Background: Childhood and adolescent nutrition are critical for lifelong health, yet socioeconomic disparities in dietary behaviors contribute to persistent health inequalities. This study examines the longitudinal association between socioeconomic status and fruit and vegetable intake in youth, testing family stress as a potential mediating mechanism. Methods: We analyzed data from 8,979 children and adolescents (Mage = 13.92, SD = 4.98) participating in the German KiGGS panel, spanning two waves over eight years. Path models assessed direct and indirect effects of socioeconomic status on fruit and vegetable intake, adjusting for baseline fruit and vegetable intake, age, and gender. Findings: Most participants (93%) reported not consuming the recommended five portions of fruits and vegetables daily. Lower socioeconomic status at Wave 1 predicted higher family stress (β = .06, p < .001) at Wave 1 and lower vegetable (β = -.06, p < .001) and fruit consumption (β = -.02, p = .036) at Wave 2. Family stress did not predict fruit nor vegetable intake nor mediate socioeconomic status effects (ps > .131). Discussion: Lower socioeconomic status is associated with higher family stress and poorer dietary habits, yet family stress does not explain the relationship between socioeconomic status and fruit and vegetable consumption. This suggests that other factors in the social environment, apart from family stress, and aspects of the physical environment, such as neighborhood deprivation, may have a greater impact. Future research should explore these alternative pathways to reduce socioeconomic disparities in nutrition and health inequalities.
