ADA Survey Shows More Families Eating at Home

A new report from the American Dietetic Association, The State of Family Nutrition and Physical Activity Report, discusses the current realities of kids' and families' eating and activity behaviors in the U.S.

Among the key findings were:

• Since 2003, there has been a significant increase in daily family meals eaten at home, from 52 percent in 2003 to 73 percent in 2010.
• A majority of families are not eating at fast food or sit-down restaurants often, with 51.4 percent of Caucasian, 56.5 percent of African-American and 63.8 percent of Hispanic kids reporting that their families eat there less than once a week or never. In comparison, children eating at fast food or sit-down restaurants three times a week or more include 9.3 percent of Caucasian children, 17.9 percent of African-American children and 13.2 percent of Hispanic children.
• Aside from hunger, almost all children  reported the reason they ate all, most or some of the time was taste. A majority of children also reported it would be easier for them to eat more healthfully if the food had a better taste.
• Children eat while doing other activities such as homework, watching television, playing computer games and talking on the phone. About one-fourth of children eat while watching TV and about one-fourth of children say they eat after dinner. African-American children also report snacking more often than other children during all the listed activities.
• The survey revealed a 93 percent increase since 2003 in the number of children being physically active with their parents three or more days a week; the rate of activity is still much lower than national recommendations of physical activity.
• Families are more aware of what they should not eat than what they should eat. Less than 25 percent of parents and children correctly identified grains as the food group from which the most servings should come. When asked from which food group a person should eat the fewest servings daily, 74.2 percent of Caucasian, 63.2 percent of African-American and 66.4 percent of Hispanic children correctly identified the group of fats, oils and sweets.

The American Dietetic Association Foundation’s 2010 Family Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey was administered nationwide to 1,193 pairs of children (ages 8 to 17) and their parents*, examining eating habits, physical activity and attitudes.