MATHEMATICS SCHOOL-BASED ASSESSMENT
A COMPARISON BETWEEN THE COST OF PREPARING FOOD AT HOME AND BUYING FOOD IN
THE SCHOOL’S CANTEEN FOR A WEEK
Candidates’ Names: Malea Bourne Broomes
Marlee Flowers
Analeigh Mauricette
Rick-Elle Menal
Candidates’ Numbers: 0104, 0279, 0503, 0511
Center Name: St.Joseph’s Convent
Center Code: 140002
Subject: Mathematics
Year of Examination: 2025
Teacher’s Name: Jewel St Cyr
Territory: St. Lucia
Table Of Contents
Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………..1
Method of Data Collection…………………………………………………………….2
Presentation and Analysis of Data……………………………………………….3
Discussion of Findings…………………………………………………………………16
Conclusion……………………………………………………................................17
INTRODUCTION:
Food is important for students to stay energized during their busy school days. With
classes, homework, and sports, having quick and satisfying meals is key.
There are two types of meals we’re considering for this study: meals prepared at home and
meals purchased from the school canteen. Students often choose between whether to make
their own lunch or buy one from the canteen. This choice depends on time, accessibility, and
especially cost. Many families need to budget carefully. We are trying to investigate whether
cooking at home, or purchasing canteen meals is generally less expensive.
This study will look at the costs of simple lunches made at home compared to those bought at
the canteen. Tables and bar graphs will be used to illustrate the outcomes of the research.This
school-based assessment comprises the following objectives:
Objectives:
1. To identify the ingredients used in selected homemade and school canteen meals by
listing their components.
2. To determine the cost of each ingredient by researching store prices (e.g., from Massy
Stores) and calculating the cost per serving.
3. To compare the total cost of homemade meals versus school canteen meals by
analyzing the price per serving of each option.
4. To present the findings using visual tools such as bar graphs, and tables for a clear
comparison.
5. To evaluate which option is more cost-effective.
(1)
METHOD OF DATA COLLECTION:
Data was collected through interviews and existing records. On January 30th, 2025, interviews
were held with canteen workers, Ms. Phillip, and Ms. Sadia at the Saint Joseph’s Convent
Secondary School to gather information about the cost of popular meals as well as the
ingredients used to make each meal.
The four most popular meals were chosen, namely;
1. Sausage Pizza
2. Burger Meal
3. Chicken and Fries
4. Bake and Cheese
Prices for the ingredients were obtained from the Massy Stores Supermarket Rodney Bay
website, accessible by the following link (see below) on February 8th, 2025. We found this
link using a google search of “Massy stores St Lucia”. This information was used to
compare the cost of making similar meals at home with the prices of meals from the
canteen.
Massy Stores Supermarket, Rodney Bay:
Massy Stores St. Lucia – Our Family Serving Your Family
(2)
PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA
TABLE SHOWING COST COMPARISON OF CANTEEN ITEMS AND WEEKLY MEAL COST
Canteen Item Cost Weekly meal cost
Sausage Pizza $6.00 $30.00
Burger meal $10.00 $50.00
Chicken and Fries $12.00 $60.00
Bake and Cheese $2.00 $10.00
● Calculations for the total weekly meal cost
Total weekly meal cost: Cost x Number of days in a school week
Total cost for Sausage Pizza: $6.00 x 5=$30.00
(One slice of pizza costs $3.00, but in our research most students indicated that they buy two pizza slices instead of one, hence the
cost of $6.00 for sausage pizza.)
