This paper describes the process used to develop a study conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture of the nutritional environment of middle school students. It was decided that information would be gathered from school food service managers, school administrators, and teachers of middle grades who deal with these students daily. A focus-group approach was chosen to collect the data, and the services of a consultant were used to refine the focus-group questions. A pilot study was done with graduate students from the Educational Leadership and Food Service Management programs at a graduate school since these students were considered to have many of the experiences focus group members would have. After this dry run, the study's sample was drawn from 27 states in 3 geographic regions. The sample, recruited by graduate students participating in the study design, consisted of three groups (district superintendents and principals, teachers and coaches, and food service directors and food site managers) of nine individuals in each. Questions discussed by the focus groups, in two sessions for each group, addressed school nutritional environments, barriers to improving student nutrition, and processes that might be used to effect change. The audiotapes of all focus groups were transcribed and compiled to produce a report. Results of the study were presented at a workshop in October 2000, and the approved copy of the final text will be published on the National Food Service Management Institute Web site. (Contains 11 references.) (SLD)