Children in large families eat less than in households with just one child, and the difference can be quite significant, finprom.kz reports citing data from the Bureau of National Statistics on average consumption of basic foods in families with different numbers of children for the fourth quarter of last year.
The more children, the less food per family member. For example, in families with one child, each family member ate 21.8 kg of meat and meat products during the fourth quarter, while in households with four children, the figure was 14.8 kg—a third less. In families with four children, fish consumption was 33.4% lower, dairy products by 26.4%, fruit by 26%, and sweets by 22.8%. In households with five or more children, the difference is even more noticeable.
Judging by the average household indicators, Kazakhstanis haven’t started eating less—in fact, they’ve even increased their diet slightly. However, in large families with four children, consumption of meat products decreased by 3.2% (or 0.5 kg), fish by 5.6%, dairy by 2%, and potatoes by 7.6% in the fourth quarter of last year, reflecting a decline in income in such families and a tendency to save on food.
Statistics show a significant gap between the 10% wealthiest and 10% poorest families. High-income families increased the consumption of most food products in the fourth quarter of last year: meat by 3.8%, dairy by 1.8%, eggs by 6%, vegetables by 3.4%, fish and seafood by 8%, oils and fats by 10.8%, and confectionery by 11.9%. The poorest families with many children reduced their consumption of fish and seafood (by 11.9%), vegetable oil (by 11.3%), bread and cereals (by 4.3%). While there was a modest increase in dairy products and eggs, the absolute figures remained significantly lower than those of wealthier families. Poor households have to optimize spending by substituting expensive foods with more affordable food products.
