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.