Food habits studies in the Amazon emphasizes the consumption of fish and
farinha (manioc flour) as basic diet in different groups, while vegetables, mainly fruits,
are consumed sporadically and seasonally. In a scenario of nutritional transition, with
insertion of industrialized food in the diet, traditional food and consumption of
regional products have undergone transformations, affecting health, autonomy and the
lifestyle of traditional populations. Ethnobotanical studies tend to equalize theoretical
knowledge and use of plants, but these are not always synonyms. Therefore, this study
aimed to evaluate the theoretical knowledge and the actual consumption of food plants
in riparian communities of the Piagaçu-Purus Sustainable Development Reserve. The
level of access and sociocultural characteristics of the communities were considered,
as well as the hydrological seasons of the Purus River. We interviewed 288 residents
of the five communities with age between 4 and 86 years with free lists and 24 hours
diet recall. The survey of the botanical knowledge demonstrates a rich knowledge of
food plants, with 220 identified species, nevertheless, there is still a food monotony,
with little consumption of all plant knowledge. The consumption of plants is more
diverse in the wet season, possibly due to the easier access to areas of flooded forest,
besides the local agricultural dynamics and the forest seasonality. Food monotony and
dependency on external resources for feeding are threats to food security for some
communities. Although seasonal, the consumption of known and culturally accepted
plants can be intensified with the adoption of agroecological principles such as the
diversification of agricultural fields; greater participation of women in agricultural and
food decision-making; and appreciation of traditional cuisine and regional food
ingredients.
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