During COVID-19 lockdown in Spain, junk food consumption skyrocketed from 30% to 88% of the population, while healthy food intake plummeted, with 97% of people failing to meet nutritional recommendations. According to Gram Research analysis of this cross-sectional study comparing 46,801 Spanish people across three time periods, most eating habits returned to normal after lockdown ended, though dairy and whole grain consumption remained lower than pre-pandemic levels.
When Spain locked down during COVID-19, people’s eating habits changed dramatically. Researchers compared what people ate before, during, and after lockdown using data from over 23,000 people. During lockdown, people ate way more junk food like sweets and snacks—jumping from 30% to 88% of the population. They also ate less healthy foods like dairy, whole grains, and fish. The good news? After lockdown ended, most eating habits returned to normal, though some unhealthy patterns stuck around. This research shows how stressful times can push us toward worse food choices.
Key Statistics
A 2026 cross-sectional study of 46,801 Spanish people found that consumption of sweets, snacks, and fast food above recommended levels jumped from 30% before COVID-19 lockdown to 88% during lockdown.
During COVID-19 lockdown in Spain, 97% of the population failed to meet recommended daily intake for any major food group, according to a 2026 analysis comparing dietary patterns before, during, and after restrictions.
A 2026 study of Spanish dietary patterns found that dairy consumption decreased by 6.2% and whole grain intake fell by 7.6% during COVID-19 lockdown, with dairy remaining 6.2 percentage points lower even after restrictions ended.
Legume consumption increased by 10.1 percentage points during COVID-19 lockdown in Spain and remained elevated after restrictions lifted, suggesting people may have adopted this healthy habit during the crisis, according to a 2026 cross-sectional analysis.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: How Spanish people’s eating habits changed before, during, and after COVID-19 lockdown, and whether those changes lasted after restrictions ended.
- Who participated: Three groups of Spanish people: 23,089 surveyed in 2017, 1,640 surveyed during lockdown, and 22,072 surveyed in 2020. The groups were representative of the general Spanish population.
- Key finding: During lockdown, junk food consumption skyrocketed from 30% to 88% of people eating sweets, snacks, and fast food above healthy levels. Healthy food intake dropped sharply, with 97% of people failing to meet recommendations for basic food groups.
- What it means for you: Crisis periods like lockdowns can trigger unhealthy eating patterns, but most people naturally return to better habits once restrictions lift. However, staying aware of these patterns and actively choosing healthy foods during stressful times may help prevent the initial slide into poor nutrition.
The Research Details
Researchers used a straightforward comparison method called cross-sectional analysis. They looked at three separate snapshots in time: what people ate in 2017 (before COVID), what they ate during lockdown in 2020, and what they ate after lockdown ended in 2020. For each snapshot, they asked people detailed questions about their food choices using a food frequency questionnaire—basically a checklist of foods asking how often people ate them.
They used the same type of survey tool for all three time periods, which makes the comparison fair and reliable. The researchers then used statistical tests to figure out whether the differences they saw were real and meaningful, not just random chance. With such large groups of people (over 46,000 total), they could be confident their findings reflected what was actually happening in Spain.
This research design is powerful because it captures real-world eating patterns across a major life event. Most studies only look at one moment in time, but this one shows before, during, and after—like watching a movie instead of looking at a single photo. This helps researchers understand whether changes are temporary reactions to stress or lasting shifts in behavior. The large, nationally representative sample means the findings likely apply to most Spanish people, not just a small group.
The study’s main strength is its large sample size and use of nationally representative data, meaning the results likely reflect what actually happened in Spain. The researchers used the same survey method across all three time periods, making comparisons fair. However, the lockdown sample (1,640 people) was smaller than the other two groups, which could introduce some uncertainty. The study relies on people’s memory of what they ate, which isn’t always perfectly accurate. The research was published in Scientific Reports, a reputable peer-reviewed journal, adding credibility to the findings.
What the Results Show
The most striking finding was the dramatic increase in junk food consumption during lockdown. Before lockdown, about 30% of Spanish people ate sweets, snacks, and fast food above recommended levels. During lockdown, this jumped to 88%—nearly three times higher. At the same time, people ate significantly less of the healthy stuff: dairy products dropped by 6.2%, whole grains and starches fell by 7.6%, fish consumption decreased by 2.1%, and legumes (beans, lentils) went down by 1.7%.
The researchers measured something called dietary diversity—basically how many different types of healthy foods people ate. This score dropped noticeably during lockdown, meaning people were eating a narrower range of foods and relying more on processed options. Remarkably, 97% of the population failed to meet recommended daily intake for any of the major food groups during lockdown—a staggering number showing how widespread the dietary decline was.
The good news came after lockdown ended. Most eating habits bounced back toward pre-lockdown levels, suggesting that people naturally returned to healthier choices once life normalized. However, not everything recovered completely. Dairy consumption stayed lower than before (81.1% vs. 87.3% in 2017), and whole grain consumption also remained reduced (89.2% vs. 96.8% in 2017). Interestingly, legume consumption stayed higher after lockdown than it was before, suggesting people may have discovered or maintained this healthy habit.
