Consequences on young people´s dietary intake and nutritional status when adopting plant-based diets of differing strictness (VeggiSkills Sweden)

Today´s food habits are leading contributors to the global burden of disease and negative environmental disruptions. Thus, there is a need for radical transformation to a higher prevalence of plant-based diets.

However, unless appropriately planned, with a wide range of dietary diversity, plant-based diets may fail to provide sufficient nutrients and prove unsustainable in the longer term.The aims are to 1) assess dietary and nutritional consequences of plant-based diets with different strictness, 2) investigate young peoples´ food literacy, attitudes and behaviours in relation to plant-based diets and 3) explore which factors impact the adherence to a sustainable plant-based diet.In total, 240 participants between 16-24-years old (50% males) will be recruited through e.g., schools and social media (60 vegans, 60 lacto-ovo-vegetarians, 60 non-red meat eaters and 60 omnivores).

Dietary intake will be assessed through a web-based 24 h recall (4 random non-consecutive days, including one weekend day), and a short FFQ.Nutritional status will be assessed regarding iron, B12, vitamin D, carotenoid and iodine, and bone mineral content and body composition will be measured.

Participants’ food and nutrition literacy, health-related behaviours and attitudes regarding food and nutrition will be investigated in a questionnaire survey, and factors that are perceived to facilitate or impede adherence to a sustainable plant-based diet will be explored through qualitative interviews.

The same studies proposed in Sweden will be carried out in Norway and Australia to allow cross-cultural comparisons.The proposed project addresses a new era, where people all over the world are urged to adopt a plant-based diet to a higher extent.

If we are to promote sustainable food habits, we need new and up-to-date knowledge about the consequences of different forms of plant-based diets for young people´s dietary intake and nutritional status, as well as what support they need.