Orbos, Rosita S.Bennagen, Ma. Eugenia C.2024-09-102024-09-101980-04https://selib.upd.edu.ph/etdir/handle/123456789/323Food accounts form the largest personal expenditure item in developing countries like the Philippines. A study of the food consumption patterns of Filipinos is therefore of prime importance. Being an archipelagic country, patterns of food consumption within the Philippines may be expected to differ by region. Furthermore, being an economy where income is unequally distributed, food consumption patterns are likewise expected to vary, among different income level groups. In this paper, consumption patterns for 10 major food groups, and 24 individual food stuffs are examined by region and by income level. Factors influencing food consumption habits of Filipino families are analyzed using regression analysis. Household income and household size are the explanatory variables included in the model to explain variation in food consumption levels and expenditures. The study, based on a nationwide household food consumption survey, reveals that the proportion of income spent on food by an average Filipino household is very high -- 73 percent. Expenditure on cereals and seafood alone accounts for more than half of total food outlay (54 percent). Average per capita consumption levels show that Filipino families adequately meet only the recommended allowance for cereals and cereal products. All the rest fall short of the recommended allowance. Food consumption patterns show diversity by region and by income level. Luzon households have higher consumption levels of meat, eggs and dairy products, while households in Mindanao consume more fruits and vegetables. Households in the Visayas, where average income is lowest, have the highest consumption of root- crops, bulbs and tubers. By income level, high income households enjoy the highest per capita consumption levels of all the major food groups, except root crops. With respect to the extent to which Filipino households respond to changes in income and household size, the food elasticities obtained were all less than unity indicating that demand for food is generally inelastic.enThesis