A survey of dietary intake in the Medan City community during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Food is an essential requirement for people to live a healthy, active, and productive existence sustainably. Increasing the nutritional content consumed during the COVID-19 pandemic is one of the critical needs for improving the immune system or body’s response. This research aims to obtain information on people’s food consumption patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic in five sub-districts of Medan City. The study’s findings indicate that individuals depend on nutritious and functional meals, including fruits and vegetables, to enhance body immunity during this pandemic. Moreover, the study observed that 74.4 percent of people consumed food derived from the fruit and vegetable groups as a source of vitamins and minerals. The percentage of food intake from the functional food group was 71.2 percent. Eighty-eight percent of respondents consumed herbal infusions from the spice category as a functional drink as a source of antioxidants. The intake level of diversified foods reaches 68 percent, and the pattern of consumption of varied foods with balanced and safe nutrition has been primarily satisfied.