Teenage diet: Context and companions determine eating habits

Objective: To show the significance of diet and related habits in a group of teenage students at Our Lady of Guadalupe School in Cali (Colombia). Method: This is an exploratory study with a qualitative approach that is guided by dialectical hermeneutics and uses a content analysis technique. The study took into account family, school and street environs where teenagers interact with their peers or friends. The sample was comprised of 31 teenagers (17 females and 14 males), 10 family members (six mothers, two fathers and two grandparents), three teachers and the manager of the school cafeteria. Results: Sub-categories that determine and influence the type of food these teenagers consume were established on the basis of context and companions. Food choices and intake are influenced in the family, by tradition; in the school, by autonomy, economic availability, group preferences and the supply of food at the cafeteria; and on the street, by gender, friendship and love. Conclusions: Context and companions determine the type and quality of foods teenagers consume.