Food habits and food choice motives among university students settled in London: The role of gender and culture

This paper reports findings from a survey carried out in April-May 2009 among English and Portuguese university students in London. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of temporary translocation from Portugal to London and the influence of gender and culture on food habits and food choice motives of university students. In total, 101 university students (55 Portuguese – 26 males and 29 females and 46 English – 15 males and 31 females) from 12 London universities were interviewed and a questionnaire comprising of three major sections: (1) food habits; (2) food choice motives; (3) food preparation and purchasing behaviours was completed. In the case of Portuguese students, the questionnaire asked about their food practices in Portugal and since their arrival in London. In general, women showed healthier food habits than men by consuming more fruit and vegetables. With temporary translocation to a new country, males were more likely to make dietary changes whereas females were more likely to maintain their food habits but showed some modifications in an undesirable direction. English consumed more crisps, chips, cooked vegetables, fresh fruit juice and chocolate and Portuguese consumed more rice, red meat, fish and vegetable soup. These differences between nationalities were higher than between genders. So, gender and cultural differences existed in these university students with regard to food habits and food choice motives. Resumo O presente trabalho sumariza os resultados de um estudo realizado de Abril a Maio de 2009 em estudantes universitários ingleses e Portugueses a viver em Londres. O objectivo deste estudo era avaliar o efeito da translocação temporária de Portugal para Londres e a influência do género e da cultura nos