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.
