Food consumption patterns among university students in Indonesia during the transition period in new Normal Era of Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The Covid-19 outbreak that occurred in Indonesia affected all aspects of community life, including students, especially in food consumption patterns. Our study aims to investigate the differences in eating habits of health and non-health students during the transition period to the new normal era. This study used a cross-sectional design with a sample of 5,924 students. The questionnaire was in the form of an e-survey with a google form. The students' diet was obtained using a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). The Mann Whitney test was used to analyze the differences in dietary patterns between health and non-health majors. There was a significant difference in student consumption patterns including daily eating habits (p = 0.002), consumption of animal side dishes (p = 0.000), vegetable consumption (p = 0.000), water consumption (p = 0.000), changes in eating frequency (p = 0.013) and changes in the amount of food consumed (p = 0.008). There were differences in consumption patterns between students majoring in health and non-health during the transition period. A good diet is needed in increasing immunity in students during the transition period.