis, and multiple regression analysis. The results were as follows: The parents perceived that foodservice operations promoted their children's health and helped them form desirable dietary habits. The parents also had a high level of perception toward the need for foodservice, earning greater than 4.5 points out of 5 points. Their perceptions of foodservice quality were examined by four dimensions of importance and performance levels. While the parents gave 4 points or greater of 5 points to most quality attributes of importance level, they gave 4 points of less out of 5 points to most quality attributes of performance level. As for the importance and performance levels of the quality dimensions of meal service, the parents regarded sanitation as the most important dimension. IPA showed that 'organic food materials' was included as a 'focus here' area. The overall satisfaction level for foodservice was 3.59 out of 5 points. A higher level of satisfaction was shown when a dietitian was present as well as in public childcare centers. According to multiple regression analysis, 53.51% of the variance in the respondents' overall satisfaction scores was explained by factors such as food, sanitation, environment, and foodservice effects.

• 최은숙 | Choe, Eun-Sook
• 이영은 | Lee, Young-Eun