Comparison of nutritional habits of X, Y and Z generations

This study aims to determine the intergenerational change over time regarding the nutritional habits of Baby Boomer, X, Y and Z generations and to offer solutions according to their results. Sample population consists of the ninth, tenth, eleventh, and twelfth grade students of the TED Bodrum College in Bodrum district of Muğla province in the 2021-2022 academic year, their grandparents, parents, and also the teachers/administrators of the school. Three hundred eleven people have participated in the study. An online questionnaire was applied to compare the nutritional habits of the individuals participating in the study and to determine demographic information such as generational knowledge (age range), gender, etc. which are independent variables. Food preferences have changed with the changing daily lifestyle. We found a highly statistically significant correlation between the generation X men and women to cook vegetable dishes with meat (0=0.014; p<0.05) and legume dishes with meat (p=0.027; p<0.05) at their houses. According to generations, a high level of statistically significant correlation was found between the cooking rates of legume dishes with meats (p=0.016; p<0.05) and dessert (p=0.001; p<0.01) in women's houses. According to generations, a high level of statistically significant correlation was found between the cooking rates of vegetable dishes with meat (p=0.016; p<0.05) and legume dishes with meat (p=0.003; p<0.01) in men's houses. Compared to Generation Z women, the rate at which generation Z men consumed meatballs, kebabs, döner, etc. out of home was found to be statistically significantly higher (p=0.003; p<0.01). Compared to the other three generations, the consumption rates of fast food (p=0.001; p<0.01), street foods (p=0.001; p<0.01), bakery /pastry products (p=0.004; p<0.01), snacks (p=0.001; p<0.01) and world cuisine dishes (p=0.001; p<0.01) of Generation Z women out of home were statistically significantly higher. Compared to the other three generations, the consumption rates of fast food (p=0.001; p<0.01), street food (p=0.001; p<0ç01), bakery /pastry products (p=0.026; p<0.05), snacks (p=0.001; p<0.01) and world cuisine dishes (p=0.037; p<0.05) of Generation Z men out of home were statistically significantly higher. The rate of fish and seafood consumption out of home of Generation Z men was statistically significantly lower (p=0.014; p<0.05). The time allocated to nutrition has decreased due to the technology that almost completely changes life, the joint participation of women and men in business life, and the intensity of work tempo. Fast-paced living conditions have increased snacking in between meals and consumption of irregular meals, eating habits outside the home, and fast food consumption, that is, fast food consumption. Fast-paced living conditions resulted in an increase in consumption of irregular meals, snacking in between meals, consumption of fast food and development of the habit of consuming non home prepared meals. Resources where nutritional information was acquired differed between generations. Inadequate and lacking nutrition education has brought along nutritional problems and inappropriate food preferences through generations. Lack of time, loss of appetite and desire to lose weight are among the foremost reasons for skipping meals. There were differences between generations in nutrition and cooking habits, in the time devoted to meal preparation, in the frequency of consuming processed ready-to-eat food, and in the frequency of eating non home prepared meals and ordering through internet. Keywords: Generation, Generation Differences, Eating Habits, Fast Food, Social Media