Objective To explore the relationship between nutrition literacy anddietary behaviors among college students, providing a reference for targeted nutrition interventions and education.

Methods Using convenience sampling, 851 college students in Bengbu were selected as research subjects. They were surveyed using a self-developed demographic questionnaire, a recent dietary behavior questionnaire, and a simplified version of the "adult nutrition literacy assessment scale".

Results Among the 851 college students, 321 students (37.7%) exhibited high nutritional literacy levels, 217 students (25.5%) showed moderate levels, and 213 students (36.8%) had low levels. Significant differences in nutritional literacy were observed in students with different academic majors, grade levels, places of origin, only-child status, and academic performance (P ＜ 0.01). The results of univariate analysis showed that there were statistically significant differences in the frequency of having three regular meals, having breakfast, drinking milk, consuming fruit and vegetable, ordering takeout, consuming fried and grilled food, and consuming sugary and carbonated beverage among college students with different levels of nutrition literacy. The results of Spearman correlation analysis showed that the level of nutrition literacy was significantly positively correlated with the frequency of having three regular meals (r_s = 0.215, P ＜ 0.01), having breakfast (r_s = 0.206, P ＜ 0.01), drinking milk (r_s = 0.263, P ＜ 0.01), and consuming fruit and vegetable (r_s = 0.169, P ＜ 0.01) among college students; The level of nutritional literacy was significantly negatively correlated with the frequency of ordering takeout (r_s = –0.126, P ＜ 0.01), consuming fried and grilled food (r_s = –0.166, P ＜ 0.01), and consuming sugary and carbonated beverage (r_s = –0.137, P ＜ 0.01).

Conclusions Unhealthy dietary behavior is common among college students in Bengbu, and nutrition literacy is closely associated with dietary behaviors. Therefore, it is necessary to attach importance to nutrition education for college students and implement targeted strategies to enhance their nutrition literacy, consequently, promoting their overall health.