Amalan pengambilan makanan di kalangan pelajar sekolah menengah di Kuala Terengganu

Abstract

Unhealthy and unbalance food intake among adolescents may cause health problem and some side effects. This study was done to survey the practice of daily food intake among the secondary school students at Kuala Terengganu. For that purpose 352 form 4 students from eleven secondary schools that randomly chosen in Kuala Terengganu were selected as the study sample. The sampling technique was in the form of purposive and convenience sampling. The instrument used was the questionnaire form. The questionnaire was used to provide the information of student's background, food intake patterns, frequency of food intake, and types of food and drink. Besides that it also touches on also the factors that influence food intake among the respondents. Statistical analysis used were descriptive and inferencial statistics. The study result had shown that the percentage of respondents who consume food for each main meal period were, breakfast (44.0%), lunch (69.9%) and dinner (54.3%). In general food intake during lunch was more satisfactory compared to other meal periods. The food mates for lunch (54.3%) and dinner (71.9%) was their own family members while for breakfast (57.4%) was among their friends in school. Among the respondents just (14% to 40%) was take food alone. From the food intake frequency table, some foods such as 'nasi kerabu'(min score = 4.01), cereals (min score = 4.18), roti canai (min score = 4.30), biscuits (min score = 4.81 ), milk (min score = 4.20), cheese (min score = 4.43), soft drink (min score = 3.70) and water melon(min score =3.86) were recorded as the highest score min and the students most selected in breakfast. For lunch the highest score min were meals on meat (min score = 3.07), laksa (min score = 3.73), soft drink (min score = 3.70), guava (min score = 3.74) and sweet porridge (min score = 4.00). Dinner consumption was closely equal to lunch consumption. Some food that have been take by the respondents and get the highest score min in dinner were meal on meat (min score = 3.11), laksa (min score = 3.84), soft drink (min score = 3.71), honey dew (min score = 3.79) and sweet porridge (min score = 4.10). Food factors, individual factors and environmental factors play important role on influencing the food intake among students. As a conclusion, the practice of food intake among respondents is in satisfy level. Health practice of food intake is very important for health lifestyle.