Factors influencing adolescents' food choices when eating out during the weekend

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore the weekend evening food choices of Maltese and Gozitan 16- and 17-year-olds within the context of leisure-time eating out, while also uncovering factors which influence such choices. A sequential mixed method research design was adopted whereby a qualitative menu analysis was conducted to examine the physical food environment, followed by a street-intercept survey to identify adolescents' food choices, and finally one-to-one interviews which sought to offer explanation of the choices. Findings from the three data sets revealed that a notable proportion of adolescents eat out during the weekend and the most consumed out-of-home foods were in the following order of popularity: chips, pizza and burger. These food choices were largely based on the food's sensory appeal, low price and convenience. Overall, it emerged that adolescents do not value health when making food choices in this context; a lack of concern which is exacerbated by a lack of healthy food options available in the leisure places mostly frequented by adolescents. Peer pressure and food marketing presented a further challenge to adolescents in making healthy choices. Differences according to gender or island residence were minimal. These new insights on the complexity and interplay of various determinants influencing Maltese and Gozitan adolescents' weekend evening food choices provide valuable knowledge for the development of educational and environmental intervention strategies to create an enabling environment conductive to healthy eating among these same adolescents.