1. FACTORS AFFECTING EATING CHOICES
OF COLLEGE STUDENTS
Emanuel S. Cromuel

2. 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).

3. Fast Foods
Processed meats
Artificial flavoring
High sugar, fat and
starch content
Very little nutritional
value

4. 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

5. Risk Of Eating Fast Food
 Type 2 Diabetes
 Obesity
 Cardiovascular
 Stroke
 Cancer

6. 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

7. Methodology
One 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

8. Demographics
48%
52%
What is your gender?
males
females
18 to
24
97%
25 to
34
2%
35 to
44
1%
What is your age?

9. Demographics
67%
14% 19%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Blacks or
African
American
Hispanic or
Latin
Americans
White
What is your
ethnicity?
21% 19% 17%
44%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Freshmen Sophmore Junior Senior
Percentageofethnicity
What is your current
classification?
PercentageofeachClassification
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
YES NO
Do you currently live
on campus?
34%
Percentageofstudents
66%

10. Results
Rate how each of these factors motivate
your food choices.
Ranking the
factors
1
star
2
stars
3
stars
4
stars
5
stars
Rating
Cost 12 12 36 28 54 3.69/5
Funds 8 23 28 27 56 3.76/5
Accessibility 12 15 40 33 43 3.56/5
Food
Cravings
12 10 32 36 53 3.7/5

11. Results
Food
Groups
2 or more
times a day once a day
2 or more
time per
week
1 to 2
times per
week
never 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?

12. RESULTS
Numbertimeseachfoodwasselected
Food Choices?
24%
66%
18%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Fast Food Healthy Nutritional
food
On Campus
Dinning
Which of the following items
are more expensive?
Percentageofselected
17%
25%
45%
10%
3%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
How often do you eat at fast food
restaurant?
PercentageofFastFoodconsumption
97
66
41
47
104
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Home
cooked
meal
Fast Food Healthy
foods
Food that
provide
comfort
Depend on
the mood

13. 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

14. Acknowledgements
 God
 Parents: Marshel and Stephanie Cromuel
 Dr. Corey Harrison
 Dr. Hardy
 Dean Krotzer
 Department of Natural Sciences