food gateway 1 - how food consumption patterns vary between DCs and LDCs

Question 1

what are the indicators of food consumption

Answer 1

1. food consumption per capita
2. daily calorie intake
3. starchy staples as a percentage of all calories

Question 2

what is food consumption per capita?

Answer 2

the average amount of food a person consumes per year (usually in kg)

Question 3

what is total daily calorie intake?

Answer 3

it represents the total number of calories obtained from food consumed per person each day. People in DCs are more likely to have a higher calorie intake than people in LDCs

Question 4

what is starchy staples as a percentage of all calories?

Answer 4

Staple foods are the main part of the diet, supplying a major portion of energy and nutrient needs to a person. Most staple foods, such as cereals, are high in carbohydrates and are the world’s main source of energy.

Question 5

How have food preferences changed across the various types of food? (E.g cereals, meats, fruits and vegetables)

Answer 5

cereals:

• the most important food source in the world
• consumption of cereals per capita decreases with income level

meat:

• high in protein, provide people with essential nutrients
• increase in income linked with increase in consumption of meat
• however, people are starting to consume less red meat due to such meats being linked to health problems such as obesity and heart disease

fruits and vegetables:
- consumption has increased for both DCs (increased awareness of the health benefits) and LDCs (growth in income) –> vegetable consumption increased by 13% in the USA from 1976 to 2009
nicole if you are reading this i hope you eat fruits and vegetables regularly… if not then i hope this has convinced you to eat them :D