Abstract:
This study investigated the food habits of international students at the
University of Ghana, employing the theory of acculturation as a guiding
framework. The aim of the study was to examine whether the food practices,
patterns, and settings of international students changed after arriving in Ghana.
A cross-sectional study design was employed, and data were collected from
122 international students using questionnaires. Both descriptive (frequencies,
percentages, mean and standard deviation) and inferential analyses
(independent t-test, ANOVA, paired t-test and factor analysis) were used to
analyze the data. The findings of the study indicated that there is a noticeable
shift in the food habits of international students following their arrival in
Ghana. The study revealed that various aspects of food practices, including
consumption patterns and dining environments, undergo changes. These
changes can be attributed to the exposure to new cultural experiences,
including different cuisines, culinary practices, and social dining norms within
the Ghanaian context.
In conclusion, it can be said that there has been changes in the food habits of
international students. Changes were observed in international students‘ food
settings, practices and patterns after coming to Ghana. In furtherance, these
changes in eating practices and patterns can be attributed largely to
environmental, individual and food-related factors. It is therefore
recommended that food service providers, in and around Legon, should
provide meals that can cater for the diverse student background especially
international students.
