title: An exploratory investigation of food choice behavior of teenagers with and without food allergies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Understanding food choice behavior in adolescence is important because many core eating habits may be tracked into adulthood. The food choices of at least 2.3% of teenagers living in the United Kingdom are determined by food allergies. However, the effect of food allergies on eating habits in teenagers has not yet been studied.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To provide an understanding of how teenagers with food allergies make food choice decisions and how these differ from those of non-food-allergic teenagers.
  
  
  METHODS
  One focus group discussion with non-food-allergic teenagers (n = 11) and 14 semistructured interviewers (7 with food-allergic and 7 with non-food-allergic teenagers) were performed (age range, 12-18 years). The focus group discussion and interviews were audiorecorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using thematic content analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Teenagers from both groups (food-allergic and non-food-allergic) named sensory characteristics of foods as the main reason for choosing them. Some food-allergic teenagers downplayed their allergy and frequently engaged in risk-taking behavior in terms of their food choices. However, they reported difficulties in trying new foods, especially when away from home. Parental control was experienced as protective by those with food allergies, whereas non-food-allergic teenagers felt the opposite. Most teenagers, including food-allergic ones, expressed the wish to eat similar foods to their friends. Other themes did not vary between the 2 groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Food-allergic teenagers strive to be able to make similar food choices to their friends, although differences to non-food-allergic teenagers exist. It is important to address these differences to improve their dietary management.
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences and Social Work, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, United Kingdom; Department for Evidence-Based Medicine and Clinical Epidemiology, Danube University Krems, Krems, Austria. Electronic address: isolde.sommer@donau-uni.ac.at.
authors.forename: Isolde
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sommer
authors.affiliation: Graduate School, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mackenzie
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences and Social Work, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, United Kingdom; David Hide Asthma and Allergy Research Centre, Isle of Wight, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Carina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Venter
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences and Social Work, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, United Kingdom; David Hide Asthma and Allergy Research Centre, Isle of Wight, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Taraneh
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dean
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002755:Choice Behavior; D004032:Diet; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology