FOOD SKILLS AS A PREDICTOR OF HEALTHY FOOD CHOICE AMONG THE FEMALE UNDERGRADUATES IN NIGERIA

There are indications that female undergraduates in tertiary institutions in Nigeria undergo a life transition that results in poor dietary behaviors and weight gain. Adequate food skills may improve dietary preference and prevent overweight among females. However, research is limited on students food skills and food-related behaviors in the present context. The objective of this study was to assess whether food skills would predict healthy food choices of female undergraduates using a cross-sectional online survey. The participants comprised female students pooled from five public and private tertiary institutions in the Anambra and Enugu state of Nigeria. The respondents completed self-report measures. The result revealed a statistically significant interaction between food skills and food choice. Thus, it was recommended that food skills are an essential determinant of healthy food choices. The implication of the study is discussed.