Understanding cadets’s evaluation of taste and wellbeing in one food menu from the Brazilian Air Force Academy through word association

A questionnaire was conducted in the field with the cadets of the Brazilian Air Force Academy, and its main objective was to verify their perception of the food provided by the military organization, in order to understand which kinds of food were considered positive and negative foods for wellbeing and their daily physical performance, and how the food supplied affects their routine in any aspect. The research was carried out with 130 participants, through a questionnaire of unstructured qualitative analysis and word association technique. Participants were approached shortly after lunch, inside the mess hall. The results showed that the majority of cadets classified as positive or negative foods in terms of taste and not for their nutritional value. The cadets have also correlated food to physical and mental wellbeing and affirmed that a good meal directly affects their routine.