Healthfulness, Modernity, and Availability of Food and Beverages: Adolescents’ Perceptions in Southern India.

Abstract

This study uses freelists to document perceptions of healthfulness, modernity, and availability of foods and beverages among adolescents ages 13–18 years (n = 26) in urbanizing India. Among the 10 foods and beverages adolescents perceived as “new,” half were also seen as modern and unhealthy, 4 as traditional and unhealthy, and 3 as modern and healthy. Of those 10 “new” foods, 4 were reported as available only in supermarkets, 4 only in kiraana (local) stores, and 6 in both. Adolescents ascribed healthfulness and modernity to food and beverage items and were aware of their availability across stores.