Diet patterns and nutritional intake in a Costa Rican community†

This research was funded in part by grants from the National Science Foundation (SOC75–18801), the Organization of American States, and the Sachar Foundation.

Agricultural practices of family farmers have both economic and nutritional implications. Farmers respond, in part, to national food policy and their produce contributes to domestic supply and the national economy. Data from a survey of 26 family farm households in Costa Rica were analyzed for energy and nutritional content and budget and farming strategies were evaluated. Energy intakes were found to be most limited relative to recommended intake. The diet staples, rice and beans, provided the largest caloric share while a significant proportion was supplied by cane sugar. While households varied considerably in the purchase, or home growing, of different foods, production of cash crops is shown to be advantageous relative to subsistence production. The burden of food subsidies on the national economy may shift that arrangement and the traditional carbohydrate sources—taro, cassava, maize and bananas—might take on renewed importance.

Key words:

• Diet
• agriculture
• subsistence farming
• food policy
• Costa Rica
• cash crops
• energy
• nutrient intakes
• food production

Notes

This research was funded in part by grants from the National Science Foundation (SOC75–18801), the Organization of American States, and the Sachar Foundation.