A KAP study on food expenditure and food consumption pattern among college students staying at hostel in Lucknow District

College students living in hostels often experience a shift in dietary habits due to newfound independence, financial constraints, and limited food choices. This study explores the knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to food expenditure and consumption patterns among college students residing in hostels across Lucknow District. Understanding these patterns is essential for developing effective nutrition interventions and institutional policies. Using a structured questionnaire, the study assessed students’ budget allocation for food, frequency of fast-food consumption, snacking behaviors, meal-skipping tendencies, and awareness of dietary consequences. The findings reveal that students spending 40–60% of their monthly budget on food are more likely to consume fast food and snacks frequently, often driven by convenience and dissatisfaction with hostel meals. Longer hostel stays were linked to poorer eating habits, despite students’ awareness of the associated health risks. The study underscores a critical gap between nutritional knowledge and actual food-related behavior, especially among higher-income students. It calls for targeted measures such as improved hostel food services, structured nutrition education, and student-centered dietary policies to foster healthier lifestyles and prevent long-term health complications