Germany Attitudes towards Healthy Eating and Drinking Consumer Report 2026
2026-04-24T10:01:12+00:00
REP338C1D6C_290E_4BA6_8C1D_6C290E0BA6DA
2600
192849
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Report
en_GB
Healthy eating and drinking intentions in Germany have strengthened in 2026. 68% of Germans try to eat or drink healthily all or most of the time (+4pp vs 2025), supported…
Germany
Health and Wellness
Consumer Attitudes
simple
Germany Attitudes towards Healthy Eating and Drinking Consumer Report 2026
"With protein claims proliferating, celebrate basic whole foods as trusted, everyday choices grounded in inherent health functionality. Fibre-led satiety offers a food-first solution to weight management."
Eliana Riera-McInnes, Foodservice Research Analyst
Healthy eating and drinking intentions in Germany have strengthened in 2026. 68% of Germans try to eat or drink healthily all or most of the time (+4pp vs 2025), supported by a renewed focus on self-care. At the same time, the K-shaped economic recovery is widening the healthy eating divide. As financially healthy Germans pull further ahead and those under strain find it more challenging to keep up, own label emerges as a key route to widening access to healthier food and drink.
Weight management is also regaining prominence, driven by the cultural impact of GLP-1 drugs, even as actual usage remains limited. This has reinforced protein-forward innovation. However, as protein fatigue begins to set in, there is space to rebalance health conversations towards fibre and broader nutrient density to support satiety and digestion.
In parallel, a back-to-roots movement and concerns around ultra-processed and heavily engineered products are bolstering the appeal of whole foods. 81% of Germans think whole foods deliver better health benefits than fortified alternatives. Brands can celebrate the inherent nutritional qualities of simple staples and boost whole-food flavour innovation, reframing everyday foods as credible, accessible and engaging health solutions.
This Report Looks at the Following Areas:
Cost-of-living pressures are widening inequalities in healthy eating and drinking
Whole-food trust overrules fortification on health benefits, buoyed by UPF scepticism
GLP-1 weight-loss narratives amplify fibre’s appeal as a natural satiety solution
Social media accelerates interest in high-protein claims but also fuels misinformation
Consumers struggle to trust healthy eating advice, increasing demand for clarity and guidance
Own label leverages health claims, challenging branded products’ perceived credibility
Collapse All
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
What you need to know
Outlook for attitudes towards healthy eating & drinking
Opportunities
Reframe everyday food staples as relevant, contemporary health solutions
Explore flavour innovation in whole foods
In times of GLP-1s, leverage fibre’s link to satiety
Win relevance by guiding (informed) healthier decisions
THE MARKET
Persistent cost-of-living pressures widen the financial gap in healthy eating and drinking
Self-care is front and centre in 2026
Focus on self-care leads to improving health perceptions
Graph 1: self-reporting of general health, 2024/26
More Germans are trying to lose or maintain their weight in 2026
Graph 2: weight management intentions, 2024-25
The rise of GLP-1 drugs rekindles the spotlight on weight loss and thinness
Social media drives interest in high-protein claims, but nutrient diversity will win in the long term
Graph 3: health priorities of 16-34s when shopping for groceries, 2021-25
THE CONSUMER
Evolution of healthy eating & drinking
Healthy eating/drinking intentions rebound in 2026 after a dip in 2025
Better-off Germans drive rise in healthy eating and drinking
Graph 4: frequency of healthy eating/drinking among Germans with healthy finances, 2025-26
Home cooking leads healthy eating efforts
Graph 5: steps taken to try to eat/drink healthily, 2026
Deliver simple, healthy flavour boosts to elevate homemade meals
Cost pressures hamper diverse intake of plant-based foods
Repertoire size of healthy eating/drink actions increases steadily with age
Graph 6: repertoire of steps taken to try to eat/drink healthily, by generation, 2026
Nuanced sweetness can help temper Gen Z’s sweet tooth
Most popular functional benefits in food and drink
Immunity and better sleep support lead interest in functional food and drink
Natural functionality will outshine fortification on health…
…with scope to leverage flavour innovation
Take sleep health beyond the realm of tea with sleep-supporting whole foods
Fibre and water shine through as versatile, multifunctional health-boosters
Graph 7: what consumers look for in food and drink products to gain specific health benefits, 2026
Move beyond protein-maxxing towards more-balanced nutrient density
Fibre’s link to satiety and gut health will grow its appeal for weight management support
Fibre’s functional versatility makes it a quiet nutritional hero
Leverage moderate caffeination to tap into water’s potential as a healthier alternative to energy drinks
Healthy eating & drinking knowledge and information sources
Financial constraints impact both nutritional awareness and information seeking
Graph 8: selected behaviours relating to healthy eating/drinking, by financial health, 2026
Healthy eating/drinking advice comes from many sources, with no clear point of reference
Graph 9: sources with the biggest influence on healthy eating/drinking habits in the last six months, 2026
A lack of trust in healthy eating/drinking sources fuels scepticism
Enable informed and expert-supported nutritional decisions to build trust
Graph 10: agreement with the statement ‘I find it hard to know who I can trust for healthy eating/drinking advice’, by selected healthy eating behaviours, 2026
Younger generations rely on social media for health advice
Partner with influencers with strong expertise credentials
Germans demand better portion guidance
Capitalise on the rise of portion control
PRODUCT, INNOVATION AND MARKETING
Private label continues to increase its share of health-related claims
Graph 11: food and drink launches with health-related claims*, by branded vs private label, 2023-25
Naturalness claims rebound while minus and plus claims continue to grow
Graph 12: food and drink launches, by claim category, 2023-25
High/added protein claims as common as no added sugar in 2025
Graph 13: food and drink launches, by plus/minus claims, 2023-25
Animal- and plant-based whole foods pair high-protein claims with additional benefits
Protein-fortified foods tap into viral trends
HelloFresh partners with Doc Felix to bring nutritional clarity to everyday eating
APPENDIX
Report scope
The consumer
Consumer research questions
Consumer research methodology
Repertoire analysis methodology
Germany’s generation groups
Other data source methodologies
Mintel Spark
Abbreviations
A note on language – Germany
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