1. DIETARY DIVERSITY AS A FOOD
SECURITY INDICATOR
Source:
John Hoddinott and Yisehac Yohannes (2002),
FCND DISCUSSION PAPER NO. 136

3. • We consider, in turn, associations between
dietary diversity (number of unique foods) and
four indicators of food security: per capita
expenditures, caloric availability,
• Caloric availability from staples, and caloric
availability from non staples.
• Associations between consumption of unique
food groups and these four characteristics.

4. Unique food groups
• country-specific basic staples (e.g., maize in
Mozambique, rice in Bangladesh)
• country-specific “luxury staples” (e.g., macaroni
and fine bread in Egypt; breakfast cereal in
Mexico);
• vitamin A- rich roots, tubers, vegetables, and
fruits; beans, soya, and other pulses; dairy; fats;
sugars; meat, fish, and eggs; other roots and
tubers; other fruits; other vegetables;
• beverages, spices, and other products