Factors influencing pulse consumption among university students

The amount, frequency, and type of pulses consumed by university students were explored using a cross-sectional online survey. Daily pulse consumers made up just 6% of participants, with 5% of the total participants eating more than three cups of pulses per week. It was found that a significant predictor of the amount of pulses consumed in a week was having more positive environmental attitudes (p < .001). There was a statistically significant difference between perceived body size groups and amount of pulses consumed in a week F(4, 243) = 2.715, p = .031, and the frequency of pulse consumption F(3, 257) = 3.712, p = .012, with post-hoc tests revealing a statistically significant difference between the overweight and below average weight groups, with the frequency of pulse consumption increasing as the perceived body size declined (mean difference 0.665). Eighty-five per cent of participants were more likely to consume pulses because they contain a high amount of vitamins and minerals. These findings suggest that understanding the attitudes and behaviours of university students towards pulse crops’ impact on health, nutrition, and the environment may help to inform initiatives aiming to increase pulse consumption among this group.

Authors

• Masuda, Kristie
• University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science

• Legumes -- Health aspects
• Legumes -- Nutrition
• Beans -- Health aspects
• Beans -- Nutrition
• Lentils -- Health aspects
• Lentils -- Nutrition
• Legumes as food
• College students -- Nutrition -- Alberta -- Lethbridge
• College students -- Health and hygiene -- Alberta -- Lethbridge
• Nutrition
• Food habits
• Sustainable agriculture
• pulse crops
• pulses
• university students

Identifier

hdl:10133/5201

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:opus.uleth.ca:10133/5201