Table 3 Dietary habits of the study participants in Jeddah and Taif cities pre and during the early COVID-19 pandemic (n = 638)

Breakfast consumption: /week

  Never

54

8.5

70

11.0

 − 0.825^a

(0.37–0.43)

0.4

  1–2 times

110

17.2

90

14.1

  3–4 times

102

16.0

112

17.6

 5–6 times

164

25.7

164

25.7

 - Everyday

208

32.6

202

31.6

Fast food consumption/week

  ≥ 7 times

27

4.2

30

4.7

 − 10.14^a

(0.0001–0.003)

 < 0.0001*

 5–6 times

41

6.4

66

10.3

  3–4 times

40

6.3

132

20.7

  1–2 times

222

34.8

276

43.3

 < once

308

48.2

134

21.0

Animal protein consumption/week

  ≥ 7 servings

74

11.6

64

10.0

 − 0.898^a

(0.36–0.38)

0.37

  5–6 servings

122

19.1

148

23.2

  3–4 servings

234

36.7

224

35.1

  1–2 servings

154

24.1

150

23.5

 < one serving

54

8.5

52

8.2

Meat fat trimming

 - Never

58

9.1

50

7.8

 − 3.14^a

0.002*

 - Rarely

44

6.9

38

6.0

(0.001–0.002)

 - Sometimes

148

23.2

146

22.9

 - Regularly

214

33.5

222

34.8

 - Always/do not eat meat

174

27.3

182

28.5

Chicken fat trimming

 - Never

60

9.4

50

7.8

 − 3.07^a

0.002*

 - Rarely

34

5.3

38

6.0

(0.001–0.002)

 - Sometimes

156

24.5

158

24.8

 - Regularly

212

33.2

206

32.2

 - Always/do not eat chicken

176

27.6

186

29.2

Eating processed meat/week

  ≥ 7 times

12

1.9

10

1.6

 − 0.2^a

0.9

  5–6 times

8

1.3

10

1.6

(0.98–0.9)

 3–4 times

292

45.8

298

46.7

 1–2 times

114

17.9

106

16.6

  < once/never

212

33.1

214

33.5

Fish consumption/week

  Never

110

17.2

232

36.4

 − 9.4^a

 < 0.0001*

  < once

234

36.7

202

31.7

(0–0.001)

  Once

208

32.6

130

20.3

  2 times

76

11.9

70

11.0

  3–4 times

2

0.3

2

0.3

 > 4 times

8

1.3

2

0.3

Cooking method

 - Deep frying

192

30.1

168

26.3

 − 18.93^a

 < 0.0001*

 - Grilling

278

30.6

288

45.1

(0–0.001)

 - Boiling

128

20

136

21.3

 - Steaming

40

6.3

46

7.3

Choosing low-fat food

 - Never

114

17.9

128

20.1

 − 1.82^a

0.06

 - Rare

118

18.5

100

15.7

(0.061–0.073)

 - Sometimes

224

35.1

240

37.6

 - Regular

94

14.7

92

14.4

 - Always

88

13.8

78

12.2

Type of used cooking fat

 - Margarine

22

3.4

22

3.4

 − 1.35^a

0.17

 - Butter

96

15.2

112

17.6

(0.17–0.18)

 - Vegetable oil

312

48.8

298

46.7

 - No oil/olive/flaxseed oil

208

32.6

206

32.3

Milk consumption/day

  No/ < one cup

282

44.2

286

44.8

 − 0.63^a

0.6

 1cup/day

280

43.9

278

43.6

(0.59–0.61)

 ≥ 2 cups/day

76

11.9

74

11.6

French fries/week

  ≥ 7 times

8

1.3

16

2.5

 − 2.75^a

0.005*

  5–6 times

24

3.8

52

8.2

(0.004–0.007)

  3–4 times

160

25.1

136

21.3

 1–2 times

282

44.2

272

42.6

  Never/ < once

164

25.6

162

25.4