J Korean Diet Assoc.  2016 Nov;22(4):261-271. 10.14373/JKDA.2016.22.4.261.

Lunch Eating Patterns and Dietary Habits of University Students according to Major Lunch Place

• Kim H
• Lee1 H

• KMID: 2358403
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14373/JKDA.2016.22.4.261

Abstract

This study was performed to determine lunch eating patterns and compare dietary habits among university students according to major lunch place. The subjects were 800 students from a university in Gyeonggi-do, and information was obtained by self-administered questionnaire. Data were compared among groups according to major lunch place (school cafeteria n=236, off-campus private restaurant n=73, on-campus private food shop n=134, delivery food n=119, convenient store n=238). Compared to male students, more female students ate at convenient stores (37.8% vs. 17.5%, respectively) while less ate at school cafeterias as the major lunch place. The on-campus private food shop group (19.1 year) were younger than the other groups (20.4∼20.8 year). Dietary habits were significantly better in the school cafeteria group (65.55 out of 100) than in the other groups (60.33∼62.66) (P<0.01). However, the satisfaction with school cafeterias was significantly lower than those with the other lunch places (P<0.01), and the most frequently answered reason for dissatisfaction was "not taste good" (51.0%). Despite having the lowest satisfaction among the five lunch places, eating at school cafeterias may be associated with better dietary habits in university students. Therefore, this study is able to provide basis for encouraging school cafeteria utilization for university students and for strategy development to improve university students' lunches.

Keyword

dietary habits; university students; school cafeteria; lunch

MeSH Terms

Eating*
Female
Food Habits*
Gyeonggi-do
Humans
Lunch*
Male
Restaurants