How people eat in Fiji
50 indicators exploring everyday meals, ingredients and food culture. Information is completed progressively from documented evidence.
Not all data are comparable: food supply, purchases and intake are different measures. Check the period, population and method for each finding. Qualitative descriptions do not establish percentages or amounts.
Timing and company
3/8
| Indicator | Findings and context |
|---|---|
| Meal times | Insufficient data in the sources consulted |
| Meals per day |
23.9% reported eating breakfast on 0–3 of the last 5 school days; 35.6% had a morning snack at that same frequency. Scope, method and limitations
|
| Meal duration | Insufficient data in the sources consulted |
| Daily energy distribution | Insufficient data in the sources consulted |
| Weekdays and weekends | Insufficient data in the sources consulted |
| Eating at home and away |
Eating out was more common in families whose mothers worked or studied; stay-at-home mothers reserved it for family outings and celebrations. Scope, method and limitations
|
| Cooking frequency | Insufficient data in the sources consulted |
| Eating together |
Interviewees describe meals at family and church gatherings and with guests, where people are encouraged to keep eating and declining food can be interpreted as impolite. Scope, method and limitations
|
Pantry and recipes
2/2
| Indicator | Findings and context |
|---|---|
| Most consumed ingredients |
The starchy-food group—dalo, cassava, sweet potato, potato, rice, breadfruit, bread/roti or noodles—was consumed on an average of 6.6 days per week. Scope, method and limitations
|
| Ingredient prevalence in recipes |
In this recipe collection, kokoda,suruwa and vakalolo include coconut milk; purini and cassava cake include coconut cream. Scope, method and limitations
|
Cereals and plant foods
6/6
| Indicator | Findings and context |
|---|---|
| Cereals and cereal products |
Among the study’s Indo-Fijian participants,rice and flour were the main carbohydrate sources; flour products included roti,bread,crackers,instant noodles and Weet-Bix. Scope, method and limitations
|
| Bread |
Roti and bread were among the flour products consumed by the Indo-Fijian participants; separate quantities and dough recipes are not reported. Scope, method and limitations
|
| Pulses |
Chickpeas and lentil dhal appeared among protein sources for the Indo-Fijian participants; the study does not establish pulse quantities or dry/cooked weights. Scope, method and limitations
|
| Vegetables |
Vegetables consumption was reported on an average of 5.6 days in a typical week (95% CI: 5.4–5.7). Scope, method and limitations
|
| Fruit |
Fruit consumption was reported on an average of 3.9 days in a typical week (95% CI: 3.7–4.1). Scope, method and limitations
|
| Potatoes, roots and tubers |
Indo-Fijian participants ate fried or curried potatoes with rice or roti; other root crops were rarely consumed in this sample. Scope, method and limitations
|
Protein foods
5/5
| Indicator | Findings and context |
|---|---|
| Meat |
Chicken and lamb were among the protein sources of the Indo-Fijian food-record participants. Scope, method and limitations
|
| Fish and seafood |
Fish was occasionally consumed by the Indo-Fijian food-record participants,without a published breakdown by species or preservation. Scope, method and limitations
|
| Eggs |
The Indo-Fijian participants’ records describe occasional egg consumption; annual units or kilograms per person are not reported. Scope, method and limitations
|
| Milk and dairy products |
Milk appears among protein sources for the Indo-Fijian participants; this finding does not quantify milk,cheese and yoghurt separately. Scope, method and limitations
|
| Protein sources |
Bread and baked products provided27% of protein,mixed cooked dishes19%,meat,poultry and meat alternatives16%,and seafood and seafood products5%;eggs and egg products and dairy each provided less than4%. Scope, method and limitations
|
Fats, flavours and condiments
3/3
