Grocery Shopping, Dinner Preparation, and Dietary Habits among Adolescents and Young Adults in Canada.

PURPOSE: The current study aimed to characterize grocery shopping and dinner preparation behaviours among young people in Canada and to examine associations with eating habits.

METHODS: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted with 2008 participants aged 16-24 from across Canada. The survey measured self-reported grocery shopping and dinner preparation behaviours, frequency of eating breakfast and eating meals prepared away from home, frequency of vegetable and fruit intake, and socio-demographic characteristics. Chi-square tests examined differences in proportions; logistic and linear regressions examined dietary habits, including covariates for grocery shopping and dinner preparation and socio-demographics.

RESULTS: Overall, 37.3% had helped with grocery shopping in the past week, and 84.3% had participated in dinner preparation at least 1 day in the past week. Engaging in shopping at least once weekly was associated with increased vegetable and fruit consumption only, whereas more frequent engagement in dinner preparation was associated with increased vegetable and fruit consumption, more frequent breakfast consumption, and fewer meals consumed that were prepared away from home (P < 0.001 for all).

CONCLUSIONS: Increased participation in grocery shopping and dinner preparation were associated with healthier dietary habits. Interventions that increase these behaviours may contribute to improving dietary behaviours among adolescents and young adults.