Growing green minds: Academic belonging and sustainable dietary behaviors among nutrition and dietetics students.

This study investigates the relationship between academic belonging—defined as a student's connection and engagement within their educational institution—and sustainable dietary behaviors among third- and fourth-year Nutrition and Dietetics students in Ankara, Türkiye. Using validated scales, the research found a strong positive correlation between academic belonging and sustainable dietary behaviors, with professional identification, higher academic performance (CGPA), and choosing the program as a first preference also linked to higher scores in both domains. Age and academic belonging were significant predictors of sustainable dietary behaviors, suggesting that fostering a sense of belonging and professional identity may enhance environmentally responsible food choices. The findings highlight the importance of integrating sustainability and professional identity development into dietetics education to promote both academic engagement and sustainable lifestyle practices.