Objective  To analyze dietary patterns of Chinese residents living in different areas during the period from 2010 to 2012.

  Methods  The data were collected in the National Nutrition and Health Survey conducted among the residents aged ≥ two years recruited at 150 surveillance sites in 31 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities across China between August 2010 and December 2012. Multistage and proportion to population size cluster random sampling and three consecutive 24-hour recalls combined with condiment weighing were adopted in the survey. The dietary energy, carbohydrate, protein, and fat intake, and proportion of dietary pattern among the participants were analyzed based on the China Food Composition Table.

  Results  Among the participants, the average dietary intake per reference man per day was 2 172.1 kcal for energy, 300.8 grams (g) for carbohydrate, 64.5 g for protein, and 79.9 g for fat, respectively, during the 3-year period. The proportion of dietary energy intake via consumption of cereals, edible oil, and animal-based food were 53.1%, 17.3%, and 15.0%. Of the total energy supply for the participants, 55.0%, 32.9% and 12.1% were contributed to the intake of carbohydrate, fat, and protein. Of the protein intake, 47.3% was from cereals and 36.1% from animal-based food and soybean products. For the fat intake, 64.1% was from vegetable food and 35.9% from animal food. The proportion of energy supply contributed to intakes of cereal and carbohydrate was less than 50.0% for the participants in large cities and the proportion contributed to the intake of cereals was less than 50.0% for the participants in medium- and small-sized cities. The proportion of energy supply from fat intake was more than 30% for both the urban residents and residents in common rural regions. The proportion of energy supply from the intakes of animal food and edible oil increased among the Chinese residents during the period.

  Conclusion  The dietary intakes were mainly cereals and vegetable food among Chinese residents between 2010 – 2012 but there is a tendency of having a western-like dietary pattern with high intakes of energy, fat, and sugar among the residents in various regions. The results suggest that Chinese traditional diet-based healthy dietary pattern should be promoted among the residents and guidance for healthy diet should be given to the residents of various regions specifically.