A. Elizabeth Sloan

Last year, nearly eight in ten meals were eaten in the home, most of them prepared by “Mom.” Spaghetti, pizza, and steak were the most frequently eaten dinners, and sandwiches ruled for lunch. The majority of families had their main meal together at least four times a week, and one-third ate together seven nights a week! And avoiding additives, preservatives, pesticides, and sugar was back in vogue. Does it seem like nothing’s changed? Nothing could be further from the truth!

What, When, and Where Americans Eat: 2003Last year, for the f…

Table 1—The ten fastest-growing chains. From Technomic (2003).

Fig. 2—Ready-to-cook, individually frozen meats and poultry from Tyson Foods are making home cooking easier than ever.

Fig. 3—Seasoned, fully cooked pot roast and other products from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association are among the new competitors to rotisserie chicken as deli takeout.

Table 3—Top 10 in-home lunch dishes. From NPD Group (2003a).

Fig. 5—Single-serving snack kits from Fresh Express combine fruit with cheese and crackers or other items.

Fig. 6—A variety of refrigerated potatoes from Purely Supreme Foods are ready for microwave heating and serving.

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