Survey on Nutritional Habits of Different Generations

67dimPapahanasiou 41, Thessaloniki, GR

67

Survey on Nutritional Habits of Different

Generations

67dimPapahanasiou 41, Thessaloniki, GR

67

The Teachers:Mitzikou IreneAndroutsos AlexandrosPassidou Charikleia

The Students:Orfanidis AlexandrosBezani KristoPanou DimitrisKioses TheodorosDrakakoudi EvaggeliaKonstandinidou Iordana

Presented by:

3

A few words about our surveyGreat time with grandparents!

We interviewed not only our grandparents, but also the elderly at the Elderly Association Centre of our area.

67dim-thess.thess.sch.gr


Under 16 16-50 Over 500%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

41%

8%

51%

Ages involvedSimple Analysis

We wanted to study the diet habits of the past and see if there have been any changes. So we compared the diet habits between our grandparents and us.

01 – Ages participating in the questionnaire.Children vs grandparents


02 – Which was the most important meal when you were children?

Breakfast vs Lunch

Under 16 16-50 Over 500%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Breakfast, 42%

Breakfast, 36%

Breakfast, 30%

Lunch; 58%

Lunch; 64%Lunch; 69%

Dinner; 0% Dinner; 0% Dinner; 1%

The most important meal of the daySimple Analysis

In the past lunch was the most important meal of the day and nearly 70% of the children didn’t eat breakfast. Today we know that breakfast is the most important meal and the past habit of omitting breakfast tends to change.


03 – What did you usually have for breakfast?

Milk25%

Honey11%Egg

11%

Cereals10%

Butter10%

Marmelade10%

Other7%

Chocolate6%

Juice (fresh)6% Fruit

4%

Breakfast Simple Analysis

Our grandparents used to eat milk, eggs, fresh butter, honey and a traditional home made soup called trahanas. Nowadays we still have milk and eggs, but we also have cereals and chocolate cream which didn’t exist at that time.

Comparisons of Column Proportionsa

AgeChildren under 16 yrs

Ages between 16-50 yrs

Grandparents above 50 yrs

(A) (B) (C)

03 What did you usually have for breakfast?

Milk with cereals B C Fresh juice C Butter A AChocolate cream C Eggs AOther A A


04 – How often did you have the following foods for lunch weekly?

Legumes Vegetables Dairy Products Meat Fish Pasta Fruit0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

This chart shows clearly that all ages had always had access to some foods such as fruit, dairy products

and vegetables, but not to the rest of them.

Daily 3-4 times Once or twice rarely never


How often did you have pasta?

Nowadays children eat pasta at least 3 times a week, whereas in the past our grandparents had it only once a week!

PastaTotal

Daily 3-4 times Once or twice Rarely in the month Never

Age

Children under16 yrs

10 25 20 3 0 58

17,2% 43,1% 34,5% 5,2% 0,0% 100,0%


0 2 8 1 0 11

0,0% 18,2% 72,7% 9,1% 0,0% 100,0%


8 17 32 10 1 68

11,8% 25,0% 47,1% 14,7% 1,5% 100,0%

Total18 44 60 14 1 137

13,1% 32,1% 43,8% 10,2% ,7% 100,0%


How often did you have fish?

Fish has always been consumed once or twice a week in our country, in some cases today even 3-4 times. There is, however, a number of older people who didn’t have the chance to eat fish so often!

Fish Total


Age

Children under 16 yrs

1 7 33 16 2 59

1,7% 11,9% 55,9% 27,1% 3,4% 100,0%


0 1 5 3 2 11

0,0% 9,1% 45,5% 27,3% 18,2% 100,0%


1 3 29 32 3 68

1,5% 4,4% 42,6% 47,1% 4,4% 100,0%

Total2 11 67 51 7 138

1,4% 8,0% 48,6% 37,0% 5,1% 100,0%


How often did you have meat?

Nowadays children eat meat 3-4 times a week, while in the past children used to eat meat once a week at the most!

