FACTORS AFFECTING EATING CHOICES OF COLLEGE STUDENTS

Emanuel S. Cromuel

HEALTHY DIET According to the Dietary Guidelines

for Americans 2010, a healthy eating plan emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat milk products, lean meats, beans, eggs, and nuts.

A healthy diet can reduce their risk for diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and cancer (Ferrer and Robert, 2016).

College students should eat three whole meals and two small snacks per day to keep up with the demand of their every day life (Nanney and Marilyn, 2015).

Fast FoodsProcessed meats Artificial flavoring High sugar, fat and

starch contentVery little nutritional

value

CONVENIENCE OF FAST FOOD

Easily accessible on campus

Within walking distance or short driving distance

Takes little to no time for preparation

Very inexpensive to the students

Risk Of Eating Fast Food Type 2 Diabetes Obesity Cardiovascular Stroke Cancer

Purpose The purpose of this study is to determine

what are the factors that affect college students eating choices.

Funds and accessibility are the main factors affecting college student’s eating choices.

Hypothesis

MethodologyOne hundred and fifty-five college students between the ages of 18 and older, participated in a survey that was uploaded to social media (Facebook /etc.)

TYPE OF QUESTIONS ASKED:

• Gender• Age• Classification• Ethnicity

• Types of foods consumed• Food consumption per day• Food costs• Convenience of Fast Food and

Healthy Food

Demographics

48%52%

What is your gender?

malesfemales

18 to 2497%

25 to 342%

35 to 441%

What is your age?

Demographics

Blacks or African

American

Hispanic or Latin

Americans

White0%

10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

67.00%

14% 19.00%

What is your ethnic-ity?

Freshmen Sophmore Junior Senior0%

10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

21% 19% 17%

44%

Perc

enta

ge o

f et

hnic

ity

What is your current classification?

Perc

enta

ge o

f eac

h C

lass

ifica

tion

YES NO0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Do you currently live on campus?

34%

Perc

enta

ge o

f stu

dent

s

66%

ResultsRate how each of these factors motivate

your food choices.Ranking the

factors1

star2

stars3

stars4

stars

5stars

Rating

Cost 12 12 36 28 54 3.69/5

Funds 8 23 28 27 56 3.76/5Accessibility 12 15 40 33 43 3.56/5

Food Cravings

12 10 32 36 53 3.7/5

Results

Food Groups

2 or more times a day once a day

2 or more time per

week

1 to 2 times per

weeknever or rarely

Protein 71 62 8 9 4

Grains 55 67 20 9 2

Vegetables 41 56 24 20 10

Fruits 25 56 30 25 15

Fats 44 68 10 25 7

How often do you eat the following?

RESULTSN

umbe

r tim

es e

ach

food

was

sele

cted

Food Choices?

Fast F

ood

Health

y Nutr

itiona

l food

On Cam

pus Dinn

ing0%

20%40%60%80%

100%

24%

66%

18%

Which of the following items are more expensive?

Perc

enta

ge o

f sel

ecte

d

Never/Rarely

Once a week

2 or3 times a week

Everyday Multiiple times a

day

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

17%25%

45%

10%

3%

How often do you eat at fast food restaurant?

Perc

enta

ge o

f Fas

t Foo

d co

nsum

ptio

n

Home cooked meal

Fast Food Healthy foods

Food that provide comfort

Depend on the mood

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

97

66

4147

104

Conclusions Funds was the highest rated among

Cost, accessibility and food craving. Nutritional foods were more expensive

than fast foods for college students. Most students eat fast food 2 to 3 times

a week. Proteins were consumed more often

than grains, fruits, vegetables and fats

Acknowledgements God Parents: Marshel and Stephanie Cromuel Dr. Corey Harrison Dr. Hardy Dean Krotzer Department of Natural Sciences