Total cost of purchasing a Sausage Pizza for a week = $30.00
Total cost for Burger Meal: $10.00 x 5=$50.00
Total cost of purchasing a Burger meal for a week = $50.00
Total cost for Chicken and Fries: $12.00 x 5=$60.00
Total cost of purchasing Chicken and Fries for a week = $60.00
Total cost for Bake and Cheese: $2.00 x 5= $10.00
Total cost of purchasing Bake and Cheese for a week = $10.00
(3)
TABLE SHOWING INGREDIENTS OF SAUSAGE PIZZA, UNIT PRICES, NUMBER OF SERVINGS, AND THE COST
PER SERVING
Ingredient Unit Price Number of servings Cost per serving
Catelli Ketchup $6.49 8 $0.81
(750ml)
Sausage Perdue $7.95 6 $1.33
Chicken, Franks
(340g)
Anchor Cheddar $14.60 5 $3.65
Cheese
(250g)
Heinz Pizza Sauce $20.99 10 $2.10
(680g)
Viking $3.15 28 $0.11
Baking powder
(56g)
Saf Instant Dried $18.30 100 $0.18
yeast
(500g)
Glow spread
margarine $9.80 15 $0.65
(445g)
Valrico sea salt
(500g) $1.49 50 $0.03
● Calculations for cost per serving
Cost per serving= Unit Price ÷ Number of servings
Cost per serving for Catelli Ketchup:
$6.49 ÷ 8 = $0.81
Cost per serving for Sausage Perdue Chicken Franks:
$7.95 ÷ 6 = $1.33
Cost per serving for Anchor Cheddar Cheese:
$14.60 ÷ 4 = $3.65
(4)
Cost per serving for Heinz Pizza Sauce:
$20.99 ÷ 10 = $2.10
Cost per serving for Viking Baking Powder:
$3.15 ÷ 28 = $0.11
Cost per serving for Saf Instant Dried Yeast:
$18.30 ÷100 = $0.18
Cost per serving for Glow spread margarine:
$9.80÷15 = $0.65
Cost per serving for Valrico Sea Salt:
$1.49 ÷ 50 = $0.03
Total cost per serving = $0.81+ $1.33+$3.65+$2.10+$0.11+$0.18+$0.65+$0.03 = $8.85
Total cost of preparing one serving of Sausage pizza = $8.85
Calculations for the total weekly meal cost of preparing sausage pizza at home for one week
Total Weekly Cost = Total Cost Per Serving x Number of Days in a school week Total
Cost for Sausage Pizza: $8.85 x 5= $44.25
Total Cost of preparing a serving of Sausage pizza for a week = $44.25
(5)
TABLE SHOWING INGREDIENTS OF BURGER MEAL, UNIT PRICES, NUMBER OF SERVINGS, AND THE COST PER
SERVING
Ingredient Unit Price Number of servings Cost per serving
Burger bread $6.00 6 $1.00
Swiss Mayonnaise $12.10 33 $0.37
(473ml)
Farmers choice $21.60 5 $4.32
quarter pound beef
(454g)
Anchor Cheddar $78.00 67 $1.16
cheese
(2kg)
Lettuce $15.48 20 $0.77
(per kg)
Tomato $19.95 10 $2.00
(per kg)
Catelli Ketchup $3.50 20 $0.18
(330ml)
● Calculations for cost per serving:
Cost per serving= Unit Price ÷ Number of servings
Cost per serving for Burger Bread:
$6.00 ÷ 6 = $1.00
Cost per serving for Swiss Mayonnaise:
$12.10 ÷ 33=$0.37
Cost per serving for Farmers choice quarter pound beef:
$17.29 ÷ 4=$4.32
Cost per serving for Anchor Cheddar Cheese:
$78.00 ÷ 67=$1.16
Cost per serving for Lettuce:
$15.48 ÷ 20=$0.77
(6)
Cost per serving for Tomato:
$19.95 ÷10=$2.00
Cost per serving for Catelli Ketchup:
$3.50 ÷ 20=$0.18
Total cost per servings= $1.00 + $2.50 + $4.32 + $1.16 + $0.77 + $2.00 + $0.18 = $12.93
Total cost of preparing a serving of Burger Meal= $12.93
● Calculations for the total cost for Burger Meal prepared at home for a week:
Total Cost: Cost of One Serving x Number of Days in a school week
Total Cost for Burger Meal: $12.93 x 5= $64.65
Total Cost of preparing a serving of Burger Meal for a week= $64.65
TABLE SHOWING INGREDIENTS OF CHICKEN AND FRIES, UNIT PRICES, NUMBER OF
SERVINGS, AND THE COST PER SERVING
Ingredient Unit Price Number of servings Cost per serving
