Shifting New Jersey Adolescents Toward Sustainable Diets: Factors that Influence Their Food Choices and Views on...

The objective of this study was to understand the drivers of food choice among adolescents, to examine their views related to sustainability, and to compare these across 3 school districts with different geographical and sociodemographic profiles in New Jersey.

Semistructured interviews, including free-listing activities SETTING: Three different schools (an urban school serving students from households with middle income, an urban school serving students from households with low income, and a rural school serving students from households with middle income) in New Jersey.

A total of 41 fifth-grade students (aged 10-12 years) were recruited via classroom announcements (15 participants from an urban school serving students from households with middle income, 15 participants from an urban school serving students from households with low income, and 11 participants from a rural school serving students from households with middle income).

Key factors influencing adolescents' food choices relating to plant-based foods and knowledge and attitudes toward sustainability.

Thematic analysis identified key themes related to drivers of food choice and perceptions of sustainability. Free-listing data were analyzed using Smith's Saliency Index to determine the most salient factors.

Taste, texture, interpersonal relationships, and physical effects (e.g., digestion) were primary factors influencing adolescents' food choices. Participants generally lacked awareness of food-related environmental impacts but identified behaviors such as reducing littering as contributing to sustainability.

Emphasizing taste, texture, and positive physical effects of plant-based foods could enhance adolescents' willingness to shift their food choices. Linking environmental impacts of food choices to behaviors may strengthen engagement with sustainability concepts and increase the likelihood of behavior change.