Determination of breakfast habits and knowledge of foreign undergraduates studying at Selcuk University in Turkey

Progress in Nutrition · Aralık 2011

Makale Bilgileri

DergiProgress in Nutrition

Yayın TarihiAralık 2011

Cilt / Sayfa13 · 276-285

Özet Regular breakfast habit is important for the health and development in adolescence. This study aims to determine the breakfast habits and knowledge of foreign undergraduates studying at Selcuk University in Konya, Turkey. The population of the study consisted of 123 out of 533 foreign undergraduates studying in Selcuk University. The data was collected with a cross-sectional questionnaire form composed of three parts. The regular breakfast frequency was found 48.8%. 58.5% of participant undergraduates had breakfast between 06:00-08:00 am. It was determined that over half of the undergraduates (55.0%) feel in a good mood when they make breakfast, and they (51.2%) generally make breakfast at home. Significant statistical relationship and differences were determined between regular breakfast habit and breakfast time, feelings, and breakfast venue values at the levels of r:0.45, p<0.000; r:-0.23, p<0.005; r:0.43, p<0.000, respectively. The mean score of undergraduates in breakfast knowledge test was found as (x±SE) 58.0±0.494. Foods consumed as breakfast by highest percentage of undergraduates resulted respectively margarine (45.5%), patty-pastry (42.3%), molasses-tahini (37.4%), vegetables (34.1%) and cereals (32.5%). Drinks consumed as breakfast by highest percentage of undergradutes resulted respectively green tea (60.2%), fruit juice (29.3%), coffee (28.5%), milk (26.8%) and black tea (17.1%). Among the reasons why undergraduates do not make breakfast regularly, the most common ones were "lack of time" and "inexistence of breakfast habit" (36.5%). Study results indicated that the undergraduates had enough knowledge about breakfast, but their habit for regular breakfast should be promoted.