BACKGROUND: the rise in the prevalence of obesity, diabetes, and other risk factors for cardiovascular diseases and cancer observed in Chile over the past decades may be related to changes in dietary patterns of the population. AIM: to report changes in household apparent food-nutrients consumption (HAFNC) for Metropolitan Santiago-Chile 1988-97. MATERIAL AND METHODS: the analysis is based on data from household expenditure surveys conducted by the Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas (INE) on a representative sample of the population to define changes in food prices. Information on food and drink purchases were grouped by specific items and expen-ditures standardized across the two surveys. HAFNC was determined based on unit consumed at home and out of home by the total group and by income quintile using national food composition tables. RESULTS: apparent energy consumption increased over the study period by 25%, this was mainly explained by increased consumption of meat and dairy (rich in saturated fats of animal origin) and of processed foods (fat spreads, sweets and pastries) and foods rich in added sugars (sugary drinks and juices). Dietary fiber derived from whole grains, legumes and cereals decreased. The HAFNC of items protective against nutrition related chronic diseases, such as vegetables, fruits and other fiber rich foods remained stable or frankly decreased (legumes and non-starchy vegetables) Fish and other marine foods rich in omega- 3 fats remained low. CONCLUSIONS: the changes in apparent food consumption patterns can be characterized by an increase in energy dense, fat and sugar rich foods with a low consumption of fi sh, whole grains, legumes, vegetables and fruits.