Organic Food Consumption Perceptions of U14-U16 Athletes and Trainers In The Hockey National Team Candidates

Abstract

Organic foods are healthier, safer, and higher quality than conventional foods. For this reason, organic food consumption must be included in the sportspeople’s nutrition who are constantly physically active. The study planned in this direction aims to determine the perspective of the Turkey national hockey team’s sportspeople and trainers on organic food consumption. For this purpose, organic food awareness level, organic food disadvantage perception, and attitudes towards organic food of 58 people (48 athletes and 10 coaches) in the Turkey hockey national team candidate cadre in 2019, were evaluated through questionnaires. In the study, it was seen that the variables of sports age, preferred place for shopping for organic products, and the idea that organic products are healthier are effective on the perception of organic food awareness level of the participants. It was determined that there was a significant difference between the participants' father's education level, occupation of participants and the perception of disadvantage towards organic food (p<0.05). It has been observed that the variables that are effective in the scale of attitude towards organic food are the monthly income and gender of the participants in the study. In addition, the difference between the thought that organic products are purchased because they are healthier than non-organic food products and the attitude towards organic food was found to be significant (p<0.05).