Abstract
This study aimed at determining factors influencing noodle consumption and nutrient intake of
noodle consumers among Babcock University undergraduate students. Multistage random
technique was used to select 325 respondents and a well- structured questionnaire was used to
obtain information on the socio- economic and dietary intake of the respondents. The 24- hour
dietary recall was analysed using Total Dietary Assessment software. The result shows that
more females (71.7%) participated in the study and many of the respondents (78.8%) were in the
age range of 19 – 22years. Factors responsible for noodle consumption among the respondents
include; non-satisfaction with cafeteria food (47.4%), easy affordability (22.2%), ease of
preparation (25.5%) and tight schedule (4.9%). 21.8% consumed noodle daily while 47.1% of the
respondents consumed it three times in a week. The respondents consumed noodle at any time of
the day with 26.2 % consuming in- between meals and many eat it in the evening (41.5%).
Consumption of carbohydrate and fat is high (% Recommended Dietary Allowance for
carbohydrate being 165.01 for females and 175.92 for male) while fibre consumption is low (%
Recommended Dietary Allowance being 45.56 for female and 29.76 for male) among the two
genders. Intake of vitamin A, vitamin C, folate, vitamin B12, zinc and calcium was poor among
the respondents.
