Teenage meal patterns and food choices in a Finnish city

The aim of this study was to identify meal patterns among Finnish teenagers and factors influencing them, and the role of teenagers’ independent food choices in their weekday eating schedules. A semistructured interview was carried out on 35 14‐year‐old teenagers selected from a school in the center of Helsinki, the capital. Additional information was obtained by questionnaire and observations.

The majority of subjects followed a three‐meal pattern of breakfast, lunch and dinner. In blue‐collar families mothers took care of meal preparation, teenagers had fewer outside activities and ate three meals a day. White‐collar family meal patterns were more irregular with mothers working late and children with outside interests at dinner time. Finnish urban middle‐class life style does not support regular family meals.

Most teenagers bought candies during the lunch hour. Those who did not lacked close classmates. Milk and sandwiches were eaten at home after school; hamburgers were consumed outside a couple of times per week. Parties offered soft drinks and snacks. Sharing food with friends was the rule. In independent eating situations mixing, not food, was most important. Teenagers knew parents would not approve many of their independent choices, an expression of contrasts between teenage and adult life style.

Key words:

• meal patterns
• independent food choices
• teenagers
• Finland