Bouquet Chicken $10.30 9 $1.14
drumsticks
(907g)
Ore Ida Golden $30.95 9 $3.41
Fries (907g)
Heinz Ketchup $15.95 26 $0.61
(397g)
(7)
Baron Chicken Seasonings $13.92 11 $1.26 $15.89 24 $0.66
(113g)
Kraft Tartar Sauce (354ml)
● Calculations for cost per serving:
Cost per serving= Unit Price ÷ Number of servings
Cost per serving for Bouquet Chicken drumsticks:
$10.30 ÷ 9 =$1.14
Cost per serving for Ore Ida Golden Fries:
$30.95 ÷ 9 =$3.41
Cost per serving for Heinz Ketchup:
$15.95 ÷ 26 =$0.61
Cost per serving for Baron Chicken Seasonings:
$13.92 ÷ 11 = $1.26
Cost per serving for Kraft Tartar Sauce:
$15.89 ÷ 24 = $0.66
Total cost per servings= $1.14+$3.41+$0.61+$1.26+$0.66= $7.08
Total cost of preparing a serving of Chicken and Fries= $7.08
● Calculations for the total cost for Chicken and Fries prepared at home for a
week:
Total Cost: Cost of One Serving x Number of Days in a school week
Total Cost for Chicken and Fries: $7.08 x 5= $35.40
Total Cost of preparing a serving of Chicken and Fries for a week= $35.40
(8)
TABLE SHOWING INGREDIENTS OF BAKE AND CHEESE, UNIT PRICES, NUMBER OF SERVINGS,
AND THE COST PER SERVING
Ingredient Unit Price Number of servings Cost per serving
Caribbean $3.92 6 $0.65
Grains Flour
(1kg)
Anchor Cheddar $11.93 17 $0.70
Cheese
(500g)
Viking Baking $3.27 14 $0.23
Powder
(57g)
Fleischmanns’ $13.81 64 $0.22
yeast (450g)
Glow Spread Margarine $9.80 15 $0.65 $1.49 737 $0.002
(445g)
Valrico sea salt (500g)
● Calculations for cost per serving: Cost per
serving= Unit Price ÷ Number of servings
Cost per serving for Caribbean Grains flour:
$3.926 ÷ 6 =$0.65
Cost per serving for Anchor Cheddar cheese:
$11.93 ÷ 17=$0.70
Cost per serving for Viking baking powder:
$3.27 ÷ 14=$0.23
Cost per serving for Fleischmanns’ yeast:
$13.81 ÷ 64=$0.22
Cost per serving for Glow Spread margarine:
$9.80 ÷ 15=$0.65
(9)
Cost per serving for Valrico sea salt:
$1.49 ÷ 737=$0.002
Total cost per servings= $0.65+$0.70+$0.23+$0.22+$0.65+$0.002= $2.45
Total cost of preparing a serving of Bake and Cheese= $2.45
● Calculations for the total cost for Bake and Cheese prepared at home for a
week:
Total Cost: Cost of One Serving x Number of Days in a school week
Total Cost for Bake and Cheese: $2.45 x 5= $12.25
Total Cost of preparing a serving of Bake and Cheese for a week= $12.25
TABLE SHOWING COMPARISON OF COSTS FOR HOMEMADE MEALS AND CANTEEN
PURCHASED MEALS OVER ONE WEEK
Type of Meal Homemade Cost Canteen Cost
Sausage pizza $44.25 $30.00
Burger meal $64.65 $50.00
Chicken and Fries $35.40 $60.00
Bake and Cheese $12.25 $10.00
(10)
GRAPH SHOWING THE COST COMPARISON OF PREPARING SAUSAGE PIZZA AT HOME VS.
BUYING FROM THE CANTEEN FOR ONE WEEK
The total cost of Sausage pizza prepared at home for a week was $44.25
The total cost of Sausage pizza purchased from the Saint Joseph's Convent school canteen for
a week was $30.00
(11)
The graph above shows the cost comparison of preparing sausage pizza at home versus
purchasing it from the canteen for one week.
Sausage pizza prepared at home costs $44.25 for the week, as shown by the taller bar on the
left side of the graph. This indicates that making the pizza at home is more expensive.
On the other hand, sausage pizza purchased from the school canteen costs $30.00 for the
week, as shown by the shorter bar on the right. This highlights that buying from the canteen is
the more affordable option in this comparison.
