Food Choices of the Future: The Relationship Between Mindful Eating and Sustainability in University Students

İntroduction:

Problems such as rapidly increasing population worldwide, climate change, depletion of natural resources and environmental degradation increase the importance of sustainable nutrition more than ever. Sustainable nutrition is defined as an approach that encourages healthy and balanced food choices by considering the environmental, social and economic impacts of food production and consumption systems. In this context, sustainability of food systems is not only limited to environmental impacts, but also has important implications for the health status of individuals and social equity.

Awareness of individuals' food choices is a critical element that directly affects both their personal health and the future of the planet. Eating mindfulness helps individuals make healthy food choices by increasing their sensory and mental attention during the eating process. This concept includes not only focusing on feelings of hunger and satiety, but also understanding the sources, nutritional values and environmental impacts of the foods eaten. Developing eating awareness can enable individuals to reduce food waste, make more informed choices regarding nutritional value, and adopt a more sustainable approach to food consumption, taking into account environmental impacts.

University students usually develop independent eating habits during this period of their lives and consider environmental, economic and health-related factors in this process. The eating habits of young people may shape their lifelong healthy eating behaviors. During this period, students' awareness of environmental awareness and sustainable food preferences becomes an important factor affecting their future food choices. However, many young individuals may not have sufficient knowledge about sustainable nutrition and eating awareness.

This study aims to examine the relationship between eating awareness and sustainable eating habits of university students. The main objectives of the project were to determine students' levels of eating awareness, their level of knowledge about sustainable food choices and the interaction between these two concepts. Based on the findings, educational programs and awareness campaigns will be proposed to promote healthy and sustainable eating habits for university students. In this context, the project aims to contribute to the adoption of healthy eating habits at both individual and societal levels.