What, When, and Where America Eats

Economic pressures, a desire to better control the healthfulness of what they eat, and a belief that family meals can have a positive impact on a child’s academic and social skills are driving Americans to eat more meals at home.

In a typical week in 2007, the mean number of dinners that were cooked and eaten at home was 4.8, eaten at a restaurant 1.1, from take-out or prepared food brought home 0.7, eaten somewhere else 0.3, and skipped 0.1. Two-thirds of families sat down together for dinner a…