Journal of Food Security, 2016, Vol. 4, No. 3, 52-57 Available online at http://pubs.sciepub.com/jfs/4/3/1 © Science and Education Publishing DOI:10.12691/jfs-4-3-1 Food Purchasing Behaviors and Food Insecurity among College Students at The University of Texas at San Antonio Lesli Biediger-Friedman 1,* , Bonnie Sanchez 2 , Meizi He 2 , Jianmin Guan 2 , Zenong Yin 2 1 School of Family and Consumer Sciences, Texas State University, 601 University Dr., San Marcos, TX 78666, USA 2 Department of Health and Kinesiology, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA *Corresponding author: LB47@txstate.edu Abstract A decline in diet quality observed in college students can be attributed to consuming less than the recommended amounts of primary food groups (dairy, fruit, vegetables, and grains) and higher intakes of sweetened beverages. The investigation of food purchasing behaviors may help explain the potential influences, like food security and access to healthy food that may be causing the shift in dietary patterns. This study used receipt analysis and assessed food security in a cross-sectional sample of 258 undergraduate and graduate students. Food security questionnaires and seven-day food and beverage receipt logs were analyzed. Over half of the sampled population were between 21-25 years of age, of which a majority were undergraduates and lived off campus. Results showed that almost a third of the students were classified as having either very low (11.6%) or low (19.4%) food security. The largest amount of money was spent on grocery store purchases. The highest frequency of purchases occurred at fast-food venues and included a sugar-sweetened beverage and fried food. Gender differences were found in fast- food purchases, with males spending an average of $19.27 and females spending an average of $18.29 per week. However, no significant gender differences in the frequency of purchases made at grocery stores, convenience stores, fast-food restaurants, sit-down restaurants or campus dining venues. Moreover, students living in off-campus apartments purchased significantly more fruits and vegetables than students living with parents. The study findings indicate that purchasing patterns persist across levels of food security and for all levels are compounded by less than optimal purchasing of fruit and vegetables. Keywords: food security, college student health, food purchasing Cite This Article: Lesli Biediger-Friedman, Bonnie Sanchez, Meizi He, Jianmin Guan, and Zenong Yin, “Food Purchasing Behaviors and Food Insecurity among College Students at The University of Texas at San Antonio.” Journal of Food Security, vol. 4, no. 3 (2016): 52-57. doi: 10.12691/jfs-4-3-1. 1. Introduction Food purchasing behavior influences and may provide insight into dietary intake of a selected population. Food purchasing behavior among undergraduate and graduate- level college students is intriguing as changes to dietary patterns often result in a decrease in overall diet quality [1]. Dietary pattern changes that occur during the transition into young adulthood often result in a decrease in overall diet quality. Numerous studies have identified the trends of limited fruit and vegetable consumption and high fatty food consumption by college students [2,3,4]. In fact, college students often report consuming less than the recommended amounts of primary food groups, including grains, fruits, vegetables, dairy and meat(s) [2,5,6]. The 2010 National College Health Assessment found that only 6% of college students consumed the recommended daily serving of fruits and vegetables [2]. Furthermore, previous research has indicated caloric imbalance and high intake of sweetened beverages is common among college students [7,8] and has been associated with weight gain [9]. Overall, serious health issues may arise with limited fruit and vegetable intake and high intake of sugar- sweetened beverages. This shift in dietary patterns away from nutrient dense foods may stem from a variety of factors that influence food purchasing behavior, including food security, access to healthy food and low income level. In 2012, 41% of US 18 to 24 year olds attended a two or four year degree-granting institution with many depending on financial aid [10]. The 2014 Hunger in America report stated that out of 33.7 million of their clients receiving food assistance 2.1 million of them were full time college students [11]. By examining the food purchasing behaviors of college students, appropriate environmental, educational, and dietary intervention methods can be developed [12]. Food insecurity is common among college students and indicates inadequate access to food, as related to income, location, or food cost [13,14]. In 2013, 14.3% of US households and 18.0% of Texas households were reported as food insecure, with household income at or below the poverty line as a primary risk factor [13,15]. In contrast, almost a third (31%) of the participants in this study were classified as having very low or low food security. Research suggests that food insecurity, including college student food insecurity, is