Healthy Diets in Higher-Education Students in the South of Chile

Abstract

Background: It is essential that young adults obtain healthy life habits during the disciplinary training stage. Objective: Interpret factors that shape dietary and healthy eating habits, food preferences and eating outside the home, and social factors in higher-education students. Materials and Methods: Using a qualitative study with a phenomenological approach, 30 higher-education students were interviewed with in-depth questions regarding diverse aspects that shape healthy eating habits. Participant responses were analyzed through content analysis. Results: Participants identified aspects of their own healthy eating habits, such as the composition and ingredients of foods, and number and timing of meals. They highlighted meals made at home by their mothers and eaten with their families as a positive contributor to healthy eating, however identified limitations to maintaining healthy eating habits such as friends, lack of time, advertising, and information from social media. Conclusions: Although students recognize the need for healthy eating to maintain adequate health status, it is perceived as difficult to achieve at this stage of life due to a number of factors.