: Recent trends in final food demand show that the concept of food has undergone a radical transformation in recent years. The diversification of food away from traditional products and in convergence with western style is responsible for changes in the whole food system. This paper aims to provide comprehensive approach to the consumer purchasing behaviour towards processed ready to eat and ready to cook food products. It thus focused on knowing the perception of the consumers towards Ready-to-Eat and ready to cook food and the impact of factors on their purchase intention. There existed an ambiguity of what Ready-to-Food is, as different sources provided with different meanings. In order to derive a niche expertise of derived findings, the research was restricted to only branded ready to eat and ready to cook food products and to Consumers who were aware about these food products. A sample of 110 respondents has been taken under convenient sampling technique in Bhubaneswar city, Odisha. The study reveals that majority of the respondents have planned decision in purchasing instant food products. Television plays a major role in providing information about instant food products.

Disclosure of information regarding the product on the packet is a critical aspect due largely to stringent regulatory regimes. Present study tries to assess the awareness of consumers about the information provided on food labels, by undertaking a survey among 120 consumers in Bhubaneswar city. It was found that consumers in India possess satisfactory level of awareness about different types of information on the food labels displayed on packaged food products, however, usage of such information as one of the criteria while purchasing packaged food product was relatively low. 67.5 per cent of the respondents had the habit of checking the information label on the packet, however, they read basic information like M.R.P and manufacturing and expiry dates.

The purposes of this study were to study the dietary patterns and health and nutritional status of the working and non-working women in Keonjhar city. A total of 55 working women and 55 non-working women in between the age of 25 to 40 years were selected randomly and comparison was done between these two groups. Height, Body weight and body mass index (BMI) were taken as variables for measurement of health and nutritional status of the respondents. Result shows that non-working women group were superior in weight and BMI than working women. As per the dietary pattern the observed value of X 2 was found to be significant at p <0.05 in case of intake of major meal of the day, consumption of snacks per day and taking meal outside criteria.

: Adolescence and puberty bring a variety of physical, social and emotional changes and is stated as a transitional period. Poor health and malnutrition may affect cognitive abilities, necessary for learning process and consequently educational achievement. Present study aims at understanding the effect of the nutritional status on cognition and academic performance of college going adolescents. 110 number of college studying adolescents aged 15 to 17 years old were selected randomly as the sample for the study. Data collected using short term memory test, visual-spatial memory test, verbal fluency/memory test, letter-cancellation task, school marks of the examination of previous year and nutritional status. About 62 per cent of the respondents were of normal nutritional status and the nutrient intakes were inconsistent with recommended dietary allowances (RDA) by ICMR. Significant relation (P<0.05) was also observed between good nutritional status and academic performances.

Knowledge about food is considered to be beneficial not only for food choice and healthy weight reduction but also as concerns its long-term implications for general health. Continuation of poor eating choices and unhealthy diet can lead to many health problems including obesity, malnutrition, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes etc. Healthy eating habits promote growth and reduce many risks associated with both immediate and long-term health problems. The main objectives of the present study were to assess nutrition related knowledge and dietary habits and practices of college going adolescent girls. The data was collected through survey method with the help of a structured questionnaire from 110 respondents. About 39 per cent of the respondents were underweight. Nutrition related knowledge of adolescent girls was not at all satisfactory.