Rural Food Markets, Dietary Structure and Nutrient Intake: Evidence from Food‐at‐Home Consumption in Central China

ABSTRACT

Food markets are becoming increasingly important for rural food security in developing countries, beyond subsistence agriculture. This study examines how rural food markets affect food‐at‐home consumption and nutrient intake among rural residents in three provinces of central China. Greater food market availability increases the consumption of relatively more market‐constrained foods, including meat, aquatic products, eggs and milk and dairy products, while reducing the reliance on relatively less market‐constrained staples, particularly cereals. These changes are associated with improved dietary balance and dietary diversity. Although total energy intake does not change significantly, nutrient composition shifts towards higher animal‐source energy, animal‐source protein and fat intake and lower plant‐source energy, plant‐source protein and carbohydrate intake. The effects also vary across market formats. These findings extend the existing evidence on how rural food markets shape diets and nutrition in developing countries and provide policy implications for improving the availability of nutritious foods in rural areas.