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has been cited by the following article:

• TITLE: Factors Associated with Students’ Daily Fruit and Vegetable Recommendation at Umm Al-Qura University

  AUTHORS: Heba Althubaiti

  KEYWORDS: Fruit Intake, Veg Intake, F & V Recommendation, Students, Umm Al-Qura University

  JOURNAL NAME: Food and Nutrition Sciences, Vol.13 No.2, February 14, 2022

  ABSTRACT: Introduction: There is a lack of the awareness in the fruit and vegetable (F & V) recommendation among Saudi society. Although the known facts of the benefits of F & V on health, information on Saudi society following the advised recommendation whether by WHO or local are still unknown. Aim: This cross-sectional study aims to examine the perception of F & V intake among students at Umm Al-Qura University and to assess if they follow these recommendations of F & V locally and internationally. Method: Students from Umm Al-Qura University participated in this study (n = 98, age between 18 - 55). All data were collected using short online survey via Online survey—Survey Monkey in 2019. Result: 55% students were not aware of these recommendations whereas 45% were aware of WHO recommendation. The majority of students 53% have less than two portions a day of F & V. Only 14% have between two to four portions a day. 32% do not eat any portion of F & V daily. 59%, 14%, 5% of students believe that they should have five, seven, more than seven portions a day for being healthy respectively. Maintaining health, reducing the risk for chronic disease and providing essential vitamins and minerals to the body were all reasons why students believe that they should have F & V everyday by 71%. Busy lifestyle, F & V cost, lack of the awareness about the health benefits, dislike of the taste, some F & V spoiled easily were all factors affecting eating F & V daily. Conclusion: University students need educational and nutritional campaigns to spread the awareness about the health benefits of F & V. Most importantly the ministry of health should support those campaigns to increase students’ awareness and build a healthy society with a good habit.