Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ)for University Students
Topic: Snacking behaviour
Purpose: This questionnaire is designed to understand the frequency and nature of your typical
snacking habits over the past month. All responses will be kept strictly confidential and used for
research purposes only.
Section 1: Basic Information
1. Age: _________
2. Gender: ☐Male ☐Female ☐Other
3. Education Level: ☐Matric ☐Intermediate ☐Bachelor ☐Master ☐Other
4. Height: ______ cm
5. Weight: ______ kg
6. BMI: __________kg/m²
7. Do you have any diagnosed dietary restrictions? ☐Yes ☐No
If yes, specify: _________________________________________________
Section 2: Breakfast Consumption & Snacking Behavior
1. Do you usually consume breakfast?
☐Yes, daily ☐3–5x/ week ☐Occasionally ☐No, I usually skip breakfast
2. On days when you consume breakfast, do you also snack later in the day?
☐Yes ☐No
3. If you skip breakfast, do you snack instead of having breakfast?
☐Yes ☐ No ☐Sometimes
4. If you skip breakfast, what is the main reason? (You may tick more than one)
☐Lack of time ☐No appetite in the morning ☐Weight control/body image concerns
☐Academic workload ☐Financial reasons ☐Cultural or personal habit ☐Other:_________
Section 3: Snacking Without Breakfast
[Link] you skip breakfast, how soon do you consume your first snack?
☐Within 1–2 hours ☐After 3–4 hours ☐Late morning ☐Around lunchtime
2. What type of snacks do you usually consume when breakfast is skipped?
☐Homemade snacks ☐Packaged snacks ☐Fruits ☐Sugar-sweetened beverages ☐Fast food
☐Combination of the above
Section 4: Eating Disorder–Related Screening
1. Have you ever been diagnosed with or experienced symptoms related to an eating disorder?
☐No ☐Yes ☐Prefer not to say
2. If yes, please indicate (optional):
☐Anorexia nervosa ☐Bulimia nervosa ☐Binge eating disorder ☐Other: _____________
3. Do concerns about body weight or shape influence your eating or snacking habits?
☐Yes ☐No ☐Sometimes
Section 5: General Snacking Habits
Please select the most appropriate option for each question.
Questions Options
1. How often do you usually snack ☐0 times ☐1 time ☐2 times ☐3 times ☐More than 3 times
per day?
2. What time do you snack the ☐Morning ☐Afternoon ☐Evening ☐Late night
most?
3. Do you snack more when stressed ☐Yes ☐No ☐Sometimes
or bored?
4. Where do you usually snack? ☐Home ☐Institute ☐Work ☐On the go ☐Other: ___________
Section 6: Food Frequency (Snacking Items)
For each food item, please tick the box that indicates how often you consume it over a typical month.
A. Salty Snacks
Food Items Never 1-2x/ month 1-2x/ 3-4x/ week Daily More than
week once/daily
Chips (Lays, Kurkure, etc.) ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Salted biscuits/crackers ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Popcorn ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Nimko ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
B. Sweet Snacks
Food Items Never 1-2x/ month 1-2x/ 3-4x/ Daily More than
week week once/day
Chocolates ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Cookies/biscuits ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Cakes/pastries ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Ice cream ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
C. Fast Food
Food Items Never 1-2x/ month 1-2x/ 3-4x/ Daily More than
week week once/day
Samosa/Pakora ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Burgers/Sandwiches ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Instant noodles ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Shawarma/Rolls ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
D. Healthy Snacks
Food Items Never 1-2x/ month 1-2x/ 3-4x/ Daily More than
week week once/day
Fresh fruits ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Nuts (almonds, peanuts, ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
etc.)
Yogurt ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Boiled eggs ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
E. Beverages Consumed as Snacks
Food Items Never 1-2x/ 1-2x/ 3-4x/ Daily More than
month week week once/day
Soft drinks ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Energy drinks ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Packaged juices ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Tea/Chai with biscuits ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Section 4: Portion Size
When you snack, for how much do you usually eat?
Questions Options
1. Portion size of salty snacks (chips, nimko): ☐Small packet ☐Medium packet ☐Large packet
2. Portion size of sweet snacks: 1 small piece ☐2–3 pieces ☐Large portion
3. Portion size of fast food: ☐Half serving ☐1 serving ☐More than 1 serving
Section 5: Eating Behavior
Questions Options
1. Do you read nutrition labels before choosing snacks? ☐Yes ☐No
2. Do you try to choose low-calorie or low-fat snacks? ☐Yes ☐No ☐Sometimes
3. Do you feel guilty after unhealthy snacking? ☐Yes ☐No ☐Sometimes
Section 6: Additional Comments
Please provide any additional information about your snacking habits that you feel is relevant:
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