Habits of purchasing and consumption of food in families with children uder five years in a municipality of northeast Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: The food environment can influence decisions about habits and modify the acquisition and consumption of food when considering that food choices are determined by access, availability, advertising, convenience and price. This can cause considerable changes in eating behavior since childhood. Objective: To evaluate food purchase and consumption habits in families with children under five years old in a municipality in the Northeast of Brazil. Methods: This is a cross-sectional survey, with a quantitative approach, carried out with 138 individuals in the six basic urban health units in the municipality. A structured interview was carried out with the application of questionnaires on socioeconomic information, food buying and consumption habits, food security, self-reported weight and height. The data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Science Statistics (SPSS) version 23.0. An association test was performed between food buying and consumption habits with socioeconomic data, anthropometric nutritional status and food security. Results: Among the consumption habits evaluated, it was found that the consumption of raw salad (83.8%), fruits (95.9%) and fruit or pulp juice (93.8%) in at least one day a week, they were associated with greater schooling. While the higher frequency of purchase and consumption in restaurants and snack bars was associated with higher income, having a job and not participating in social programs. Conclusions: Healthier buying and eating habits were associated with higher schooling and working conditions and income. As well as access to restaurants and cafeterias for individuals with better purchasing power.

Keywords: Food consumption; health promotion; eating habits