Abstract:

The study examines whether selected demographic factors- age and sex- differentiate the dietary behaviours of students aged 11–14, with particular attention to the number of meals consumed, the frequency of bringing a second breakfast, participation in school lunches, and the use of school shops. A quantitative survey was conducted, and descriptive statistics together with chi-square tests were applied. The findings indicate that neither age nor sex significantly influences the total number of meals or the number of hot meals consumed. Similarly, no statistically significant associations were observed for bringing a second breakfast, eating school lunches, or using school shops. The only significant relationship emerged between bringing a second breakfast and participation in school lunches, although the strength of this association was weak. The results highlight the relative stability of dietary behaviours across demographic groups and underscore the importance of school-level interventions, including meal provision, food environment regulation, and nutrition education.