Food choices of adolescents have become increasingly unhealthy, putting
them at increased risk of malnutrition, as they grow older. The study
investigated the determinants of food choices of adolescents in order
to assess their nutritional knowledge and implication. World Health
Organisation (WHO) describes children aged 10-19 years as adolescents.
Four hundred and one adolescents who were in secondary schools were
interviewed from six of the thirty local government areas of Osun
State, which is a south-western state of Nigeria. Based on the
population of secondary schools in the local government areas,
thirty-two schools were sampled. Pre tested structured questionnaires
using a set of high quality colour photographs of foods and drinks that
would typically be offered to adolescents were used. The photographs,
showing one item each, included foods such as biscuits, buns, meat pie
that were classified as "snacks" and those, such as rice and beans
garnished with vegetable and either fish/meat stew, stewed beans,
pounded yam that formed part of a conventional meal. In the same
manner, photographs showing a bottle of coke, milk, chocolate drink and
home made non-alcoholic drinks were presented. This was used to elicit
information from the respondents. Descriptive statistical techniques
such as frequency counts, percentage, mean and standard deviation,
likewise inferential tools, such as, correlation analysis and analysis
of variance (ANOVA) were used in data analysis. The study showed
positive and significant correlation between the preference and
nutritional contents of foods (r = 0.514, p<0.05) and drinks (r =
0.346, p<0.05). There was no significant difference in the
preference and perceived nutritional contents of the foods (F = 3.072),
while there was a difference in the choice and perceived nutritional
contents of drinks (F = 0.217) among the urban and rural adolescents.
It is concluded that, the food choice of the adolescents in the study
area was based more on taste preference than the nutritional contents.
The nutritional knowledge of the adolescents in the study area is high
but the knowledge on home made non alcoholic drinks is low. Nutrition
education should be intensified especially on traditional foods and
home made non-alcoholic drinks that are nutritious