ADA Survey Shows More Families Eating at Home

A report from the American Dietetic Association (ADA), “The State of Family Nutrition and Physical Activity,” shows the realities of U.S. family eating and activity behavior. Key findings of the survey, administered nationwide to 1,193 pairs of children and their parents, were:

• At-home family meals increased from 52 percent in 2003 to 73 percent in 2010.
• Most families eat out less often, with an average of 57.2 families eating out less than once a week.
• Aside from hunger, most children said taste was the main reason they ate, and said it would be easier to eat more healthfully if the food tasted better.
• About 25 percent of children said they eat while watching TV.
• However, 93 percent more children are physically active with their parents three or more days a week, though the rate of activity is still much lower than national recommendations.