KNOWLEDGE ON NUTRITION AND EATING HABITS OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS OF THE BULACAN AGRICULTURAL STATE COLLEGE: BASIS FOR NUTRITION EDUCATION PROGRAM

Abstract

This study looks on how the socio-demographic profile and nutrition knowledge of the high school students of Bulacan Agricultural State College (BASC) relate to their eating habits. It employs descriptive method of research where survey questionnaires were the main instrument in gathering data from a total of 262 respondents enrolled for the Academic Year 2014-2015. The survey questionnaire was developed to describe the socio-demographic characteristics, nutrition knowledge, eating habits and daily meal intake of respondents. The nutrition knowledge and food habits are focused on domains of essential food nutrients, good nutrition principles and healthy food choices. The nutrition knowledge of respondents in terms of essential food nutrients, nutrition principles and healthy food choices all got a descriptive interpretation of very knowledgeable. In terms of eating habits, all the categories of eating habits were descriptively interpreted as moderately healthy, as in the intake of essential nutrients, practice of good nutrition principles and preference on healthy food choices. A strong negative significant correlation exists between grade level of respondents and in all the categories of eating habits. Age, gender, parents’ educational level and occupation of students were found no significant correlation with their eating habits. Nutrition knowledge in terms of essential food nutrients has a strong positive correlation with eating habits in terms of intake of foods containing the essential nutrients and is positively correlated in terms of preference on healthy food choices. On the other hand, nutrition knowledge in terms of the different nutrition principles was found to be positively correlated with the respondents’ eating habits in term of preference on healthy food choices. No significant association was found between nutrition knowledge in terms of healthy food choices with all the categories of eating habits.. Based from the result of the study, the college shall adopt a nutrition program to help improve the eating habits of students focusing on improving students’ knowledge of nutrition, promoting healthy eating habits among them, increasing awareness on physical activities and wellness, and educating parents and other stakeholders on the value of good nutrition practices. In coming up with a more effective approach in improving the eating habits among students, the result of the study suggests that a more intensive research investigating the factors affecting students’ practice of nutrition must be conducted. Keywords: nutrition, eating habits, education, knowledge, food, health