Revealed Preferences Towards and Away From Healthy Diets: Diet Quality and Income in Malawi, 2010–2019

vendors into school structures.Data were analyzed using thematic analysis with deductive and inductive coding.Results: Food vendors are the primary providers of meals in schools, primarily offering fried foods and snacks.Both vendors and adolescents have limited nutrition knowledge, influencing their understanding of healthy food choices.Adolescents prioritize affordability, taste, food safety, social interactions, and portion size, while vendors focus on profitability when selecting food options.Challenges such as inadequate training, limited resources, and lack of guidelines hinder vendors' ability to provide nutritious options.However, targeted interventions at the individual, school, and policy levels can help vendors offer healthier choices.Conclusions: Food vendors are central to the school food environment in Tanzania, but limited nutrition knowledge and systemic barriers impede healthy food choices for both vendors and students.Whole school interventions are needed to empower vendors to offer more nutritious options and improve adolescent health outcomes.