Food consumption behaviour patterns of Chinese students registered at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology and The University of the Western Cape

Abstract

Owing to the increase in the Chinese student population in South Africa, the establishment of a Chinese food market in the Cape Metropole is being mooted. This article focuses on the food consumption behaviour of Chinese students who are studying at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) and the University of theWestern Cape (UWC). The analysis reveals that the majority of Chinese students eat two meals per day, (usually skipping breakfast), they generally prefer not to eat at home, and they eat both Chinese and South African food alternately. Furthermore, the attitudes of the respondents towards Chinese and South African foods are influenced by factors such as freshness, convenience and availability.