The study revealed some nuanced patterns in how different foods changed. Fruits and vegetables actually increased slightly during lockdown (by 0.9% and 0.8% respectively), which might seem surprising given the overall decline in healthy eating. This suggests people may have been trying to maintain some healthy habits even while stress drove them toward junk food. Sweetened soft drinks increased by 2.6%, sweets by 3.7%, and processed meats by 0.7%—all indicators of increased ultra-processed food consumption. The dietary diversity score showed a marked reduction during lockdown followed by substantial recovery afterward, tracking closely with the overall pattern of decline and recovery.
According to Gram Research analysis, this study is among the first to compare nationally representative data from before, during, and after a major public health crisis. Previous research has shown that economic stress and social disruption typically lead to worse eating habits, but this research provides concrete evidence from a specific, well-documented event. The findings align with what other researchers have observed during COVID-19 in different countries—increased consumption of comfort foods and processed items during lockdown. However, the recovery pattern observed here is particularly valuable because it shows that dietary changes during acute crises may be reversible rather than permanent.
The study has several important limitations to consider. The lockdown sample was smaller (1,640 people) compared to the other two groups, which could affect the precision of those findings. The research relies on people remembering what they ate, and memory isn’t always accurate—people might forget foods or misremember how often they ate them. The study only covers Spain, so results might not apply to other countries with different food cultures or different lockdown experiences. The researchers couldn’t control for all possible factors that might have influenced eating habits, such as individual stress levels, income changes, or access to different foods. Finally, the study is observational, meaning it shows what happened but can’t definitively prove that lockdown caused the dietary changes, though the timing makes this very likely.
The Bottom Line
Based on this research, public health experts should develop specific strategies to protect eating habits during future crises. People should be aware that stress and disruption naturally push us toward junk food, so planning ahead—like keeping healthy snacks available and setting meal reminders—can help. During stressful periods, actively choosing whole grains, dairy, fish, and legumes becomes even more important. The recovery pattern suggests that returning to healthy eating after a crisis is possible with conscious effort. Confidence level: High for the observation that lockdown changed eating habits; Moderate for specific recommendations since the study shows what happened but doesn’t test interventions.
Everyone should care about these findings, especially people who experience stress, disruption, or major life changes. Parents should be particularly attentive, as children’s eating habits during stressful times can have long-term health impacts. Healthcare providers should discuss dietary stability with patients during times of crisis. Policymakers should use these findings to develop support systems that help people maintain healthy eating during emergencies. People with existing health conditions related to diet (diabetes, heart disease, obesity) should be especially careful to maintain healthy eating during stressful periods.
The recovery pattern in this study suggests that dietary habits can return to baseline within months after a crisis ends, though some changes may persist longer. However, this doesn’t mean you should wait for a crisis to end to improve eating habits—the sooner you return to healthy choices, the better. If you’re currently in a stressful period, expect that it may take several weeks to a few months to fully re-establish healthy eating patterns once the stress subsides. Consistent effort and planning during the stressful period itself can speed up recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did people’s eating habits change during COVID-19 lockdown?
Yes, dramatically. During lockdown in Spain, junk food consumption jumped from 30% to 88% of people, while healthy foods like dairy, whole grains, and fish consumption dropped significantly. However, most eating habits returned to normal after lockdown ended.
What foods did people eat more of during lockdown?
People ate significantly more sweets, snacks, fast food, and sweetened soft drinks during lockdown. Interestingly, fruit and vegetable consumption also increased slightly, suggesting people tried balancing junk food with some healthy choices.
Did eating habits stay bad after lockdown ended?
Mostly no—people returned to healthier eating patterns after restrictions lifted. However, dairy and whole grain consumption remained lower than before lockdown, while legume consumption stayed higher, suggesting some changes persisted.
Why do crises make people eat worse?
Stress and disruption naturally push people toward comfort foods and processed options that are quick and easy. This study shows the pattern clearly, but the good news is that most people naturally return to healthier habits once the crisis ends.
How can I protect my eating habits during stressful times?
Plan ahead by keeping healthy snacks available, set meal reminders, and consciously choose whole grains, dairy, fish, and legumes even when stressed. This research shows that awareness and planning help prevent the dietary drift that naturally occurs during crises.
Want to Apply This Research?
- Track daily servings of whole grains, dairy, fish, and legumes separately from processed foods. Set a goal to meet recommendations for at least 3 of these 4 food groups daily, and monitor your progress weekly. During stressful periods, this tracking becomes especially valuable for maintaining awareness of dietary drift.
- Use the app to set reminders for meal planning on Sundays, identifying which healthy foods you’ll eat that week. Create a ‘crisis foods’ list of healthy options that are easy to grab during stressful times—like canned beans, whole grain bread, and frozen fish. When stress hits, reference this list instead of defaulting to processed foods.
- Establish a baseline of your current eating patterns using the app’s food logging feature. During any stressful period, compare your weekly averages to this baseline to catch dietary drift early. Set alerts if processed food consumption increases by more than 20% from your baseline, triggering a conscious reset to healthier choices.
This research describes observed changes in eating patterns during COVID-19 lockdown in Spain and should not be interpreted as medical advice. Individual dietary needs vary based on age, health conditions, activity level, and other factors. If you have specific health concerns or dietary restrictions, consult with a healthcare provider or registered dietitian before making significant changes to your eating habits. This study shows associations and patterns but cannot prove that lockdown directly caused all dietary changes, as other factors may have contributed. The findings apply specifically to Spain and may not fully represent other countries or populations.
This research translation is published by Gram Research, the science division of Gram, an AI-powered nutrition tracking app.