Meat Total


Age

Children under 16 yrs

3 24 25 7 0 59

5,1% 40,7% 42,4% 11,9% 0,0% 100,0%

Ages between16-50 yrs

0 2 5 4 0 11

0,0% 18,2% 45,5% 36,4% 0,0% 100,0%


3 7 40 20 2 72

4,2% 9,7% 55,6% 27,8% 2,8% 100,0%

Total6 33 70 31 2 142

4,2% 23,2% 49,3% 21,8% 1,4% 100,0%


How often did you have legumes?

Legumes have always been consumed at least twice a week throughout the years. It is due to the Mediterranean diet which has always been followed.

Legumes Total


Age

Children under16 yrs

2 15 29 11 2 59

3,4% 25,4% 49,2% 18,6% 3,4% 100,0%

Ages between16-50 yrs

0 2 9 0 0 11

0,0% 18,2% 81,8% 0,0% 0,0% 100,0%

Grandparents above50 yrs

8 16 41 7 1 73

11,0% 21,9% 56,2% 9,6% 1,4% 100,0%

Total10 33 79 18 3 143

7,0% 23,1% 55,2% 12,6% 2,1% 100,0%


05 – Did you use to consume fruit and vegetables out of season?

Under 16 16-50 Above 500%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

No

No

Fruit and Vegetables out of seasonSimple Analysis

In the past people didn’t use to consume fruit and vegetables out of season. Nowadays, however things have changed and children have access to all fruit and vegetables regardless of the season.


06 – Could you find non-seasonal fruit and vegetables in the market?


10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%Yes

Yes

YesNo

No

No

Non-seasonal fruit/vegetables Simple Analysis

As it is clearly stated by the chart people in the past didn’t have the opportunity to find non-seasonal fruit and vegetables, unlike our times where we can find any fruit/vegetable any time of the year.


07 – How did you preserve your food for a long period of time?

Pickles23%

Frozen18%

In Salt15%

Canned13%

Baked10%

Drained10%

Smoked6%

Other5%

Ways for long time preservation Simple Analysis

The way to preserve food for a long time has changed since our grandparents were children. Freezing food is what we do today, while in the past people used to preserve them in salt or make different kind of pickles.

Comparisons of Column Proportions

AgeChildren

under 16 yrs


Grandparents above

50 yrs(A) (B) (C)

.07 How did you preserve your food for a long period of time?

Preseved in salt A

Pickles A

Frozen C C


08 – Did you eat food with chemical preservatives?


10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

No

No

Chemical preservatives in foodSimple Analysis

Chemical preservatives are widely used in food restoration nowadays and in a way it is quite difficult for us not to consume food containing them. On the contrary they were completely unknown in the past and thus rarely or never used. Natural ways for preserving food were more preferable and thus healthier.


09 – What did you have for snack?

Crisps & Chips Fruit Bread & Cheese Croissant Hot dog0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

50.8%

83.1%

27.1%

40.7%

20.3%

9.1%

81.8% 81.8%

9.1%

0.0%1.4%

57.5%

86.3%

2.7% 1.4%

Evening

Under 16 16-50

Above 50

Simple Analysis

Hot dogs, croissants, crisps and chips are widely consumed as snacks by children nowadays, in contradiction to the past when healthier food such as bread and cheese, olives and fruit were their only options. Of course fruits are also chosen today.


10 - What did you have for dinner?

What was for lunch

Sandwich Hot dog Pizza Baked sandwich0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

33.9%

25.4%

10.2%

28.8%

72.9%

81.8%

0.0% 0.0% 0.0%

27.3%

59.5%

1.4% 1.4% 2.7%

12.2%

Dinner?

Under 16 16-50

Over 50

Simple Analysis

Lunch leftovers in smaller quantities were the main option for dinner in the past. Sandwiches, pizzas, baked sandwiches and fast food in general is on the other hand what is preferred by children today.


11 – What kind of sweets did you consume in your childhood?

