Researchers studied over 1,100 college students in Ontario, Canada to understand what influences their eating habits. They found that students who eat healthier foods tend to have better attitudes about healthy eating, know more about nutrition, have access to better food options, and don’t worry as much about affording food. The study also showed that having supportive friends and family, living situations with good food access, and feeling confident about cooking all play important roles. These findings suggest that helping students eat better requires more than just telling them what’s healthy—it means changing their mindset, teaching them skills, and making sure they can actually afford and access nutritious food.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: What factors influence whether college students eat healthy foods, including their personal beliefs, relationships with friends and family, living situations, and access to food
  • Who participated: 1,118 college students between ages 17-25 attending a postsecondary school in Ontario, Canada who completed online surveys about their eating habits
  • Key finding: Students with positive attitudes about healthy eating, better nutrition knowledge, access to affordable nutritious food, and supportive social circles ate significantly healthier diets
  • What it means for you: If you’re a college student, improving your diet isn’t just about willpower—it’s easier when you have the right mindset, knowledge, support from friends and family, and actual access to affordable healthy food. This suggests that campus and community programs should focus on all these areas together, not just nutrition facts.

The Research Details

This was a cross-sectional study, which means researchers collected information from college students at one point in time rather than following them over months or years. Students completed an online survey and used a special tool called ASA24 that helps track everything they eat in a day. Researchers then scored how healthy each student’s diet was using a standard measurement called the Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2015, which looks at things like how many vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and proteins students eat, and how much added sugar and sodium they consume.

The researchers looked at four main categories of factors that might influence eating habits: personal factors (like someone’s attitude toward healthy eating and their nutrition knowledge), social factors (like support from friends and family), structural factors (like whether someone has a car to get to grocery stores), and environmental factors (like whether healthy food is available and affordable where they live).

They used a statistical method called multiple regression to figure out which factors were most strongly connected to eating healthier foods. This method helps separate out which factors truly matter when many things are happening at the same time.

Understanding what influences college students’ eating habits is important because this age group often experiences major changes in their eating patterns—they’re living away from home for the first time, managing their own food choices, and dealing with busy schedules and tight budgets. Poor eating during these years can affect not just their physical health but also their mental health and ability to do well in school. By identifying the specific factors that help or hurt healthy eating, researchers can help design better programs and policies to support student health.

This study has some strengths: it included a fairly large number of students (over 1,100), used a detailed tool to measure what people actually ate rather than just asking them to remember, and looked at many different factors that might influence eating. However, because it’s a cross-sectional study (a snapshot in time), we can’t be completely sure whether these factors cause better eating or if people who eat well just happen to have these characteristics. The study was done in Ontario, Canada, so results might be somewhat different in other regions or countries with different food systems and cultures.

What the Results Show

The study found that several factors were strongly connected to college students eating healthier diets. Students who had a positive attitude about healthy eating—meaning they actually believed eating well was important and worthwhile—had significantly better diet quality. Similarly, students who knew more about nutrition and understood how different foods affect their health ate better overall.

Food security was another major factor. Students who didn’t have to worry about affording enough food or having access to the types of food they wanted ate healthier diets than students who struggled with food costs or availability. This suggests that hunger and food insecurity are real barriers to healthy eating for some college students.

Social support also mattered. Students whose friends and family encouraged healthy eating and modeled good eating habits themselves tended to eat better. Additionally, students who felt confident in their ability to cook and prepare meals ate higher-quality diets than those who didn’t have cooking skills or confidence.

Finally, the physical environment made a difference. Students who lived in places where healthy food was readily available and accessible—like having grocery stores nearby or living in housing with kitchen facilities—had better diet quality than those without these advantages.

The research also revealed that these factors work together rather than in isolation. For example, having a positive attitude about healthy eating was most helpful when students also had the practical ability to access and prepare healthy food. A student might want to eat well but struggle if they live in a food desert (an area without nearby grocery stores), can’t afford nutritious food, or don’t have cooking facilities. Similarly, knowing about nutrition was most useful when combined with the actual resources and support to put that knowledge into practice.

