Perfil socioeconômico, demográfico e alimentar dos usuários do restaurante popular de Juiz de Fora, MG

Abstract

To describe the socioeconomic, demographic and eating profile of Popular Restaurant’s customers in Juiz de Fora – MG. Cross-sectional descriptive study, carried out at Popular Restaurant Yedda Duarte Gomes, located in the city of Juiz de Fora – MG. Questionnaires were applied to 266 users after they signed a consent form as they left the restaurant. Most customers were female, with mean age of 45.33 years; they had attended from 1st to 3rd grade in high school; they were active workers, had a fixed address and average income of 1.33 minimum wages. The higher frequency in the restaurant was 3 to 5 times a week (60.5%); the reason that most influenced the choice to go to the restaurant was the price (68%); 36.8% were at work before going to the restaurant; foods regularly consumed were: beans (87.6%), vegetables (61.7%), milk (55.6%), fruits (51.9%), chicken (22.6%), sweets (21.4%), red meat (20.7%) and natural fruit juice (20.7%). Customers of the Popular Restaurant were people who worked in the vicinity and also homeless people (0.8%). The popular restaurant being studied meets the recommendations of the Ministry of Social Development and Fight against Hunger, as well as offers ready-made and healthy meals at affordable prices, in a comfortable and easily accessible place, to the public in a state of food insecurity. Knowledge and characterization of customers and their eating habits are important for better management of the Popular Restaurant, thus contributing to the food and nutritional security of the population.