Inter- and intra-annual changes in food consumption among rural households in East China

Rapid economic development and urbanization have changed the pattern of global food consumption. This change can be particularly well observed when studying differences in food consumption among urban and rural residents. This study explored the temporal dynamics in household food consumption (HFC) in rural households of the Shandong Province in China. The study revealed that the inter-annual changes in HFC, starting with 2009, brought about a substantial increase in meat and vegetables intake. Improvements in living conditions represented the key driver of this change. The intra-annual changes were reflected in increased consumption of fruits and vegetables in summer being attributed to improved food supply and warmer weather. The variety of consumed food increased, especially during holidays, being driven by increased visitation of friends and relatives and the influence of Chinese culture. Children's food preferences when visiting home resulted in increased consumption of meat, vegetables, and aquatic products. The findings provide a scientific basis to enhance the food consumption structure and refine the dietary nutrition levels in rural areas of China. The findings also provide a reference point which can be used to examine temporal changes in food consumption in other countries of the world.