Jinan Banna1, Rickelle Richards2, Lora Beth Brown2. 1. Department of Human Nutrition, Food, and Animal Sciences, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, Agricultural Sciences University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI. Electronic address: jcbanna@hawaii.edu. 2. Department of Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Science, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess qualitatively and quantitatively college students' perceived differences between a real meal, meal, and snack. DESIGN: A descriptive study design was used to administer an 11-item online survey to college students. SETTING: Two university campuses in the western US. PARTICIPANTS: Pilot testing was conducted with 20 students. The final survey was completed by 628 ethnically diverse students. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Students' perceptions of the terms real meal, meal, and snack. ANALYSIS: Three researchers coded the data independently, reconciled differences via conference calls, and agreed on a final coding scheme. Data were reevaluated based on the coding scheme. Means, frequencies, Pearson chi-square, and t test statistics were used. RESULTS: More than half of students perceived a difference between the terms real meal and meal. Most (97.6%) perceived a difference between the terms meal and snack. A marked difference in the way students defined these terms was evident, with a real meal deemed nutritious and healthy and meeting dietary recommendations, compared with meals, which were considered anything to eat. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: These findings suggest that the term real meal may provide nutrition educators with a simple phrase to use in educational campaigns to promote healthful food intake among college students.
OBJECTIVE: To assess qualitatively and quantitatively college students' perceived differences between a real meal, meal, and snack. DESIGN: A descriptive study design was used to administer an 11-item online survey to college students. SETTING: Two university campuses in the western US. PARTICIPANTS: Pilot testing was conducted with 20 students. The final survey was completed by 628 ethnically diverse students. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Students' perceptions of the terms real meal, meal, and snack. ANALYSIS: Three researchers coded the data independently, reconciled differences via conference calls, and agreed on a final coding scheme. Data were reevaluated based on the coding scheme. Means, frequencies, Pearson chi-square, and t test statistics were used. RESULTS: More than half of students perceived a difference between the terms real meal and meal. Most (97.6%) perceived a difference between the terms meal and snack. A marked difference in the way students defined these terms was evident, with a real meal deemed nutritious and healthy and meeting dietary recommendations, compared with meals, which were considered anything to eat. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: These findings suggest that the term real meal may provide nutrition educators with a simple phrase to use in educational campaigns to promote healthful food intake among college students.
Authors: Mary L Greaney; Faith D Less; Adrienne A White; Sarah F Dayton; Deborah Riebe; Bryan Blissmer; Suzanne Shoff; Jennifer R Walsh; Geoffrey W Greene Journal: J Nutr Educ Behav Date: 2009 Jul-Aug Impact factor: 3.045
Authors: Tom Deliens; Rob Van Crombruggen; Sofie Verbruggen; Ilse De Bourdeaudhuij; Benedicte Deforche; Peter Clarys Journal: Appetite Date: 2016-05-13 Impact factor: 3.868