Breakfast Meal Skipping Practices of Undergraduate Students of University of Nigeria, Nsukka

Abstract

The study examined breakfast meal skipping practices of undergraduate students of University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Specifically, the study ascertained the rate of skipping breakfast meals by the students, their causes and strategies for improving the meal consumption practices among them. The study used descriptive survey research design. Population for the study was 3,550 students from two Faculties of Education in the university. Two hundred randomly selected students formed the study sample. A forty-two item questionnaire was used to generate data for the study. Data were analyzed using percentage and mean with decision benchmarks at 50% and 2.50 scores respectively. Results showed that many students (52%) skipped breakfast meals seven times in a week. Reasons for skipping breakfast meals were: lack of time (x =3.42), food spoilage (x =3.33) and early morning lectures (x 3.28) among others. Fourteen strategies were identified in improving students’ breakfast meal consumption practices. They included: encouraging students to take up paid part-time jobs to financially support themselves (x 3.89), providing students with enough up keep money (x 3.54); equipping the students with skills of food budgeting (x =3.16) and adhering to their food budget (x =3.21). Others included regular supply of electricity to students’ hostel (x 3.25) and provision of cafeteria in each of the students’ hostel (x =3.02). It was recommended that very early morning and impromptu lectures should be stopped among others. Further research will be needed to examine student’s socio-demographic variables in relation to their breakfast meal skipping practices and academic performance.