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 gr id 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 pot atoes, other fruit juice, and green salad. Many of the respondents add ed fat to cooked vegetables and salads. Few respondents ate vegetables at lunch, dinner, or snack time or fruit for desserts or snacks. Stud ents had fewer behaviors where they added fat to vegetables and salads and were more likely to eat vegetables at lunch and snack time. The f actor analyses showed perceptions about vegetables and fruits that inc luded both social and sensory aspects and health aspects. Only percept ions of social and sensory aspects of vegetables and fruits were relat ed to intake. Perceptions of health aspects of vegetables and fruits d id not have a consistent or significant relationship with intake. The results suggest that social and sensory aspects of vegetables and frui ts may be important messages to include in nutrition education program ming for young adults.