Last updated on 8-8-2025 by Laïla Boulbayem
Why do we study dietary patterns of the population?
- What we eat and drink has a direct impact on our health and well-being. By studying dietary patterns in the population (What foods are eaten? At what frequency? By whom?), we can identify areas for improvement and make informed decisions to promote better diets. This knowledge helps address the risk of diet-related diseases and supports the development of healthy, sustainable food systems.
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The current page is focused on general consumption of cereals. More information on the comparison of the habitual intake of cereals and cereal products with dietary guidelines can be found here.
How do we study the consumption of cereals and cereal products?
- The consumption of cereals and cereal products was assessed, overall and for different population groups, using data from two non-consecutive 24-hour dietary recalls. Trained interviewers recorded twice, on two non-consecutive days, all the foods and drinks that participants had consumed on the previous day using a specialised computer program (GloboDiet®).
- The mean consumption of cereals and cereal products (in grams per day) was calculated using the average consumption, overall and by its two subcategories, over the two recall days of each participant. Since mean distributions are skewed, comparison between population subgroups should be interpreted with caution.
- The detailed methodology can be found here.
What is included in the group of “cereals and cereal products”?
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This group is divided in the following subcategories:
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Pasta, rice and other cereals such as couscous and quinoa;
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Bread, rolls, sandwiches, pita bread, etc.;
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Rusks, toast, crackers;
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Breakfast cereals;
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Dough, flour, oatmeal, bran, baking mixes, etc.
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KEY RESULTS
The mean consumption of cereals and cereal products in the population aged 3 years and older is 175 g per day
Men consume on average more cereals and cereal products (199 g per day) than women (151 g per day)
Older adults have a lower mean consumption of cereals and cereal products (139 g per day) than adolescents and adults
The mean consumption of cereals and cereal products is 180 g per day in Flanders and 160 g per day in Wallonia
Most cereals and cereal products consumed are bread (92 g per day), as well as pasta, rice and other cereals such as couscous and quinoa (65 g per day)
By sex
Mean consumption of cereals and cereal products (g/day) in the population aged 3 years and older, by sex, Belgium: 2022-2023
- The “Dough and flour” subgroup includes dough, flour, oatmeal, bran, baking mixes, etc.
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Mean consumption refers to the population mean consumption, calculated from the individual mean consumption over two non-consecutive 24-hour dietary recalls.
- The mean consumption of cereals and cereal products in the population aged 3 years and over is 175 g/day, including 92 g/day of bread, 65 g/day of pasta, rice and other cereals such as couscous and quinoa, 10 g/day of dough and flour, 6 g/day of breakfast cereals and 2 g/day of rusks, toasts and crackers.
- Men consume 199 g/day of cereals and cereal products, including 105 g/day of bread, 74 g/day of pasta, rice and other cereals such as couscous or quinoa, 11 g/day of dough and flour, 7 g/day of breakfast cereals and 1 g/day of rusks, toasts and crackers.
- Women consume 151 g/day of cereals and cereal products, including 78 g/day of bread, 56 g/day of pasta, rice and other cereals such as couscous or quinoa, 10 g/day of dough and flour, 6 g/day of breakfast cereals and 2 g/day of rusks, toasts and crackers.
By age
Mean consumption of cereals and cereal products (g/day) in the population aged 3 years and older, by age, Belgium: 2022-2023
- The “Dough and flour” subgroup includes dough, flour, oatmeal, bran, baking mixes, etc.
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Mean consumption refers to population mean consumption, calculated from the individual consumption over two non-consecutive 24-hour dietary recalls.
- Older adults (65 years and above) do not include those residing in care facilities, hospitalised individuals, or those who would have required significant assistance during interviews (e.g., people with cognitive impairments).
- The mean consumption of cereals and cereal products is 146 g/day in children aged 3-9 years. It increases in adolescents (195 g/day) and young adults (207 g/day) and decreases then in middle-aged adults (175 g/day) and older adults (139 g/day).
- The mean consumption of bread varies little from one age group to another (between 73 g/day for children and 99 g/day for older adults).
- The mean consumption of pasta, rice and other cereals is lower among older adults (31 g/day) than among adolescents (84 g/day) and adults aged 18-39 years (87 g/day) and 40-64 years (67 g/day).
- Children and adolescents consume on average 12 g/day and 11 g/day of breakfast cereals, respectively, while adults aged 40-64 years eat 5 g/day and older adults 2 g/day of breakfast cereals.
By educational level
Mean consumption of cereals and cereal products (g/day) in the population aged 3 years and older, by educational level, Belgium: 2022-2023
- The “Dough and flour” subgroup includes dough, flour, oatmeal, bran, baking mixes, etc.
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Mean consumption refers to population mean consumption, calculated from the individual consumption over two non-consecutive 24-hour dietary recalls.
- The educational level is calculated at the household level by considering the highest diploma obtained by: (i) the respondents or their partner for adults (aged 18 years and above), or (ii) the father and mother (or carer, if applicable) for children and adolescents (aged 3 to 17 years). However, for simplicity, we refer to the educational level of individuals rather than the educational level of their households.
- The mean consumption of cereals and cereal products is 169 g/day among individuals with a low level of education, 174 g/day among individuals with a medium level of education and 188 g/day among individuals with a high level of education.
- The mean consumption of bread is similar in every education level group: 92 g/day among individuals with a low level of education, 94 g/day among individuals with a medium level of education and 90 g/day among individuals with a high level of education.
- The mean consumption of pasta, rice and other cereals is 60 g/day among individuals with a low level of education, 64 g/day among individuals with a medium level of education and 75 g/day among individuals with a high level of education.
By region
Mean consumption of cereals and cereal products (g/day) in the population aged 3 years and older, by region, Belgium: 2022-2023
- The “Dough and flour” subgroup includes dough, flour, oatmeal, bran, baking mixes, etc.
- Crude = results weighted for season, age, sex, and socioeconomic status.
- Mean consumption refers to the population mean consumption, calculated from the individual mean consumption over two non-consecutive 24-hour dietary recalls.
- Brussels is excluded from the regional comparison due to an insufficient number of participants, but is included in the national data for Belgium.
- The mean consumption of cereals and cereal products is 180 g/day in Flanders and 160 g/day in Wallonia.
- The mean consumption of bread seems higher in Flanders (101 g/day) than in Wallonia (78 g/day).
Please cite this page as: Sciensano. Food Consumption: Cereals and cereal products, Food Consumption Survey 2022-2023, June 2025, Brussels, Belgium, https://www.sciensano.be/en/results-national-food-consumption-survey-2022-2023/food-consumption/cereals-and-cereal-products