title: Eating habits and preferences among the student population of the Complutense University of Madrid.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Studying eating habits can aid in the design of specific measures that reduce the negative effects of an unhealthy diet on health. In this context, the aim of the present study was to examine the eating habits and food preferences of students and their level of satisfaction with the catering services of the university.
  
  
  METHODS
  Survey conducted during 2011 using a questionnaire that asked participants abut their sex, age and frequency of use of catering services placed on campus. Participants were also asked about their level of satisfaction with five aspects (hygiene, quality, taste of food, price and convenience of facilities) of the university catering services, what their preferred dishes were and whether they followed a special diet.
  
  
  METHODS
  Complutense University of Madrid, Spain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine hundred and sixty-four students (381 males; 583 females).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The students used the university food service 2·3 (sd 1·3) times/week. With respect to satisfaction level, 44·1 % gave an average score (3) to the combination of surveyed aspects (hygiene, quality, taste of food, price and comfort of the dining rooms). Regarding food choices, 61·0 % of students preferred pasta dishes, followed by meat (59·1 %) and salads (32·5 %). The least popular dishes were vegetables (16·8 %), fruits (13·6 %), milk products (12·2 %) and legumes (9·8 %). Of the students, 20·1 % followed special diets.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The degree of satisfaction with the university meal service was low and the most common choices of dishes and foods among students were far from the guidelines of the Mediterranean diet. It is necessary to extend policies related to diet to this sector of the population and also to the management and food offer of university canteens.
authors: 1EPINUT Group,Complutense University of Madrid (UCM),Departamento de Enfermería,Facultad de Medicina,3ª plta,Ciudad Universitaria,28040 Madrid,Spain.
authors: Jesús-Román
authors: JR
authors: Martínez Álvarez
authors: 2Spanish Society of Dietetics and Food Sciences (SEDCA),Madrid,Spain.
authors: Rosa
authors: R
authors: García Alcón
authors: 1EPINUT Group,Complutense University of Madrid (UCM),Departamento de Enfermería,Facultad de Medicina,3ª plta,Ciudad Universitaria,28040 Madrid,Spain.
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Villarino Marín
authors: 1EPINUT Group,Complutense University of Madrid (UCM),Departamento de Enfermería,Facultad de Medicina,3ª plta,Ciudad Universitaria,28040 Madrid,Spain.
authors: M Dolores
authors: MD
authors: Marrodán Serrano
authors: 2Spanish Society of Dietetics and Food Sciences (SEDCA),Madrid,Spain.
authors: Lucia
authors: L
authors: Serrano Morago
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D004032:Diet; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences; D005522:Food Services; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013030:Spain; D013334:Students; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Diet; Habits; Obesity; Preferences; Sedentarism