Faculty Mentor(s)
Dr. Cathy Anstrom
Project Type
Departmental Honors project
Scholarship Domain(s)
Scholarship of Discovery
Presentation Type
Poster Session
Abstract
Learning Outcome: Recognize the need for nutrition education among college students as it relates to health-conscious food purchases and the effect that price of nutrient-dense foods has on college students’ food purchases.
Introduction: Mulik & Haynes-Maslow (2019), noted purchasing healthy foods is often more expensive than unhealthy counterparts. The inability to afford nutrient-dense foods may lead to future health complications. Research results support the need for nutrition education for college students.
Methods: A quantitative online survey was administered to 2,658 college students, n=133. The survey combined Croker’s (2016) General Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire to evaluate students’ understanding of nutrition and Mathew’s (2018) Food Choice Priorities Survey to determine factors of greatest importance regarding food choices.
Results: Participants who completed a nutrition class prior to the study reported a higher mean score (M = 12.8, SD = 3.63) for general nutrition knowledge than those who did not (M = 11.6, SD = 3.81). Statistically significant correlations were found between products participants would prefer to eat and products purchased based on price (p = rs =.51; p < .001) and freshness quality of food (rs= .250; p < .004) and participants’ importance of food price and convenience of obtaining food (rs =.418; p < .001).
Discussion/Conclusion: Students’ food choice ranking indicate price of food and physical health important factors when making choices. The higher mean score of college students who received nutrition education compared to those who had not indicate value of nutrition education supporting students making nutritionally sound choices based on health and economic needs.
Funding Disclosure: None
Permission Type
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Included in
The Impact of Food Prices on College Students' Food Choices
Fishbowl
Learning Outcome: Recognize the need for nutrition education among college students as it relates to health-conscious food purchases and the effect that price of nutrient-dense foods has on college students’ food purchases.
Introduction: Mulik & Haynes-Maslow (2019), noted purchasing healthy foods is often more expensive than unhealthy counterparts. The inability to afford nutrient-dense foods may lead to future health complications. Research results support the need for nutrition education for college students.
Methods: A quantitative online survey was administered to 2,658 college students, n=133. The survey combined Croker’s (2016) General Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire to evaluate students’ understanding of nutrition and Mathew’s (2018) Food Choice Priorities Survey to determine factors of greatest importance regarding food choices.
Results: Participants who completed a nutrition class prior to the study reported a higher mean score (M = 12.8, SD = 3.63) for general nutrition knowledge than those who did not (M = 11.6, SD = 3.81). Statistically significant correlations were found between products participants would prefer to eat and products purchased based on price (p = rs =.51; p < .001) and freshness quality of food (rs= .250; p < .004) and participants’ importance of food price and convenience of obtaining food (rs =.418; p < .001).
Discussion/Conclusion: Students’ food choice ranking indicate price of food and physical health important factors when making choices. The higher mean score of college students who received nutrition education compared to those who had not indicate value of nutrition education supporting students making nutritionally sound choices based on health and economic needs.
Funding Disclosure: None