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