Influences of Food Choices Among Higher Education Institution Students

Abstract

There is consistent qualitative evidence arising from literature that decision-making in terms of food choices is both complex and dynamic. The reasons as to why students choose what to eat is multifactorial and varies from person to person. Several factors emerged from this synthesis; physical environmental factors; intrapersonal influences, university environmental influences, and socio-cultural influences which may be intertwined. Intrapersonal factors and physical environments appeared to be the strongest determinants of food choices. Specifically, nutritional knowledge, accessibility, food availability and prices were universal food choice determinants. The findings provide a rationale to guide future policy design and the implementation of appropriate interventions to reduce the consumption of unhealthy foods. Such an intervention should target the major negative influences of food choices such as health literacy, time constraints, food prices, accessibility, and availability.