According to a recent nationwide poll, college students believe their schools do not offer enough healthy food alternatives, and they view poor nutrition as a bigger issue than drug or alcohol misuse. According to a survey by Echelon Insights on behalf of Touch Grass Together, a student-run cultural health organization, 82% of students said that unhealthy eating habits are a problem on campus, while 71% said that drug or alcohol misuse is an issue.
While 71% of students wish their diets were more healthful, nearly three out of four students (72%) claim that there aren’t enough nutritious food options on campus. 89 percent of this generation say they actively prioritize their physical and emotional well-being, demonstrating their eagerness to be healthy. However, students claim that college settings haven’t improved.
“This poll makes one thing unmistakably clear: our most basic human need, food, has been undermined in ways we can no longer ignore,” stated Adnan Alkhalili (20), Founder and CEO of Touch Grass Together. “Young people have grown weary of the constant bombardment of junk food. For college students, it’s even worse: we’re not choosing this. We want to eat in ways that support our bodies, but the campus environment makes that almost impossible.”
Diet Directly Impacts Mood and Productivity
Students clearly recognize a strong connection between diet and productivity. Most say what they eat directly influences how they feel and function, with 84 percent citing an effect on energy, 80 percent on mood, and three in four on focus and productivity.
Despite this awareness, students feel their campus environment works against them:
- About half say dining halls serve too many ultra-processed choices.
- Fewer than half believe campus cafeterias offer foods they consider healthy.
- Nearly eight in ten report that eating highly processed foods leaves them feeling sluggish or down.
Dr. Ryan S. Patel, a psychiatrist who treats students with mental health concerns at The Ohio State University office of student life, counseling and consultation services, explained, “Students are telling us they want to prioritize their mental and physical well-being. To help them do that, the campus environment has to meet their needs by providing appropriate food choices at a reasonable price, from dining halls to vending machines to cafés. Research shows that proper nutrition can help improve energy levels, depression, and anxiety symptoms. Universities can best support student health by expanding access to healthy, tasty food.”
Low-Carb Diet Adopters Report Significantly Better Mental Health
The report shows a strong correlation between mental health and dietary habits. Students who have followed a low-carb or ketogenic diet this school year report much improved mental health results, even though less than half of all students currently evaluate their mental health as excellent or excellent. 57% of these students say their mental health is excellent or very good, compared to just 38% of their friends who don’t follow this diet. Despite challenges, this success is attained: 35% of students claim that the campus lacks sufficient ketogenic or low-carb options.
A Wider Imbalance in Student Life
Students’ diets reflect a deeper pattern of strain across campus life, where sleep, time outdoors, and rest are all in short supply.
- Disconnected from Nature: More than one-third of students spend less than 45 minutes outdoors each day, and four in five go at least a day each week without physical contact with nature.
- Poor Sleep: About 80 percent of students report sleeping fewer than eight hours per night.
- Constant Screen Time: More than half of students spend five or more hours daily on screens outside of classwork.
Touch Grass Together commissioned the survey to better understand how young people experience and prioritize health on campus and to continue the national conversation about food, wellness, and culture in college life.
Alkhalili continued, “The lack of access to healthy eating and other human fundamentals on college campuses is why thousands have joined our movement to ‘touch grass together.’ Young people know exactly where society is failing them, and we’re making the noise required to change it.”
Kristen Soltis Anderson, Founding Partner, Echelon Insights, added, “Students today are trying to live healthier lives but worry that time, cost, and lack of access to healthy food make that goal harder to achieve. They’re eager to take their well-being into their own hands and see healthy eating as a key component of that.”
Disclaimer:
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as a health advice. We would ask you to consult a qualified professional or medical expert to gain additional knowledge before you choose to consume any product or perform any exercise.
