The Effect of Environmental

Factors on Teen Intake of

Healthy Food
Danielle Alexandra Drummond

Research Problem and Background

Study was conducted by the CDC
As of 2011, 75% of teenagers were not eating the required
amount of fruits and vegetables
Healthy food is provided for children in the cafeteria
Purpose of project
o To encourage teens to eat healthier
o This will benefit the circumvent of future health problems

EDD
Hypothesis: The different environmental factors will increase healthy meal intake.
Sub-Hypothesis: The different environmental factors will increase enjoy ability of healthy
meal
IV: Environmental Factors
IV:
Color
Levels of the Control

Colored Plates

Music

Colored Salad

IV:
Trials:

DV: Healthy meal consumption (measured by weight before and after)

Constants: relative age of participants, Healthy meal taste, kind and color of utensils, room
participants were in, time participants experimented

Materials and Methods

Fresh Express salad
Plain plates
Colored plates
Music Player
Food dye
Scale
Forks
Foil wrap

Gather Participants
Have Them Return Consent
Forms
Divide into four groups
Give each Group Different
Variable to test
Short Online Questionnaire
Data Analysis via Chi
square

Results
Enjoy ability

Control

Colored Plate

Music Playing Colored Salad

Averages:

3.25

5.67

7.3

3.25

Calculated
Value:

N/A

.656547085

1.554739336

Significance:

N/A

Not Significant Significant

Not Significant

Amount Eaten Control

Colored Plate

Music Playing Colored Salad

Averages:

.725 oz.

.867 oz.

.833 oz.

.6 oz.

Calculated
Value:

N/A

.012665829

0.007485621

0.011792453

Significance:

N/A

Not Significant Not Significant Not Significant

Conclusions
Hypothesis rejected
Sub-hypothesis was partially accepted
Music playing increases how much teens enjoy their meal
Colored Salad and Colored Plates have no effect on enjoy
ability
No level had an effect on amount teens ate

Wrap - Up
Results Implicated on Future
o Try different variations of music
o Test other foods including non-healthy ones as well
Project Improvements
o Same participants through out all levels
o More variables
o Different way of calculating dependent variable

Sources of Error
o Time
o Calculations
o High alpha levels

Acknowledgements

Jill Beach
Scott Bolen
Tyrone Huebsch
Nicole Cranston

Bibliography
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