ABSTRACT

The food and nutrient intake of 150 market women aged 18-71 years and the proportion supplied by sleet foods was studied using questionnaire and 24-hour dietary recall. The questionnaire was well structured, validated, and pre-tested. The questionnaire sought information on socio-economic status of the market widen, food consumption pattern. Anthropometric measurements, food and nutrient intake data were also obtained. The 24hour recall method were used to obtain data on food intake on three (3) separate occasions. Estimates of serving sizes and quantities of foods eaten were based on common households measuring utensils for weight and volumes. Samples of purchased street foods were obtained from the same vendors and weighed. The contributions of street foods to total intake of food and nutrients intakes were determined in order to quantify the importance of street food as a source of food and nutrients for these women. The results showed that all the major food groups were represented in the menu and street food providing, overall, the major sources of dairy, fruits (orange), (70%), meat (63.3%), fish (80%) and egg (73%). Mean intake of energy was 2U51.54kca1 for the subjects with street foods contributing almost 71%. Also out of the mean intake of 53.8g total protein; street foods supplied over 76% of this total protein for all the subjects. The proportion was even higher for vitamin C (46.9%) than vitamin A (43.2%). For all other minerals and vitamins examined, street foods supplied over 40% of the intake except for calcium where it supplied (28%). The results suggest therefore that street foods constituted the major sources of dietary energy and other nutrients for market union in the area of study.