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Objective:

To identify the differences in food habits and preferences among the adolescents according to socio-demographic characteristics.

Design:

Cross-sectional, cluster design survey in 2002.

Setting:

Eight middle schools in two distinct socio-economic areas of the Jiangsu province, China.

Subjects:

Some 824 young adolescents (12–14 y) attending public schools with a response rate of 99%.

Methods:

A self-administered questionnaire containing questions on food and meal frequencies, food preferences and socio-demographic characteristics was used.

Results:

High socio-economic status (SES) and urban residence was positively associated with intake of high-energy foods, such as foods of animal origin, Western style foods and dairy products. In all, 76% of the students had three meals a day regularly, but 8.1% urban students vs 3.4% rural students had breakfast only 1–3 times per week or less often. Daily fruit …