Reasons for contemporary food intake of poor households in rural areas of South Africa

Because the reasons for food intake are determined by a range of factors that vary from individual, household, cultural and ethnic group preferences and also by location, season, income and affordability, historical factors, knowledge and education, and social networks as well as the impact of HIV/AIDS on individuals and households, micro-level case studies are the best means of understanding the diversity of reasons. However, most of the existing micro-level studies only mention one or two aspects that are relevant to understanding the reasons for contemporary food intake, as their primary focus is different. More in depth micro level case studies are required in order to obtain better information on the topic and especially those studies that consider the local context and attempt to prioritize food choices at different times or during different life experiences. Having said that, it is also important to understand how macro level factors (high prices, food distribution, agricultural support services, climate change, etc) impact on the micro level context and influence local reasons for food intake. It is also important to understand reasons for food intake in different localities at a national level and this could be done by means of including appropriate questions into national surveys.