Nutritional knowledge of waiters and chefs in selected restaurants in the Birim Central Municipality

Abstract

Nutrition knowledge of waiters and chefs in restaurants is important for public health as number of meals consumers eat away from home is on the rise. The study aimed at assessing the nutritional knowledge of waiters and chefs in some selected restaurants in the Birim Central Municipality. Descriptive cross-sectional survey design was used for the study. The target population consisted of waiters, chefs and consumers of all the 50 licensed restaurants operating in Birim Central Municipality. Purposive sampling technique was used in selecting 169 waiters and 80 chefs from the various selected restaurants. Convenience sampling technique was used in selecting 278 customers. Questionnaire was developed to obtain the relevant information from the respondents. The study indicated the chefs and waiters at the various restaurants in Birim Central Municipality had knowledge on nutrition. The finding indicated that chefs and waiters perceived that good nutrition improves individual wellbeing, helps growth and manage a healthy weight, and increase an individual’s energy level. The study discovered that there was a significant difference (t= 6.832, df=169, p=0.000 [p<0.05]) between knowledge on nutrition and gender of chefs and waiters. However, the mean difference between chefs and waiters knowledge on nutrition in different age group shows no significant association value (F(df)=1.743, p=0.083>0.05). Also, a significant difference was found between the educational level of chefs and waiters on their knowledge of nutrition (F(df)=2.735 , P=0.005<0.01). The study concluded that the nutritional knowledge of chefs and waiters have effect on consumers patronage of the restaurant. It was recommended that the management of the restaurants should work together with the chefs and waiters to find innovative ways to improve chefs and waiter’s knowledge and attitude towards nutrition in order to convince the public on making healthful selections when eating out.