Student attitudes to food

Thursday 23 November 2006

In November 2005 the Agency employed ARK (Northern Ireland Social and Political Archive) to undertake a food attitudes and behaviour survey among university students in Northern Ireland.

All students attending Queen's University and the University of Ulster received an email asking them to take part in an online survey hosted on the ARK server.

The research findings suggest that first year students are the most vulnerable in terms of their diet. Compared with any other year, first year students are the group most likely to eat pre-packed or convenience foods.

In contrast to other years, first year students are the group least likely to cook a main meal from fresh or raw ingredients, to know how to cook a variety of foods, to enjoy cooking, to eat less fresh fruit and vegetables than a year ago, to eat breakfast, to look at nutritional labels and to say that they lead a healthy lifestyle.