Food habits of University of Education, Winneba Campus female workers and their families

Abstract

Food is fundamental and basic to human survival, and maintaining health. What and when we eat affects our health. Food habits like what and when we eat depends on the diverse socio-cultural and economic environment. Traditionally, provision of family meals is part of the woman’s main domestic activities. A woman in paid job outside the home suffers in her home management. This study sought to explore issues pertaining to the dual role of the employed woman with regard to feeding the family and her commitment to her job. The study was conducted on the Winneba Campus of the University of Education. A questionnaire and an interview guide were used to collect data from 132 female staff respondents. Data collected was analysed by means of SPSS to derive frequencies and percentages on the results. ANOVA was used to test the hypotheses on employment and marital status on food habit. Findings of the study revealed that most of the employed women depended on reheated dishes to feed the family because of the limited time at their disposal; the woman’s job affected the family meal schedule, especially breakfast and supper time on weekdays; most of them ate packed meals during lunch break; the family’s main challenge was the inability to wait for the minimum two hours after supper before bedtime; the respondents were most often assisted by someone, especially househelps to cope with problems associated with feeding the family; the respondents used labour-saving devices in the preparation and cooking of family meals; they were also aware of some diet-related diseases and this influenced their choice of food for family meals. Based on the findings it is recommended that fresh fruits and vegetables should always be added to the reheated dishes to make up for the vitamins destroyed in the reheating process; family members must encourage each other to wait for the minimum of two hours after eating supper before going to bed; they can engage in activities which will keep them awake; family members should have yearly health examinations to detect any diet-related disease early for early treatment. The study has emphasized that when women engage in paid jobs outside the home, it affects the food habits of the family.