These findings align with previous research showing that healthy eating isn’t just about individual choice or willpower. Earlier studies have shown that social support, food access, and environmental factors all play important roles in eating habits across different age groups. This study adds to that body of knowledge by specifically examining college students and showing how multiple factors interact. It confirms that a one-size-fits-all approach to nutrition education won’t work—programs need to address attitudes, knowledge, access, and support simultaneously.

This study has some important limitations to keep in mind. First, because it’s a snapshot in time, we can’t prove that these factors actually cause better eating—we can only say they’re connected. For example, we don’t know if having a positive attitude about healthy eating leads to better diets, or if people who naturally eat well develop more positive attitudes. Second, the study only included students from Ontario, Canada, so results might be different in other places with different food systems, cultures, or economic situations. Third, the study relied on students’ self-reported information about what they ate, which can sometimes be inaccurate. Finally, the study didn’t include information about other important factors like stress levels, mental health, or how much money students have available for food.

The Bottom Line

Based on this research, college students and the institutions that serve them should consider a multi-pronged approach: (1) Build positive attitudes about healthy eating through education and social campaigns that make healthy eating feel achievable and appealing, not restrictive; (2) Provide practical nutrition education that teaches real cooking and meal-planning skills; (3) Address food insecurity through campus food pantries, meal plans, and financial support; (4) Create social support systems like peer nutrition groups or buddy systems; (5) Improve access to healthy food on and near campus through better dining options and proximity to grocery stores. These recommendations have moderate to strong evidence support from this study.

College students and their families should care about these findings because they suggest practical ways to improve eating habits. Campus administrators, student health services, and dining services should pay attention because they can implement many of these recommendations. Policymakers should care because food insecurity among students is a real problem that requires systemic solutions. However, these findings are most directly applicable to college-age students in similar settings; they may not apply as directly to younger teens, older adults, or people in very different economic or geographic situations.

Changes in eating habits typically take time. Research suggests that building new eating patterns usually requires 2-4 weeks of consistent effort to start feeling natural, and 2-3 months to become established habits. However, some benefits—like feeling more energized or sleeping better—might appear within days to weeks of eating better. Improvements in physical health markers like weight or cholesterol typically take 4-8 weeks to become noticeable. Mental health and academic performance improvements may take longer, potentially several months.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track daily meals and rate your attitude about each meal on a scale of 1-10 (1 = ‘I felt bad about this choice’ to 10 = ‘I felt great about this choice’). Also note whether you had access to your preferred foods and whether you felt supported by friends or family in your food choices. Over time, you’ll see patterns in when and why you make healthier or less healthy choices.
  • Use the app to set one small, specific goal like ‘Cook one meal from scratch this week’ or ‘Eat one extra vegetable at lunch’ rather than trying to overhaul your entire diet. Share your goal with a friend and check in with them weekly. The app can send you reminders and let you celebrate small wins, which builds the positive attitude about healthy eating that this research shows is so important.
  • Check in monthly with yourself about four areas: (1) Your attitude—do you feel more positive about healthy eating? (2) Your knowledge—are you learning new things about nutrition and cooking? (3) Your access—do you have reliable access to affordable healthy food? (4) Your support—do you have friends, family, or community support for healthy eating? Use the app to track progress in all four areas, since this research shows they all matter together.

This research describes associations between various factors and diet quality in college students but does not prove cause-and-effect relationships. Individual results may vary based on personal circumstances, health conditions, and local food systems. This information is for educational purposes and should not replace personalized advice from a healthcare provider, registered dietitian, or qualified nutrition professional. If you have specific health concerns, food allergies, eating disorders, or medical conditions affecting nutrition, please consult with a qualified healthcare professional before making significant dietary changes. College students experiencing food insecurity should reach out to their campus food pantry, student services office, or local community resources for support.