Objectives: The present study was therefore conducted to assess expenses incurred on junk food among schoolgoing adolescents girls in Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh. Material and Methods: A pilot study was conducted among 336 adolescent girls from both government as well as private schools of Barabanki district in Uttar Pradesh. The study subjects were enrolled in the study using multistage sampling.Girls were interviewed face to face using semi-structured questionnaire to gather information about their dietary habits and preponderance towards junk foods and were assessed for their mean monthly expenditure on the same.

Results: The mean out of pocket expenditure was 127.38 + 102.45 INR (medium 97; Range 0 – 530). About 40.7% of the study subjects were habitual to daily intake of any type of junk food. However rest 30.3% take junk foods 3 to 4 times a week.Statistically significant mean difference was observed between nuclear and joint families as well as between rural and urban residence and between study subjects belonging to lower middle and above socio-economic status.

Conclusion: Awareness among youngsters regarding the long term hazardous effects of junk foods must be increased. Caregivers can play a significant role in substituting the children preference towards healthy food.