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BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2015

Open Access 01-12-2015 | Research article

Students’ perspectives on promoting healthful food choices from campus vending machines: a qualitative interview study

Authors: Habiba I. Ali, Amjad H. Jarrar, Mostafa Abo-El-Enen, Mariam Al Shamsi, Huda Al Ashqar

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2015

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Abstract

Background

Increasing the healthfulness of campus food environments is an important step in promoting healthful food choices among college students. This study explored university students’ suggestions on promoting healthful food choices from campus vending machines. It also examined factors influencing students’ food choices from vending machines.

Methods

Peer-led semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with 43 undergraduate students (33 females and 10 males) recruited from students enrolled in an introductory nutrition course in a large national university in the United Arab Emirates. Interviews were audiotaped, transcribed, and coded to generate themes using N-Vivo software.

Results

Accessibility, peer influence, and busy schedules were the main factors influencing students’ food choices from campus vending machines. Participants expressed the need to improve the nutritional quality of the food items sold in the campus vending machines. Recommendations for students’ nutrition educational activities included placing nutrition tips on or beside the vending machines and using active learning methods, such as competitions on nutrition knowledge.

Conclusions

The results of this study have useful applications in improving the campus food environment and nutrition education opportunities at the university to assist students in making healthful food choices.
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Metadata
Title
Students’ perspectives on promoting healthful food choices from campus vending machines: a qualitative interview study
Authors
Habiba I. Ali
Amjad H. Jarrar
Mostafa Abo-El-Enen
Mariam Al Shamsi
Huda Al Ashqar
Publication date
01-12-2015
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-015-1859-2

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