| Indicator | Findings and context |
|---|---|
| Cooking fats |
In 2024–2025, 90.3% of adults reported vegetable oil as the fat or oil most often used for meal preparation in their household; 2.5% reported olive oil and 1.6% coconut oil. Scope, method and limitations
|
| Herbs and spices |
The Khana Kakana recipe for green pawpaw curry with lolo uses masala, turmeric, mustard and cumin seeds, garlic, curry leaves and coriander. Scope, method and limitations
|
| Sauces and condiments |
The Miti Makeover adaptation mixes lolo (fresh coconut cream) with bu (coconut water), red onion, lemon or kumquat juice, tomato, chilli, cucumber and spring onion. Scope, method and limitations
|
Meal composition
6/6
| Indicator | Findings and context |
|---|---|
| Breakfast composition |
As a breakfast proposal, Ovalau Oats combines rolled oats, water, milk, shredded coconut, banana and honey in a porridge. Scope, method and limitations
|
| Main meal composition |
In the lunch section, Davui patties combine boiled and mashed dalo, white beans or chickpeas, tuna, watercress and aromatics; the proposal serves them with fresh salad. Scope, method and limitations
|
| Dinner composition |
Fresh Chinese Ika appears as a dinner proposal: white fish wrapped in banana leaf and steamed with ginger, chilli and spring onion, served over greens stir-fried with garlic, honey and soy sauce. Scope, method and limitations
|
| Appetisers and snacks |
The Snack Attack section proposes bara from soaked yellow split peas blended with garlic, chilli and ginger; onion, curry leaves and coriander are added before shaping and frying patties. Scope, method and limitations
|
| Desserts and sweets |
The vudi vakasoso recipe stuffs ripe vudi with shredded coconut and cooks it in lolo diluted with water. The proposal allows the dessert to be served warm or cold after refrigeration. Scope, method and limitations
|
| Portion sizes |
The pasta-with-eggplant recipe allocates 100 g of plain wheat flour per person for the dough. This is the recipe’s raw-ingredient allocation, not the weight of a cooked pasta portion or a serving observed in the population. Scope, method and limitations
|
Techniques and equipment
5/5
| Indicator | Findings and context |
|---|---|
| Cooking techniques |
Khana Kakana examples include baked wholegrain bread and fish wrapped in banana leaf and steamed. Scope, method and limitations
|
| Vegetable preparation |
Five Ways with Vegetables proposes raw vegetable salads, steaming, blanching, stir-frying and boiling. Scope, method and limitations
|
| Food preservation |
Historical davuke research documents pit preservation of starchy staples in Fiji and examines changes in breadfruit during fermentation. Scope, method and limitations
|
| Fermented foods |
The historical davuke study characterises breadfruit pit preservation as lactic acid fermentation; it also examined product acceptability and possible adaptations of the procedure. Scope, method and limitations
|
| Kitchen equipment |
In 2021, 31.9% of Fiji households owned a microwave, 52.6% a rice cooker and 73.7% a refrigerator. Scope, method and limitations
|
Drinks
2/3
| Indicator | Findings and context |
|---|---|
| Everyday drinks |
In 2024–2025, sugar-sweetened beverages were consumed on an average of 2.9 days per week. 56.0% of adults reported drinking kava or yaqona in the preceding 30 days. Scope, method and limitations
|
| Coffee and tea preparation |
In 2024–2025, sugar added across drinks such as tea, coffee, milo and hot or cold chocolate averaged 4.9 teaspoons per person per day. The result does not separate tea from coffee. Scope, method and limitations
|
| Drinks with meals | Insufficient data in the sources consulted |
Nutrition and dietary patterns
2/3
| Indicator | Findings and context |
|---|---|
| Energy and nutrients |
In the local older-adult study, mean daily intakes were 1560.96 kcal of energy, 51.07 g protein, 53.35 g fat and 223.72 g carbohydrate. Scope, method and limitations
|
| Salt and sugars |
