Evaluation of food purchasing, preparation, cooking and storage practices of women in 19-55 age group living in Gaziantep

This study was conducted to evaluate the practices of women living in Gaziantep on food purchasing, preparation, cooking and storage in terms of nutritional principles and health. 390 women in the 19-55 age group, selected with random sampling, were included in the study. The information was collected via face to face interviews by the researcher with a questionnaire. 65.1% of the participants have education levels at least high school and further. 45.6 % of the participants are housewives. While 62.4% of women make correct practices in purchasing, preparing, cooking and storing food, 37.6% of them perform malpractices. No difference was found between make correct practices according to education, marital status and professions. The rate of make correct practices was found to be higher among women in the 36-45 age group. Roasting of foods such as rice, bulgur, semolina at dry heat or oil (80.8%), soaking chopped vegetables in water (73.6%), using germinated potatoes (69.0%), drying of vegetables and fruits in the sun (62.1%) are among the malpractices. While 65.9% of individuals cook vegetable dishes without adding water or by adding very little water and without disposing the water, 54.6% of the individuals cook pasta by boiling it in plenty of water and then disposing the excess water. The ratio of individuals purchasing unpackaged milk is 62.1% and 14% of these boil milk for less than 5 minutes, 9.1% for 5 minutes and 76.9% for more than 5 minutes. 30.3% of individuals use iodized salt and 80.3% of them add the salt to the food with other ingredients. 25.4% of women re-freeze thawed meats, 37.7% dissolve the food on the lower shelves of the refrigerator, 51.0% discards the moldy parts of food and use other parts. Training individuals on food purchasing, preparatioin, cooking and storage and raising awareness on correct practices will contribute to nutrition, health and economy. Key words: food preparation, cooking practices, food storage