Food sources among young people in five major Canadian cities

To examine food sources among young people in five major Canadian cities.

As part of the 2016 Canada Food Study, respondents aged 16-30 were recruited from five Canadian cities (Toronto, Montreal, Halifax, Edmonton, and Vancouver) using in-person intercept sampling and completed an online survey (n = 2840 retained for analysis). Descriptive statistics were used to summarize food preparation and purchase locations. A linear regression model was fitted to examine correlates of the proportion of meals that were ready-to-eat or prepared outside the home.

In total, 80% of meals were prepared at home and 20% were prepared outside the home. More than 25% of meals prepared at home were ready-to-eat/box food. Of all meals consumed, 42% were either ready-to-eat/box food prepared at home or prepared outside the home. Food for meals prepared at home was purchased predominantly at grocery stores/supercentres while meals prepared outside the home were purchased predominantly at fast food/quick service/coffee shop outlets. Respondents who were younger, identified as Aboriginal, had obesity, had no children, lived in residence at school, university, or college, and reported poorer cooking skills reported more meals that were ready-to-eat or prepared outside the home.

The current findings indicate that a substantial proportion of meals consumed by young people consist of meals either prepared outside the home or ready-to-eat/box food prepared at home. Dietary recommendations should highlight basic patterns of food preparation and eating, such as limiting ultra-processed food and food prepared outside the home.