INTRODUCTION: In general, most college-aged students live highly, and newly, independent lives. Although campuses offer wide varieties of food choices, most choices do not meet the standards set by the RDA or DRIs, per NHANES 1999-2000.
METHODS: In order to document these eating patterns, 1001 male (n=379) and female (n=622) college-aged students quantified dietary intake for three consecutive days using the food log method. Assessment reports were generated and analyzed in order to determine the percentage of the DRI in both males and females, and groups with a BMI of less than 20 and greater than 30. Tests for correlation of micronutrient intake between gender and BMI was performed.
RESULTS: Results show that a majority of this population do not meet the DRI standards in most categories of vitamins and minerals. Results also show that BMI has little to no relationship with optimal micronutrient intake. Food choices negatively impacted micronutrient levels