Under 16 16-50 Over 50

52%

18%

7%

48%

82%

93%

Sweets availability

Ready Bought Home Made

Simple Analysis

Children in the past had access only in home made sweets, which were made of pure and healthy ingredients by their mothers or grandmothers. Nowadays children can easily find ready bought sweets in low prices.


12 – When were spoon sweets and home made marmelades prepared?

Under 16 16-50 Over 500%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

42%

27%

15%

58%

73%

85%

Home made sweets and marmelades time

Any season (including off seasoned fruit)

In Season

Simple Analysis

In the past marmelades and home made spoon sweets were only made with seasonal fruit as people couldn’t find fruit out of season. Also today, although fruit can be found any season, housewives prefer preparing their marmelades with seasonal fruit.


13 – What ingredients did you use to make your sweets?

Sugar Whipped cream Milk cream Margarines Coloring substances

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%91.2%

57.9%61.4%

22.8%

10.5%

100.0%

18.2%

9.1%

45.5%

0.0%

80.8%

5.5%12.3% 13.7%

2.7%

Ingredients used in sweets

Under 16 16-50

Over 50

Simple Analysis

Although whipped cream and milk cream are extensively used in today’s pastry, they were unknown in the past. Fresh butter has been replaced by margarines, while sugar and dairy products were and are still widely used. Coloring substances which didn’t exist in the past are also used nowadays.


14 – What ingredients did you use while cooking?

Seasonal Vegetables Frozen Vegetables Home made pasta Ready bought pasta Legumes

58.6%

29.3% 29.3%34.5%

25.9%

81.8%

18.2%

54.5%

36.4%

63.6%

73.0%

6.8%

54.1%

10.8%

60.8%

Ingredients used in cookingUnder 16 16-50 Over 50

Simple Analysis

Seasonal vegetables, home made pasta and legumes were the main ingredients in their cuisine, whereas frozen vegetables and ready bought pasta were almost non-existing.


15 – Did the geolocation of your residence influence your diet habits?

Under 16 16-50 Over 500%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

25%

64%56%

75%

36%44%

Geolocation of home vs eating habitsThrough the years

Yes No

Simple Analysis

The answer to this question is YES as far as the past is concerned. Eating habits were mainly based on local products. Things have changed since then, though. Products can be transported in long distances and non-local products appear in the market. Exotic fruits such as mango or avocado are good examples of this situation.


16 – Were inhabitants of mountainous villages able to consume fish and sea food frequently?

Under 16 16-50 Over 50

36%

27%

18%

64%

73%

82%

Fish availability in mountainous areasYes No

Simple Analysis

People living on the mountains didn’t have the chance to eat fish frequently in the past. However this tends to change nowadays with the development of transporting goods.


17 – How did you spent your free time?

Playing outside Helping parents with chores

Computer Games Watching TV0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

72.9%

39.0%

76.3%81.4%

90.9%

72.7%

0.0%

63.6%

86.5%

63.5%

1.4% 4.1%

Past time activitiesUnder 16 16-50 Over 50

Simple Analysis

In the past children used to either play team games with their friends outside or help their parents with their house works or field works. Whereas children today either play computer games or watch t.v. These activities offer no physical exercise and lead to an unhealthy style of life.


18 – How did you move in short distances?

On foot

By bike

By car

other

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%

46%

15%

31%

8%

73%

9%

0%

18%

69%

11%

0%

20%

Moving around

Over 50 16-50

Under 16

Simple Analysis

As we can see our grandparents used to walk a lot for moving around every day. Bikes and carriages were the other options they had. Driving around which is so popular today was out of question then.


Concluding we can say that people in the past Used to consume more fresh

fruit and vegetables and less meat

And generally they used to lead a healthier life

Used to have healthier eating habits and avoid preservatives

Used to exercise more throughout their daily routine

Things have changed, but let our moto be:

“THINK TWICE – EATWISE!”

Education

Survey on Nutritional Habits of Different Generations