Mothers, work and food consumption: going out to work changes mothers' diets?

The usual dietary habits of mothers employed outside the home (n — 337) and mothers “at home” (n — 297) were compared as part of the Victorian Nutrition survey, which was conducted by mail during late 1985 among a random population sample of adults living in the State of Victoria, Australia. The results showed that mothers employed outside the home consumed more varied intakes of fruits, vegetables and dairy foods than mothers “at home,” who in contrast tended to consume more from a lesser range of foods, particularly traditional cereals, fruits and fried foods. Several other differences in dietary habits were observed. The discussion focuses on the possible effects of affluence, convenience, the pursuit of novelty and health, and the family lifecycle.