The national survey estimated 9.7 g salt per day with INTERSALT and 15.1 g with Kawasaki in 2024–2025. In a separate local older-adult study from 2022, mean total sugars were 63.49 g per day. Scope, method and limitations
|
| Dietary patterns | Insufficient data in the sources consulted |
Shopping, prices and waste
4/7
| Indicator | Findings and context |
|---|---|
| Food expenditure | Insufficient data in the sources consulted |
| Cost of a common basket | Insufficient data in the sources consulted |
| Cost of specific meals | Insufficient data in the sources consulted |
| Grocery shopping locations |
Mean household food-expenditure shares were 56.73 % at supermarkets, 26.04 % at the main or traditional market and 17.23 % at other outlets. Scope, method and limitations
|
| Shopping frequency |
The shopping category “once a week” accounted for 54.60 % of households for supermarkets and 53.30 % for the main or traditional market. Scope, method and limitations
|
| Prepared food and delivery |
For shopping frequency by outlet, the “never” category accounted for 36.72 % of households for restaurants and 57.68 % for fast-food outlets. Scope, method and limitations
|
| Household food waste |
In the Labasa household waste samples, the organic fraction was dominated by vegetable scraps, fruit and eggshells. Scope, method and limitations
|
Seasons and celebrations
2/2
| Indicator | Findings and context |
|---|---|
| Seasonal produce |
Breadfruit: season from October to May, when most exports occur. Scope, method and limitations
|
| Celebration food |
Diwali: a 2023 commercial campaign offers sweets packs for guests and gifts, with delivery or collection in Fiji. Scope, method and limitations
|
Coverage in progress
The editorial guide for this country is in preparation. You can already explore its recipes; regional attributions are added when documented.
Guide available in other languages: Español
One country, many cuisines
An initial selection of regions to explore. Culinary boundaries may differ from administrative divisions.
Savusavu y Vanua Levu
Suva y Viti Levu oriental
Recipes connected with Fiji
Each recipe documents one version. Geographic associations do not imply an exclusive origin.
Fijian vakalolo
A Fijian dessert of grated cassava, steamed and served with a coconut and caramelized sugar sauce.
View recipeFijian Cassava Cake
A baked cake made with grated cassava, ripe bananas, coconut cream, and sugar.
View recipeFijian steamed purini
Fijian steamed pudding made with flour, sugar, and coconut cream, flavored with nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves.
View recipeFijian Fish Suruwa
Fijian curry of firm white fish with tomato, coconut milk, and spices; one version of suruwa from the Indo-Fijian tradition.
View recipeFijian kokoda
A Fijian starter of dolphinfish marinated in lime and lemon, then mixed with coconut milk and fresh vegetables.
View recipeFijian Dhal Soup
A vegetarian lentil soup with fenugreek, mustard, vegetables, curry and soy sauce.
View recipe
Sources consulted
Read the sources and each document’s scope. A heritage inscription concerns a particular practice, not all of a country’s cuisine.
- Exploring consumer-driven food value chain and market opportunities in Pacific SIDS countries — Chapter 4 digital.library.adelaide.edu.au/server/api/core/bitstreams/619939f3-bf2d-4397-8ca0-85ef93ece… Craig Michael Johns, University of Adelaide, doctoral thesis February 2023; chapter Johns, Umberger, Lyon and Maligalig Consulted: November 2, 2026
- Waste Audit Report — Fiji, Consultants’ Final Report, October 2021 www.theprif.org/sites/theprif.org/files/documents/Waste%20Audit%20Fiji_web.pdf Pacific Region Infrastructure Facility; Tonkin & Taylor International Ltd Consulted: November 2, 2026
- Adolescent dietary patterns in Fiji and their relationships with standardized body mass index vuir.vu.edu.au/36507/1/1479-5868-10-45.pdf International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity / VU Research Repository Consulted: November 2, 2026
