This article shows the results of a research project whose objective was to determine and describe the nourishing habits among San Martin University dentistry students in Bogota, Colombia. The type of study was observational cross-section in a college student population from first to tenth semester. The sample consisted of 319 students. The inclusion criterion was to be registered in the first semester of 2008. The variables involved in this study were: nourishing habits, semester, gender, age, number of meals eaten during the day, class of food that they ate, time allotted to eat, money destined to buy food, and criteria to choose a food. The average age was 21.3±3.7 years, where the Body Mass Index was classified in low weight at 11% (n=35), normal at 76.8% (n=245), overweight at 9.1% (n=29) and obesity at 1.3% (n=6). Relevant differences were found between 3 to 4 daily meals (t test, p=0.0322), before and after enrolling the university, being at present 42% (n=134) and before 52.7% (n=168). The predominant reason to consume some food fewer than three times a week was the lack of time. The foods that they eat more are: milk at breakfast 64.3% (n=142), meats, eggs, and vegetables at lunch and dinner in 77.2% (n=186) and 58.5% (n=137) respectively. It was concluded that changes in the student life style upon entering university were reflected in the nourishing habits, diminishing the number of daily meals by reasons such as lack of time and economic difficulties.
