Food on the go: How food environments shape adolescent diets in Viet Nam
Adolescence is a pivotal period for nutrition and health when young people begin to make more of their own decisions about what, where, and when to eat.
- youth
- diets
- nutrition
By Gabriela Fretes, Phuong Nguyen, Soyra Gune, Kim Maasen, Elise Talsma, Mai Tuyet Truong, Nga Thu Hoang, Inge D. Brouwer, Marie Ruel, and Jef L. LeroyAugust 28, 2026
Key takeaways
- Most adolescents in Viet Nam eat food prepared outside the home, survey data show, especially for breakfast and snacks.
- The nutrition effects of these foods are nuanced. They increase unhealthy fat and sodium intake but also provide key vitamins and minerals.
- Food environments shape what adolescents eat. Healthier food options and stronger nutrition policies can improve diets.
Second in a series. Read the first post here.
Adolescence is a pivotal period for nutrition and health when young people begin to make more of their own decisions about what, where, and when to eat. Across low- and middle-income countries, adolescent development is now occurring alongside rapid changes in food environments—the places where people purchase and consume food—driven mainly by urbanization. These shifts often make unhealthy options such as ultra-processed snacks and other foods high in added sugar, saturated fats, and salt more convenient, affordable, and desirable.
In this blog series, researchers from the CGIAR Science Program on Better Diets and Nutrition explore how food environments in Viet Nam, Ethiopia, and Ghana shape adolescent diets and what actions are needed to support healthier choices during this critical stage of life.
This post focuses on foods prepared outside the home in Viet Nam, exploring the role of food environments in shaping adolescents’ diets.