Towards an understanding of young people's conceptualisation of food and eating

Young people's perceptions of food were explored in this qualitative research project. Eighty-one adolescents aged 13 or 14 years participated in semi-structured individual interviews in which the meaning of and associated beliefs concerning foods were examined. The findings indicate that many young people conceptualise and classify foods into either 'healthy' or 'fast' foods. Data analysis indicated that the percerved social acceptability of these foods to adults and young people differed and that the location of consumption also varied. Future health promotion inter ventions designed to influence the eating patterns of young people need to be based upon an understanding of their complex belief systems.