Relationship between soft drink intake and fruit and vegetable consumption among college students

Two major nutritional concerns in the United States today are the increasing consumption of soft drinks and the decreasing intake of fruits and vegetables. This study hypothesized that there is a negative correlation between soft drink consumption and fruit and vegetable intake among college students.Data were collected by means of a 3-day food record. The collection time occurred on three consecutive specified days with college students who ate in the college dining commons. These food records were then analyzed on computer software. A Pearson correlation coefficient was obtained by comparing the average intake of fruits and vegetables for each individual with the average intake of soft drinks for each individual. Using an alpha level of 0.05 and 75 degrees of freedom, a significant negative correlation was found between the amount of soft drinks consumed and the amount of fruits and vegetables eaten.