Abstract

GRACIANO, A  and  RISSO PATRON, V. Design of a Basic Food Basket for the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires. Diaeta [online]. 2011, vol.29, n.135, pp.17-26. ISSN 1852-7337.

Introduction: In the current measurement of the incidence of indigence and poverty of households in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires (CABA) the methodology used (National Institute of Statistics and Censuses, INDEC-) has not evolved in the past twenty years in relation to the patterns and profiles of household consumption; therefore it is necessary to develop consumption indicators more adjusted to the living standards of a district like the CABA, so as to assess over time the dynamics of these consumption patterns and to evaluate, among other uses, the purchasing power of wages. The aim of this paper is the development of a basic food basket (BFB) adjusted to the current consumption patterns of the inhabitants of the CABA. Methods: For the development of the BFB the following steps were followed: energy requirements for different age groups were taken into account, nutrients recommendations for the reference adult and caloric structure observed in the reference population were determined; caloric goals to be covered by foods groups were established taking as reference the consumption pattern observed by adjusting the calories of each group, following the recommended amounts for adult males suggested by the Dietary Guidelines for the Argentine Population. The foods to be included in the BFB were selected and quantities were established, respecting the weighting of each food in the consumption structure. Adjustments were made with a normative economic approach and a nutrients analysis of the BFB was carried out. Conclusion: We obtained a BFB consisting of 62 products, all food groups, respecting the consumption structure observed, with a normative approach, and covering the recommended amounts of energy, macro and micronutrients (except calcium).

Keywords : Functional foods; Recommendation; Knowledge; Dietitians; Education; Advising.

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