The effect of a recessionary economy on food choice: implications for nutrition education

Abstract

Objective: To determine the effect of an economic recession on food choice behaviors.

Design: A qualitative study using semistructured, in-depth interviews followed by completion of a nutrition knowledge questionnaire and the Food Choice Questionnaire was conducted.

Setting and participants: A convenience sample from a metropolitan city in the Midwest. Women with children younger than 18 years in the household who had experienced unemployment, underemployment, or loss of a house because of foreclosure in the previous year participated (n = 25).

Main outcome measure: Reported behaviors for food choices when grocery shopping and dining out and educational resources requested to inform nutrition education programs.

Analysis: Interviews were coded with a matrix derived from participant statements. Common behaviors were grouped and broad themes were identified.

Results: Numerous shopping strategies were recently used to save money (eg, buying only sale items, using coupons). Participants believed a healthful diet included a variety of foods with less sugar, salt, and fat. Recipes and menus that required little cost or preparation time and resources to track food expenditures were desired.

Conclusions and implications: Nutrition education should include money-saving shopping strategies, facilitate menu planning and cooking skills, and address food resource management to enable participants to acquire sufficient, acceptable, and nutritionally adequate food.