Rational:

College is a time of increasing independence and changing food patterns. This is a critical time because the changes experienced during college often establish lifelong patterns and can contribute to disease outcomes. (1) One study published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics in 2016 analyzed the dietary habits of 582 college students and found that only 10% met the recommended daily intake of fruits and vegetables. (2) Additionally, the study found that students tended to consume high amounts of added sugar, saturated fat, and sodium.2 Another study published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior in 2017 found that many college students consume a diet low in nutrient-dense foods, such as fruits and vegetables, and high in energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods, such as sugary drinks and fast food. (3)

 

It is known that higher diet quality in university students is associated with higher academic achievement. (4) It is clear that diet quality is an essential factor in overall health, and making healthy food choices early in life, including during the college years, can positively impact long-term health outcomes. 

 

Although many factors influence what college students eat, including food security, food availability, built environments, and social influences, taste is often reported to be a primary driver for food choice. (5) Which foods taste good to a person can vary by physiological factors but are most often influenced by their childhood food environments and experiences. Nutrition contributes to an individual's physical and mental well-being and expresses one's cultural identity through preparation, sharing, and consumption. (6) 

 

Culture often predicts some dietary factors due to familiarity and can impact dietary quality through exposure to other cultures. (7) Several studies have examined acute changes in diet quality among college students during study abroad programs. However, none focused on long-term changes in relationship with food and diet quality correlated to culture and social factors that affect dietary patterns; I plan to fill this gap in the literature. 

 

Exposure to new and unfamiliar foods, cultural differences in eating habits, and changes in food availability and accessibility can all influence dietary behaviors and food choices. (7) Studies have shown that study abroad programs can have a significant impact on diet quality. (8,9) One study published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior in 2015 found that students who participated in a study abroad program in Italy had an increase in vegetable intake and a decrease in added sugar intake compared to students who did not participate. (10) Another study published in the same journal in 2016 found that students who studied abroad in Spain significantly increased their fruit and vegetable intake compared to students who did not study abroad. (11)

 

The impact of study abroad programs on diet quality may depend on various factors, including the duration of the program, the destination country, and the level of cultural immersion. (12)  I hypothesize that exposure via a study abroad program could influence the dietary quality and relationships with food in the short and long term. I will explore what cultural and social factors influence the dietary patterns of undergraduate college students who have previously studied abroad. I aim to examine how culture and social factors affect the dietary patterns of undergraduate college students who have studied abroad and the impact of study abroad programs on undergraduate students' relationships with food and dietary quality through a longitudinal lens.