Vegetable and fruit intake and perceptions of selected young adults

A mail survey was developed to determine the behaviors associated with eating vegetables and fruits and if there was a relationship between young adults' perceptions of vegetables and fruits and relative intake. The survey collected demographic information and used a repertory grid and a food frequency questionnaire. Respondents included 219 males and 289 females. The most frequently eaten vegetables and fruits were orange or grapefruit juice, French fries and fried potatoes, other potatoes, other fruit juice, and green salad. Many of the respondents added fat to cooked vegetables and salads. Few respondents ate vegetables at lunch, dinner, or snack time or fruit for desserts or snacks. Students had fewer behaviors where they added fat to vegetables and salads and were more likely to eat vegetables at lunch and snack time. The factor analyses showed perceptions about vegetables and fruits that included both social and sensory aspects and health aspects. Only perceptions of social and sensory aspects of vegetables and fruits were related to intake. Perceptions of health aspects of vegetables and fruits did not have a consistent or significant relationship with intake. The results suggest that social and sensory aspects of vegetables and fruits may be important messages to include in nutrition education programming for young adults.