The relationship between diet quality and food security is a pivotal aspect of public health nutrition, with profound implications for individual and community well-being. Continued exploration in this area is essential in addressing endemic malnutrition and ensuring nutritional security for all populations. With substantial global challenges such as rising food insecurity and escalating rates of diet-related chronic diseases, advancing our understanding of these interconnected domains provides critical insights for creating effective, sustainable public health strategies.

Recent advances have addressed the complex interactions between food systems, socioeconomic determinants, and health outcomes. Studies have demonstrated that improved dietary diversity correlates strongly with better nutritional adequacy and reduced rates of micronutrient deficiencies. For instance, researchers have established that access to a variety of food groups significantly enhances the micronutrient profile of diets, reducing the risk of prevalent deficiencies in essential vitamins and minerals. Furthermore, emerging research has highlighted the impact of household food insecurity as a key determinant of diet quality; families experiencing food insecurity often resort to less nutritious, calorie-dense options, exacerbating issues of malnutrition.

Public health nutrition has made notable strides in identifying and addressing the diverse factors that contribute to food security challenges. In particular, the integration of behavioral and community-based approaches has yielded promising results in improving dietary practices among vulnerable populations. These advances have laid the groundwork for more targeted interventions, which have proven effective in managing the dual burden of malnutrition—both undernutrition and obesity—coexisting in many regions.

Looking ahead, the potential for future advances in this field is vast. Continuous research can provide insights into innovative food systems that promote both diet quality and food security, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. The application of technology, such as data analytics and machine learning, may allow us to better understand patterns of food consumption and the socioeconomic factors impacting dietary choices. Additionally, interdisciplinary approaches that bring together specialists in nutrition, agriculture, and public policy will enhance our capacity to devise comprehensive strategies that strengthen food security while promoting healthy dietary practices.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Nutritional adequacy and health outcomes
• Socioeconomic determinants of diet quality
• Household food insecurity assessments
• Impacts of food systems on public health
• Strategies for enhancing dietary diversity
• Policy approaches to food security
• Interventions to combat micronutrient deficiencies
• Innovations in public health nutrition

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being.

All manuscripts submitted to this journal, including those submitted to collections and special issues, are assessed in line with our editorial policies and the journal’s peer review process. Reviewers and editors are required to declare competing interests and can be excluded from the peer review process if a competing interest exists.

The shift towards plant-based diets has gained significant momentum in recent years, driven by a growing awareness of health, environmental sustainability, and ethical considerations. This Collection seeks to explore the latest research findings on plant-based nutrition, examining its implications for human health and the planet. As more individuals adopt vegetarian (excluding all animal flesh such as meat, fish, and other aquatic animals and including lacto-ovo-, ovo-, and lacto-vegetarian diets) and vegan (excluding foods of animal origin such as meat, fish, other aquatic animals, eggs, dairy products, and honey) lifestyles, understanding the nutritional adequacy, potential health benefits, and barriers to these diets becomes increasingly relevant for researchers and public health professionals alike.

Research in this field has illuminated the potential advantages of plant-based diets, including reduced risks of chronic diseases, improved dietary quality, and a lower carbon footprint. Advances in nutritional epidemiology, including controlled dietary interventions, have provided insights into the relationship between plant-based nutrition and health outcomes, as well as the role of alternative proteins (e.g., legume-based products, meat alternatives, mycoprotein) in meeting dietary needs. As public interest in sustainable diets continues to rise, the importance of disseminating sound scientific evidence to guide consumers, healthcare providers, and policymakers is paramount.

Continued research in plant-based nutrition could pave the way for innovative dietary guidelines and interventions that promote not only individual health but also environmental sustainability. As we deepen our understanding of the impacts of plant-based diets on human health and the climate, future studies may reveal new strategies for integrating these diets into mainstream eating habits, potentially revolutionizing dietary recommendations worldwide.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Health benefits of plant-based nutrition including vegan, lacto-vegetarian, ovo-vegetarian, lacto-ovo-vegetarian, or flexitarian diets (non-vegetarian diets that include notably lower amounts of animal products than typical omnivorous diets)
• Sustainable plant-based diets and climate impact
• Controlled dietary interventions for plant-based eating
• Nutritional epidemiology of vegan diets and ethical veganism
• Alternative proteins in plant-based diets
• The impact of food-based dietary quality on the healthiness of vegan diets
• Transformative strategies to shift mainstream diets towards a notable reduction of animal-source food intake, while ensuring adequate nutrient intake

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being.

All manuscripts submitted to this journal, including those submitted to collections and special issues, are assessed in line with our editorial policies and the journal’s peer review process. Reviewers and editors are required to declare competing interests and can be excluded from the peer review process if a competing interest exists.