The objective of this paper is to analyze the food consumption patterns during two periods of 1980-1989 and 1990-2002 by estimating a Linear Approximate Almost Ideal Demand System (LAIDS) model. The author used the workers' household data from 10 districts compiled in Annual Report on the Family Income and Expenditure Survey. Empirical results show that cooked food and food away from home (FAFH) were luxury items in 1980-1989. But it is to be noted that the cooked food failed to respond either to income or to price change during 1990-2002, the fact of which shows that the cooked food became a necessity in the dietary life. Cooked food and beverages including alcoholic beverage became strong substitutes for FAFH during this period, and the cross price elasticities of these items became higher during this period than in 1980-1989. Complementing FAFH were cereals and fruits. The expenditure share of fish and shellfish in Kanto tended to be smaller than in any other districts during 1990-2002. On the other hand, FAFH share in Kanto tended to be higher than in any other districts.
