In 1992 a national nutrition survey was con
ducted in China in 100 000 people of all ages selected with use
of a multistage, stratified, random, clustered procedure. Dietary
data were collected with three consecutive 24-h recalls. A total of
9304 members of 20 minority nationality groups were included in
the survey, accounting for 9.3% of the total sample. Meal behavior
varied greatly according to nationality. Almost all Koreans and
Tibetans ate three meals daily but 85% of Lahu people ate only
two. Members of many other groups, including the Han, the
majority nationality group in China, ate between two and three
meals a day. People who ate two meals a day usually ate less than
did those consuming three meals. The minority groups consumed
amounts of dietary energy and protein comparable to those eaten
by the majority group, although cereals accounted for a larger
portion and animal food a smaller portion of energy and protein
intakes. There were no differences in the dietary patterns of men
and women of the same nationalities. Am J Clin Nutr
l997;65(suppl):I2905—