Sustainable food consumption in rural households with children

In the face of current challenges related to environmental pollution and degradation, as well as limited water, land and energy resources, a growing priority is to popularise a consumption model that supports the quality of life of current and future generations. This idea – known as sustainable consumption – in the case of food primarily assumes increasing the share of plant-based, seasonal and local products in the daily diet. Sustainable consumption is also intended to prevent food losses and waste and to prevent lifestyle diseases resulting from excessive consumption, including obesity. The GUS budget data presented in the article for households with children aged 5–9 indicate that in the Mazowieckie province, the consumption of most of the analysed product groups is lower than in the national sample. The consumption of total fruit in rural households is also lower than average, compared to urban households. The survey results confirmed that only 9% of respondents knew what the term "sustainable food consumption" meant, although about two thirds of them admitted that they talked to their children about the need to reduce food waste and losses at home. In their purchasing behavior, parents are guided primarily by the child's health, taste and the principles of healthy eating. Barriers to changing behavior to more sustainable ones turned out to be children's dietary preferences, low knowledge of adults about the recommendations for sustainable consumption and a lack of conversations with children about the relationship between nutrition and the environment.