Fruit consumption, its determinants and attitudes among undergraduates

Year 2019, , 50 - 53, 14.03.2019

Umali Sathsarani Herath

https://doi.org/10.31015/jaefs.2019.1.11

Cited By: 3

Abstract

Fruits, being a good
source of nutrients, can be used to fulfil the daily requirement of nutrients.
However, the statistics of Food and Agriculture Organization and World Health
Organization state that the worldwide per capita consumption of fruits and
vegetables is estimated to be less than 20 to 50 percent of the minimum daily
recommended intake. The health and well-being of the future generation of a
country are critical in preventing malnutrition and chronic diseases. A study
was carried out to find out the daily intake of fruits, barriers for
consumption and other patterns in consumption among undergraduates. Moreover,
the study focused on identifying knowledge on nutrition and opinions of
undergraduates on fruit production. 50 students from the Faculty of
Agricultural Sciences, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka were randomly
selected and given a self- administered questionnaire. The daily intake of a
majority of students existed between 50-100g and most consumed fruits in fresh
form. Unavailability in the market or the limited access was the major barrier
for the intake of sufficient amount of fruits. The study concluded that the
daily intake of fruits of undergraduates is less than the recommended level.
Extension services and constant market prices can overcome the problems in
fruit production.

Keywords

Fruits, Undergraduates, Fruit consumption, Barriers to fruit intake

References

• Alsunni, A.A., Badar, A. (2015).Fruit and Vegetable Consumption and its Determinants among Saudi University Students. Journal of Taibah University Medical Sciences, 10(2), 155-162.
• Boeing, H., Bechthold, A., Bub, A., Ellinger, S., Haller, D., Kroke, A., Leschik-Bonnet, E., Müller, M. J., Oberritter, H., Schulze, M., Stehle, P., Watzl, B. (2012). Critical review: Vegetables and Fruit in the Prevention of Chronic Diseases. European journal of Nutrition, 51(6), 637-63.
• Corwin, S.J., R.G. Sargent, C.E. Rheaume, R.P. Saunders. 1999. Dietary Behavior among Fourth Graders: A Social Cognitive Theory Study Approach. American Journal of Health Behavior, 23,182-197.
• Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (2015). Promotion of Fruits and Vegetables for Health: Report of the Pacific Regional Workshop (Online). Available at: http://www.fao.org/3/a-i4935e.pdf (Accessed: 30 October 2018).
• Liming, L. (2004). Fruit and Vegetable Intake and Factors Influencing Intake of Adolescents: Developing the Questionnaires. Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of British Columbia. 9-10.
• Perera, T., Madhujith, T. (2012). The Pattern of Consumption of Fruits and Vegetables by Undergraduate Students: A Case Study, Tropical Agricultural Research, 23 (3),261 – 271.
• Schroeter, C., House, L., Lorence, A. (2007). Fruit and Vegetable Consumption among College Students in Arkansas and Florida: Food Culture vs. Health Knowledge. International Food and Agribusiness Management Review, 10 (3),63-89.
• Underutilised Crops and Agricultural Biodiversity (Online). Crops For The Future. Available at: http://www.cffresearch.org/Crops_For_the_Future-@ LandingArticle. aspx#Underutilised _Crops_ and_ Agricultural_Biodiversity (Accessed: 30 October 2018).
• Unusan, N. (2004). Fruit and Vegetable Consumption among Turkish Students, International Journal of Vitamin Nutrition, 74(5), 341-348.
• World Health Organization and Food and Agriculture Organization. (2005). Fruit and Vegetables for Health (Online). Available at: https://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/fruit/en/ (Accessed: 30 October 2018).
• World Health Organization. (2006). Adolescent nutrition: a review of the situation in selected South-East Asian Countries (Online). Available at: http://apps.searo.who.int/PDS_DOCS/B0239.pdf?ua=1 (Accessed: 30 October 2018).