The purpose of this research was to determine the nutrition knowledge level of
students in four-year hospitality programs in Texas, their attitudes toward nutrition
in general (general attitudes), and their attitudes toward the role of nutrition in
commercial foodservice (restaurant attitudes). Correlations between knowledge
and attitudes and differences based on gender, age, college classification, and
completion of a college nutrition course were also examined. Hospitality manage
ment majors in baccalaureate programs at three Texas universities completed 454
usable questionnaires. Although nutrition knowledge was not extensive, general and
restaurant nutrition attitudes were positive. Knowledge was influenced by all factors
except gender. General attitudes were influenced by gender, age, and college
classification. Only gender influenced restaurant attitudes. Knowledge was posi
tively correlated with favorable attitudes. Hospitality students should be taught
courses on nutrition knowledge throughout their curriculum, in order to incorporate
nutrition concepts into their body of knowledge.
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