Increasing food demand with attendant high food insecurity in Nigeria remains a challenge to policymakers. However, there is a dearth of information on food consumption and household food security with respect to the North Central Nigeria compared with other zones. The determinants of food demand and food security status of households in North Central Nigeria (NCN) were assessed. The study observed that most energy- related food items in North Central Nigeria were necessity and price inelastic. Animal protein, fruits and vegetables were luxury commodities. Most important factors determining food security were household size, access to credit and food expenditure share