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Winter 1999

What We Eat in America

More Americans are eating out than ever before, according to the results of the 1994-96 Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals (CSFII) and the Diet and Health Knowledge Survey (DHKS). These surveys, popularly known as What We Eat in America, are conducted by the Agricultural Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The 1994-96 survey collected data on food and nutrient intakes of Americans, behaviors (such as exercise and smoking) that may affect their intakes, and knowledge and attitudes about dietary guidance and health. Interviews with 15,000 individuals of all ages were conducted in 62 geographical areas across the country.

Survey data confirm that the percentage of Americans eating away from home has increased since the late 1970's. "In 1994-95, 57 percent of Americans consumed meals and snacks away from home on any given day, accounting for about half of their daily calorie and fat intake on average," said Catherine E. Woteki, Ph.D., USDA Under Secretary for Food Safety. "Seventeen years ago, by comparison, 43 percent of Americans ate away from home for just over 40 percent of daily calories and fat." One-third of individuals who ate out in 1995 chose a fast-food place, 27 percent chose a restaurant, and 25 percent obtained and ate food from a grocery or convenience store without ever bringing it into the home. Dr. Woteki attributes the increase in eating away from home to the prevalence of two-career families, the lack of time available for home cooking, and the wide variety of choices available for meals away from home.

Americans are consuming below the minimum servings recommended for the fruit, dairy, and meat groups in the USDA's Food Guide Pyramid. Grain and vegetable consumption is also at the lower ends of the recommended range, and calories from fats and sugars exceed Pyramid recommendations (see the pyramids below).

Survey findings indicate that people's behavior does not always reflect their beliefs. Two-thirds of adults think it is very important to choose a diet with plenty of vegetables and fruits; however, fruit and vegetable consumption has increased only slightly since the late 1970's. About two-thirds of adults eat more than the recommended dietary allowance of fat, but only half think they eat too much fat. Eighty-five percent of adults think it is important to use sugars only in moderation, yet Americans consume an average of 20 teaspoons of added sugars a day-accounting for 16 percent of calories. They also know that regular physical activity improves health, but 44 percent of adult females and 28 percent of adult males report that they rarely or never engage in vigorous exercise.

The survey data can be used to monitor the nutritional adequacy of American diets, determine how well Americans use and understand food labels, develop nutrition programs for those who need them most, estimate exposure of population groups to food contaminants, and assess the demand for agricultural products.

The Department of Health and Human Services and USDA have agreed to integrate the CSFII and the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to form one national food and nutrition survey beginning in the year 2000. This coordination of activities will help strengthen the methods and technologies for collecting information on the population's nutrition and health status to further the science of nutrition monitoring.

Survey highlights, charts, tables, and fact sheets can be viewed on the USDA Food Survey Research Group's (FSRG) website at www.barc.usda.gov/bhnrc/foodsurvey/home.htm. Also contained at this site are instructions on how to order survey products such as publications on survey methods and results, and CD-ROM's containing survey questionnaires, methods, and procedures. You may also call FSRG at (301) 734-8457 for more information.