Table 2.
Eating habits and school and home food environment characteristics of 10–12 years old adolescents (n = 712) in the study
| Characteristics | Never | Sometimes | Often | Frequently | Always |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eating habits a | |||||
| Have breakfast at home before leaving for school | 205 (28.8) | 188 (26.4) | 115 (16.2) | 110 (15.4) | 94 (13.2) |
| Carry Snacks (Tiffin) to School | 32 (4.5) | 365 (51.3) | 119 (16.7) | 132 (18.5) | 64 (9.0) |
| Carry fruits to school | 159 (22.3) | 267 (37.5) | 139 (19.5) | 108 (15.2) | 39 (5.5) |
| Carry healthy snacks to school | 82 (11.5) | 210 (29.5) | 176 (24.7) | 156 (21.9) | 88 (12.4) |
| Carry unhealthy snacks to school | 55 (7.7) | 111 (15.6) | 212 (29.8) | 293 (41.2) | 41 (5.8) |
| Watch television/ screens while eating at home | 30 (4.2) | 71 (10.0) | 108 (15.2) | 312 (43.8) | 191 (26.8) |
| School food environment b | |||||
| Frequency of purchasing any food/beverage at school | 79 (11.1) | 91 (12.8) | 312 (43.8) | 118 (16.6) | 112 (15.7) |
| Frequency of availability of specific foods at school | |||||
| a.Fruits, fruit juices | 326 (45.8) | 156 (21.9) | 129 (18.1) | - | 101 (14.2) |
| b.Healthy Snacks (poha, upma, sandwich, roti /rice) | 289 (40.6) | 187 (26.3) | 134 (18.8) | - | 102 (14.3) |
| c.Unhealthy Snacks (samosa/ vada pav/ pav bhaji) | 19 (2.7) | 45 (6.3) | 36 (5.1) | - | 612 (86.0) |
| Frequency of purchasing specific foods at school | |||||
| a.Fruits, fruit juices | 331 (46.5) | 212 (29.8) | 141 (19.8) | - | 28 (3.9) |
| b.Healthy Snacks (poha/upma/ sandwich/ roti/rice) | 286 (40.2) | 211 (29.6) | 171 (24.0) | - | 44 (6.2) |
| c.Unhealthy Snacks (samosa/ vada pav/ pav bhaji/) | 204 (28.7) | 188 (26.4) | 172 (24.2) | - | 148 (20.8) |
| Home Food Environment a | |||||
| Availability of foods at home | |||||
| a.Fruits | 110 (15.4) | 94 (13.2) | 101 (14.2) | 254 (35.7) | 153 (21.5) |
| b.Vegetables | 5 (0.7) | 22 (3.1) | 55 (7.7) | 334 (46.9) | 296 (41.6) |
| c.Healthy snacks | 168 (23.6) | 155 (21.8) | 132 (18.5) | 176 (24.7) | 81 (11.4) |
| d. Unhealthy snacks | 19 (2.7) | 58 (8.1) | 102 (14.3) | 221 (31.0) | 312 (43.8) |
| a.Carbonated beverages | 202 (28.4) | 191 (26.8) | 145 (20.4) | 110 (15.4) | 64 (9.0) |
| Accessibility and Visibility of foods at home | |||||
| a.Fruits | 222 (31.2) | 185 (26.0) | 113 (15.9) | 109 (15.3) | 83 (11.7) |
| b.Healthy snacks | 166 (23.3) | 153 (21.5) | 138 (19.4) | 172 (24.2) | 83 (11.7) |
| c.Unhealthy snacks | 23 (3.2) | 67 (9.4) | 96 (13.5) | 228 (32.0) | 298 (41.9) |
| d.Carbonated beverages | |||||
| Family Dietary Habits | |||||
| a.Have evening meals together | 99 (13.9) | 89 (12.5) | 115 (16.2) | 91 (12.8) | 318 (44.7) |
| b.Have at least a meal at the dining table | 153 (21.5) | 167 (23.5) | 93 (13.1) | 129 (18.1) | 170 (23.9) |
| c.Eats out at restaurants/ orders takeaways | 213 (29.9) | 343 (48.2) | 92 (12.9) | 52 (7.3) | 12 (1.7) |
a Response Options- Never (0 days), Sometimes (1–2 days), Often (3–4 days), Frequently (5–6 days), Always (6–7 days)
b Response- Never (0 days), Sometimes (1–2 days), Often (3–4 days), Almost always (5–6 days); Data is presented as number (percentage)