Impact of Sustainable Nutrition Education on Dietary, Environmental, and Purchasing Behaviors Among University Students: A Cross-Sectional Research

Objective: This study aimed to examine the differences in food consumption patterns, priorities in sustainable food purchasing, and associated behaviors among university students, depending on whether they had received education on sustainable nutrition. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between October 2022- May 2023 with 390 university students recruited via convenience sampling from Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire that included demographic characteristics, food consumption frequency scores, food purchasing priority scores, and 2 validated Turkish versions of the Environmental Behavior Scale (EBS) and the Sustainable and Healthy Eating Behaviors Scale (SHEBS). Statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS v24.0 with appropriate parametric and nonparametric tests based on data distribution. Results: Approximately 48.7% of the participants reported that they had received education on sustainable nutrition. These students showed significantly higher consumption of poultry, fish, fruits, whole grains, and legumes (p<0.05), and placed greater importance on sustainability-oriented purchasing factors such as seasonality, organic production, nutritional quality, and minimal use of additives. They also achieved significantly higher scores on both the EBS and the SHEBS, including all of their respective sub-dimensions. Positive correlations were identified between the scores from these 2 scales and both plant-based food consumption and purchasing behaviors guided by sustainability principles. Education on sustainable nutrition appears to be positively linked to healthier and more environmentally responsible food-related behaviours. Conclusion: The findings underscore the importance of incorporating sustainability themes into nutrition education programs as a means of promoting both public health and environmental well-being.