(P02-006-23) People, Plants, and the Planet – Determinants of Food Choice & Sustainability Factors in Youth & Adolescents

Objectives: The objective of this study was to examine the drivers of food choice and sustainability considerations among 5th grade students across New Jersey.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews, with free listing activities, were conducted virtually with a convenience sample of 41 students from three school districts in New Jersey, representing different community structures: a urban, rural and suburban school district. Smith’s Salience (S) Index was used to analyze the free listing data in order to identify the most salient factors fifth-grade students considered when deciding what foods to consume.

Results: Taste and health were the most salient factors influencing food choice among students at all 3 schools, while picking up litter was the most salient sustainability consideration. Students in two of the schools indicated ocean animal protection as being a key sustainability consideration, particularly as it relates to plastics in the water and the viability of sea turtles. There was a general lack of knowledge among students related to how food choices can impact the environment, with the exception of some limited knowledge related to food waste.

Conclusions: These findings provide insight into the drivers of food choice and sustainability considerations among 5th grade students. These findings can assist in the design of interventions and school curriculum that can help to shift food choices towards more plant-based foods in the context of climate change mitigation. Through this grant we are utilizing these results to help formulate a curriculum for 5th grade students surrounding plant-based eating and climate change.

Funding Sources: United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF)