Browsing by Subject "ravitsemussuositus"

Aim: This study explores eating habits of secondary school students: whether they eat school lunches and which kind of snacks are consumed. Earlier studies show that almost one third of the students consume unhealthy snacks at least twice a week. More than half of the students do not eat all components of the school meal. This research elaborates the following questions: 1. How often an adolescent consumes school lunches and its portions? 2. What kind of snacks the adolescent enjoys in and out of school? 3. Which factors affect his or her snack choices? Methods: This study was executed by using qualitative methods. Six students aged between 13 and 15 were interviewed in November 2016, in the city of Joensuu. Interviews were semi-structured. The data was analysed by using quantitative methods as well as qualitative, data-driven analysing methods. Results and conclusion: The students consume school meals daily but leave some portions aside. Girls seem to eat salad more often than boys. Boys drink milk or sour milk more often than girls. Students rarely consume any snacks at school except one girl who has fruits or biscuits three times a week. Almost all interviewed enjoy a sandwich and yoghurt for a snack after school. Fruits are common snacks for half of the students. Most of the interviewed made decision what they will have for snack due to the availability and taste of snack. Some also found healthiness as a key factor. Overall it seems that rea-sons for decreasing the need for snacks at school are 1) food made in home economics class, 2) it is not allowed to exit school during school day as well as 3) comprehensive con-sumption of different portions of school meal.