OBJECTIVE: This study analyzed how often non probabilistic sample of individuals ate away from home and the types of establishments they preferred for having lunch. METHODS: In January 2006, a pretested questionnaire was administered to a non probabilistic sample of 250 consumers (125 males and 125 females) from the municipality of Campinas. The Student's t-test, analysis of variance and Fisher's Least Square Difference were used to identify the significant differences between how often someone has lunch in different places and his opinion on the factors that influence his choice of establishment according to socioeconomic and demographic variables. RESULTS: The percentages of individuals that had lunch away from home 4-7 times a week and supper away from home 1-3 times a week were 38.8% and 30.4% respectively. Some consumers (35.2%) reported eating at all-you-can-eat and pay-by-weight buffet-style restaurants frequently or very frequently. One of the factors considered extremely important when choosing the restaurant was employee and facility cleanness. The differences between frequencies and opinions according to socioeconomic and demographic features were statistically significant (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Consumers usually have lunch at buffet-style restaurants when they eat away from home. Nutrition information programs for consumers about eating away from home should be made available.
Feeding; Feeding behavior; Food habits; Food services
