Americans eating more fast food and other meals prepared away from home

What portion of the food dollar is spent on food prepared away from home? a) 20%, b) 33%, c) 47.5%. If you chose 47.5%, you are correct. Nearly half the money we spend on food is spent on food prepared away from home. What effect does this have on the amount and quality of food that Americans eat? Let's look first at where we are eating. The largest portion of calories from foods eaten away from home comes from fast food establishments. Young men aged 18-39 years get 17% of their total calories from fast food; adults in general average 12% of calories from fast food, 10% from restaurants, and 11% from other places, including cafeterias, bars, others' homes, and vending machines. Thus, food prepared away from home represents a major part of many people's diets. This increased use of food prepared away from home has marked effects on nutrition. For example, the fat content of foods eaten at home averages around 32% of total calories; food eaten away from home is higher in fat--close to 38% of total calories. Foods eaten away from home also contribute more saturated fat and cholesterol, and have slightly more sodium. Home-prepared foods are higher in fiber, calcium, and iron. Our reliance on convenience foods has serious health implications. If you're pressed for time, we hope that you'll consider some of the suggestions for quick and easy vegan meals found in this issue of Vegetarian Journal.

Guthrie JF, Lin B-H, Frazao E. 2002. Role of food prepared away from home in the American diet, 1977-78 versus 1994-96: changes and consequences. J of Nutr Educ and Behav 34:140-150.

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