[Food habits, consumption, and knowledge of a low-income French population]

Behaviors related to nutrition as well as the eating habits of low-income French people are analyzed from data collected by the Nutrition and Health Barometer of the CFES in 1996. French people with monthly incomes of less than 4000 francs appear to go to fast-food restaurants more often than to other types of restaurant (for leisure or work). They appear to eat their three main meals alone more often, to spend less time over the evening meal, to watch television during their noon and evening meals, to have cheese or another dairy product rather than a main dish, and to limit their evening meal to a single dish. They are less numerous than higher-income people to have the "ideal" breakfast. These economically disavantaged French people do their shopping more often in large of medium-sized supermarkets and more often plan their meals according to the family budget. In terms of food they are more numerous to eat neither fruit nor vegetables; they consume less pork, fish and shellfish, dairy products, alcoholic beverages and especially before-dinner drinks. This study shows that the eating behavior of low-income French people is less in conformity with commonly accepted nutritional recommendations. Likewise, the rate of obesity observed among the women from this households appears high.