Fried food intake among adolescents

Teens often exceed the recommended dietary intake of 30% or fewer calories from fat. Although meat and full-fat dairy products are the primary contributors to dietary fat intake, food preparation methods such as frying can make a significant contribution to overall fat intake. In spite of the importance of establishing healthful dietary practices, little information is available regarding factors that contribute to fried food intake among teens. This study asessed fried food intake as well as the influence of sex, race, and body perception in a sample of culturally diverse adolescents. Researchers used data from the national school-based Youth Behavior Risk Survey (n = 10,870). The survey instrument consisted of 70 items. Students were asked in two separate questions to think about all the meals and snacks they had eaten the day before and to report the number of fried foods they had eaten. The results of this study indicate that sex, race, and body perception influence fried food intake among adolescents. Females eat more fried food than males and African-Americans and Hispanics more than whites. Teens who consider themselves "too thin," eat more fried food than those who consider themselves "just right" or "too fat." With the proposed US. Department of Agriculture objectives that school meals conform to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans by 1998, schools will need to consider what factors influence and contribute to food selection and consumption patterns among teens. Environment and sociocultural background influence fried food consumption among teens. Some ethnic groups have a tendency to consume greater amounts of fried food. School food service personnel face the challenge of providing viable alternatives to fried foods that are both nutritious and appealing to adolescents.