- Perceptions on Healthy Eating Impact the Home Food Environment: urban indigenous Fijian food gatekeepers mdpi-res.com/d_attachment/nutrients/nutrients-15-03875/article_deploy/nutrients-15-03875.pdf… Nutrients / original publisher Consulted: November 2, 2026
- Sociocultural Influences Contribute to Overeating and Unhealthy Eating: urban Fiji dspace.library.uu.nl/bitstream/handle/1874/425742/nutrients_14_02803.pdf?isAllowed=y&sequenc… Nutrients / Utrecht University author repository Consulted: November 2, 2026
- Fiji STEPS Survey2025: methods,food frequency and instrument www.health.gov.fj/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Fiji-2025-STEPS-Survey-%E2%80%93-Country-Report… Fiji Ministry of Health and Medical Services Consulted: November 2, 2026
- Fijian kokoda ingredient list, catalogue observation2026-11-02 www.kitchenpause.com/en/recetas/fijian-kokoda KitchenPause published recipe catalogue Consulted: November 2, 2026
- Fijian Fish Suruwa ingredient list, catalogue observation2026-11-02 www.kitchenpause.com/en/recetas/fijian-fish-suruwa KitchenPause published recipe catalogue Consulted: November 2, 2026
- Fijian steamed purini ingredient list, catalogue observation2026-11-02 www.kitchenpause.com/en/recetas/fijian-steamed-purini KitchenPause published recipe catalogue Consulted: November 2, 2026
- Fijian Cassava Cake ingredient list, catalogue observation2026-11-02 www.kitchenpause.com/en/recetas/fijian-cassava-cake KitchenPause published recipe catalogue Consulted: November 2, 2026
- Fijian vakalolo ingredient list, catalogue observation2026-11-02 www.kitchenpause.com/en/recetas/fijian-vakalolo KitchenPause published recipe catalogue Consulted: November 2, 2026
- Dietary patterns of Indo-Fijians and their comparison to patterns of iTaukei Fijians devpolicy.org/2025-Pacific-Update/Panel_2a-2025-Pacific-Update-Nakamura.pdf Naohiro Nakamura,University of the South Pacific;Pacific Update2025 Consulted: November 2, 2026
- Fiji NCD Risk Factors STEPS Report2011: sampling and separate fruit/vegetable frequency www.health.gov.fj/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Fiji-STEPS-Report-2011.pdf Fiji Ministry of Health and WHO Consulted: November 2, 2026
- Dietary Intake Among Community-Dwelling Adults Aged55Years and Older in the Central Division,Fiji pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13415802/ Naliva and colleagues;Nutrients2026;18(14):2354 Consulted: November 2, 2026
- Khana Kakana: Fiji Ministry of Health Wellness Unit cookbook www.nutritionandhealthfiji.com/uploads/5/7/2/8/57283159/j1188-fiji1-khana-kakana-cookbook__2… Fiji Ministry of Health Wellness Unit; original PDF hosted on a mirror Consulted: November 2, 2026
- Launch of Khana Kakana Cook Book: official launch6November2014 www.health.gov.fj/launch-of-khana-kakana-cook-book/ Fiji Ministry of Health Consulted: November 2, 2026
- Davuke: traditional Fijian pit preservation of staple carbohydrate foods (1988), original abstract repository.usp.ac.fj/id/eprint/4901/ University of the South Pacific; Aalbersberg, Lovelace, Madhoji and Parkinson Consulted: November 2, 2026
- Fiji Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey2021, household assets and methodology mics.ipums.org/mics/resources/enum_materials_pdf/report_fj2021a_eng.pdf Fiji Bureau of Statistics, UNICEF, UNFPA and SPC; original report mirrored by IPUMS Consulted: November 2, 2026
- Breadfruit from Fiji, Samoa and Tonga www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity/risk-analysis/plant/breadfruit-pacific Australian Department of Agriculture Consulted: November 2, 2026
- Diwali sweets packs, 2023 campaign bhikhabhai.com.fj/product-category/sweets/diwali/ Bhikhabhai and Company, Fiji Consulted: November 2, 2026
- Nadi: mercados y vida local www.fiji.travel/places-to-go/nadi/locations/top-things-to-do-in-nadi Tourism Fiji
- Mercado y productos de Savusavu fiji-savusavu.com/essential-services/shopping/ Savusavu Tourism Association
- Suva y sus mercados www.fiji.travel/places-to-go/suva-and-surrounds/locations/top-things-to-do-in-suva Tourism Fiji