Indicator Definition: Household dietary diversity is defined as the number of different food groups consumed over a given reference period. This indicator measures household dietary diversity as a proxy measure of household food access. To better reflect a quality diet, the number of different food groups consumed is calculated, rather than the number of different foods consumed. Knowing that households consume, for example, an average of four different food groups implies that their diets offer some diversity in both macro- and micronutrients. This is a more meaningful indicator than knowing that households consume four different foods, which might all be cereals.

The following set of 12 food groups is used to calculate the HDDS: A. Cereals; G. Fish and seafood; B. Root and tubers; H. Pulses/legumes/nuts; C. Vegetables; I. Milk and milk products;  D. Fruits; J. Oil/fats; E. Meat, poultry, offal; K. Sugar/honey; F. Eggs; L. Miscellaneous. 

Method of Computation: First, the HDDS variable is calculated for each household. The value of this variable will range from 0 to 12. HDDS (0-12) Total number of food groups consumed by members of the household. Values for A through L will be either 0 or 1. Sum (A + B + C + D + E + F + G + H + I + J + K + L): 12 Food groups used to calculate HDDS Second, the average HDDS indicator is calculated for the sample population. Average HDDS=Sum (HDDS)/Total Number of Households.  For more information on indicator tabulation plan: https://www.fantaproject.org/sites/default/files/resources/HDDS_v2_Sep ;