Causes and factors influencing food habits of rural Thai in five regions

Abstract

This paper describes the results of the analysis phase of the food habits survey in Thailand. Seven regions were identified based on physical, geographical and religious criteria and these were surveyed independently but with similiar methodologies. Though there are some different findings among the areas, there are many common food habits. In general, the food habits can be grouped as being desirable and undesirable. The desirable food habits include the breast-feeding of babies and appropriate supplementary feedings of children. The undesirable food habits include food taboos of pregnant and lactating mother, not giving colostrum to newborn babies, too early supplementary feeding of babies, food taboos during illnesses and many more.