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Adolescents food choices A better understanding of adolescent food choice is being gained through a major EU project - HELENA - involving 26 partners from 10 countries. The findings will help companies develop and promote products that can contribute to a healthy lifestyle amongst European 13-16 year olds. Qualitative research through 44 focus groups with 304 adolescents across five countries explored eating habits, influences on food choice, favourite foods and lifestyle factors. In all countries, taste was the most important factor influencing choice, followed by parents. Habit was more important in Belgium and Spain, whereas in Sweden, meal choices are influenced more by school. Adolescents in all countries identified similar barriers to eating healthily, citing taste, effort, price and lack of immediate concern about unhealthy eating habits. This research was used to develop a quantitative 'food choices and preferences questionnaire', to gather information from adolescents in 10 countries. The purpose of this was to explore in greater detail aspects such as snacking behaviour, preference for and barriers to healthy eating, and factors that influence food choice. The wealth of data gathered from the survey will prove invaluable in understanding the basis of food choice amongst the young. Further information on project HELENA - Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence - can be found at www.helenastudy.com Contact: Chantal Gilbert |