GRAPH SHOWING THE COST COMPARISON OF PREPARING BURGER MEAL AT HOME VS.
BUYING FROM THE CANTEEN FOR ONE WEEK
The total cost of a Burger meal prepared at home for a week was $64.65
The total cost of a Burger meal purchased from the Saint Joseph's Convent school canteen for a
week was $50.00
(12)
The graph above shows the cost comparison of preparing a burger meal at home versus purchasing
it from the school canteen for one week.
A burger meal prepared at home costs $64.65 for the week, as shown by the taller bar on the
left side of the graph. This indicates that making the burger meal at home is more expensive.
Meanwhile, a burger meal purchased from the school canteen costs $50.00 for the week, as
shown by the shorter bar on the right. This demonstrates that buying the burger meal from
the canteen is the more affordable option.
GRAPH SHOWING THE COST COMPARISON OF PREPARING CHICKEN AND FRIES AT HOME VS.
BUYING FROM THE CANTEEN FOR ONE WEEK
The total cost of Chicken and Fries prepared at home for a week was $35.40
The total cost of Chicken and Fries purchased from the Saint Joseph's Convent school canteen
for a week was $60.00
(13)
The graph above shows the cost comparison of preparing chicken and fries at home versus purchasing
them from the school canteen for one week.
Chicken and fries prepared at home cost $35.40 for the week, as shown by the shorter bar on the left
side of the graph. This indicates that making this meal at home is the more affordable option.
On the other hand, chicken and fries purchased from the school canteen cost $60.00 for the week, as
shown by the taller bar on the right. This highlights that buying this meal from the canteen is
significantly more expensive.
GRAPH SHOWING THE COST COMPARISON OF PREPARING BAKE AND CHEESE AT HOME VS.
BUYING FROM THE CANTEEN FOR ONE WEEK
The total cost of Bake and Cheese prepared at home for a week was $12.25
The total cost of Bake and Cheese purchased from the Saint Joseph's Convent school canteen
for a week was $10.00
(14)
The graph above shows the cost comparison of preparing bake and cheese at home versus purchasing it from the
school canteen for one week.
Bake and cheese prepared at home costs $12.25 for the week, as shown by the slightly taller bar on
the left side of the graph. This indicates that making bake and cheese at home is a bit more
expensive.
Meanwhile, bake and cheese purchased from the school canteen costs $10.00 for the week, as shown
by the shorter bar on the right. This highlights that buying from the canteen is the more affordable option
in this case.
(15)
DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS:
The SBA aimed to determine which was less expensive: buying food from the school canteen or
preparing it at home. Data was presented using tables and bar graphs for easy comparison over
a week.
The results showed that, overall, buying meals from the school canteen was less expensive
than preparing them at home. For example, purchasing sausage Pizza for a week costs $30.00
at the canteen compared to $44.25 when made at home. Purchasing a Burger Meal for a week
at the canteen costs $50.00 versus $64.65 if prepared at home. Purchasing Bake and Cheese
for the week costs $10.00 at the canteen and $12.45 when prepared at home. However,
Chicken and Fries was an exception, costing $35.40 when prepared at home for a week
compared to $60.00 when purchased at the canteen for the same period of time, showing
home preparation can sometimes be more economical.
It's important to note that the cost of meals can greatly differ based on personal eating habits
and preferences. The study encourages students and parents to consider costs when deciding
on meals, promoting better budgeting and financial decisions.
(16)
CONCLUSION
In this SBA, our group investigated the cost of preparing meals at home compared to buying
food from the school canteen over the course of a week to determine the more economical
option.
Our analysis revealed that, overall, preparing food at home is more expensive than purchasing
meals from the canteen. However, for specific meals, such as Chicken and Fries, home
preparation proved to be less expensive.
In conclusion, Canteen meals are easy to get, but they can sometimes cost more. On the other
hand, preparing meals at home turned out to be more expensive. When choosing between
homemade meals and canteen food, one must think about their personal preferences,
how much they eat, and their time management. For one looking to save money on food, a good
strategy is to cook some meals at home but buy most from the canteen. This way, one can get
better value for their money.
(17)
