European dietary behaviour

Europeans want to eat healthily and sustainably, but this FEAST survey of 27,000+ adults shows we are still far from the Planetary Health Diet goals. Our diets are shaped by more than personal choice—they are heavily influenced by what is available, affordable, and socially accepted in our daily environments.

To design effective policies, we must understand the drivers behind these choices. Key findings highlight a major gap between perception and reality: many believe they eat well, yet actual intake lags behind. While health awareness is growing, affordability and time pressures remain the ultimate barriers to change.

A large-scale study across 27 EU countries comparing reported food consumption to the EAT-Lancet benchmarks.

What shapes our food choices?

Our decisions are a mix of:

Food Environments & Access: Where people live, work, and shop determines their diet; healthy choices are only possible when sustainable options are both accessible and affordable.
The Perception Gap: Many people believe their diet is already healthy and sustainable, highlighting a need for clearer guidance on how to translate recommendations into everyday life.
Social & Cultural Roots: Food choices are deeply shaped by habits, traditions, and social norms that define what is desirable to eat.

Barriers to Healthy Eating

Affordability: Even with high health awareness, cost remains the primary single barrier to adopting a sustainable diet.
Time Constraints: Busy lifestyles and irregular hours make planning and cooking healthy meals difficult.
Preferences & Habits: Long-standing food preferences and the difficulty of breaking old habits often outweigh personal health goals.

These results suggest that information alone is not enough: affordability and practical support tools are critical.

Policy & Practice Implications