Dietary and Communication Preferences of Adolescents and Young Adults
The SINUS Institute has examined the dietary and communication preferences of adolescents and young adults so that these preferences can be better taken into account when planning future activities aimed at improving young people’s nutritional literacy.
The study was conducted on behalf of the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food using funds from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity.
The survey topics included how important a healthy and balanced diet is to adolescents and young adults, what they associate with it, what matters most to them, who makes their dietary decisions, what their level of knowledge regarding healthy and balanced nutrition is, and through which channels they obtain information on nutrition-related topics.
In November 2025, 1,004 adolescents and young adults aged 14 to 27, representative of Germany in terms of age, gender, education, and region, were surveyed online for this purpose. The data were evaluated using descriptive demographic analyses and an examination of Sinus youth milieus.
Key findings of the study:
- Overall, the respondents show a high level of interest in food and beverages.
- Parents play a role in decision-making for many (especially the younger ones).
- The most important place for consumption is the home.
- The most important criterion when making food choices is taste, followed by cost and availability.
- Healthy and balanced eating is mostly associated with positive terms, but also with higher costs.
- Online media are the most important source of information, though specialized providers and personal contacts enjoy the highest level of trust.