Table 3 Distribution of factor loadings of the principal dietary patterns identified among 23 to 25-year-old adults of the Ribeirão Preto birth cohort (4th phase: 2002–2004)

Leafy vegetables

0.585

Papaya, melon

0.522

Apple, pear

0.495

Yellow vegetables

0.484

Broccoli

0.458

Fish

0.446

Tomato

0.421

Potato, manioc and polenta, not fried

0.398

Orange, tangerine

0.389

Chicken

0.358

Breakfast cereals

0.352

Banana

0.335

Fruit juice

0.318

Peas, lentils

0.312

Beans

0.695

Rice

0.690

Margarine

0.340

Beef

0.301

Low-fat dairy foods

- 0.397

Whole grain breads

- 0.346

Diet/light sodas

- 0.336

Beer

0.592

Salty snacks

0.519

Distilled beverages (Brazilian rum - cachaça, whiskey, vodka)

0.479

Porkmeat

0.402

Sausages

0.351

Eggs

0.343

Bacon

0.342

Seafood

0.335

Mayonnaise

0.308

Desserts, cakes, pies, ice cream, sweets

0.572

White breads, croissant, cheese bread

0.451

Sweet or salty cookies, toast

0.449

Chocolates

0.434

Popcorn, chips

0.386

Fried potato, manioc and polenta

0.345

Whole milk dairy products

0.303

Explained variance (%)

6.56

5.15

4.78

4.43

Eigenvalue

3.15

2.47

2.29

2.12