Mindful Eating and Sustainability

Overview

Background: Problems such as worldwide population growth, climate change and depletion of natural resources increase the importance of sustainable nutrition. Sustainable nutrition is an approach that promotes healthy food choices, taking into account environmental, social and economic impacts. This approach affects not only the environment, but also the health of individuals and social equity. Eating mindfulness supports individuals to make both healthy and environmentally friendly choices by increasing their sensory and mental attention while eating. University students are an important target group for raising sustainability awareness as they develop independent eating habits during this period. However, it is seen that young individuals are not sufficiently informed about sustainable nutrition and eating awareness. Aim: This study aims to examine the relationship between eating awareness and sustainable eating habits of university students. Expected Results of the Study: It is expected to determine the relationship between eating awareness levels and sustainable eating habits of university students. The findings are expected to show that students with high levels of eating awareness are more prone to sustainable eating habits. In addition, the links between physical activity level and sustainable nutrition will also be revealed, and it is thought that it can be concluded that physically active students are more sensitive to environmental awareness and sustainable food preferences.

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. Aim: This study aims to examine the relationship between eating awareness and sustainable eating habits of university students. Method: Research Design This study is based on a cross-sectional research design to examine the relationship between eating awareness and sustainable eating behaviors among university students. This design will enable the examination of the relationships between eating awareness and sustainable eating behaviors among university students. Sample The target group of the research consists of male and female students between the ages of 18-25 years studying at universities in Ankara. The study is planned to be carried out with at least 150 participants. Data Collection Process Participants will be informed about the purpose of the research, it will be stated that confidentiality principles will be followed, and consent will be obtained from voluntary participants. For this, individuals will fill out "Informed voluntary consent forms". Individuals who will participate in the study will be reached online or through universities. Data will be collected through online or face-to-face questionnaire applications. Participation in the study will be voluntary. Data Collection Tools Demographic information (age, gender, height, weight, presence of chronic diseases, etc.) and information on dietary habits of the participants will be obtained with a questionnaire form. International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ): In the study, IPAQ will be used to assess the physical activity levels of individuals. This questionnaire was developed in 1998 and designed to systematically measure the daily physical activity of individuals. The questionnaire assesses various types of physical activity (e.g., walking, light and vigorous exercise) and the weekly duration of these activities, allowing participants to determine their total physical activity level. The Turkish validity and reliability of IPAQ was performed in 2010. Sustainable and Healthy Eating Behaviors Scale: It is a scale developed to assess individuals' behaviors towards sustainability and healthy eating habits. The adaptation, validity and reliability study of the scale into Turkish was conducted in 2023. Eating Awareness Scale: It will be used in the study to assess individuals' levels of eating mindfulness. In the study, it will be used to assess the eating awareness levels of individuals. This scale aims to measure the quality of attention given to the eating experience in the general population as well as measuring the attention and awareness levels of individuals in the eating process. The scale aims to help individuals develop healthy eating habits by assessing emotional and mental processes related to eating experiences. The Turkish validity and reliability study of the Eating Awareness Scale was conducted in 2016. The use of the Eating Awareness Scale will be an important tool to understand the relationship between eating awareness and sustainable eating habits. Expected Results of the Study: It is expected to determine the relationship between eating awareness levels and sustainable eating habits of university students. The findings are expected to show that students with high levels of eating awareness are more prone to sustainable eating habits. In addition, the links between physical activity level and sustainable nutrition will also be revealed, and it is thought that it can be concluded that physically active students are more sensitive to environmental awareness and sustainable food preferences.