Issue Date: October 29, 2006
Food for thought
As Thanksgiving nears, we wanted to find out more about Americans' eating habits. Check out these surprising poll findings -- then proudly ask for seconds at that holiday dinner.
By Mary Ellin Lerner
The nation's obesity crisis may have experts eaten up with alarm, but participants in an exclusive USA WEEKEND Magazine scientific poll don't seem to be worried. In fact, respondents in the 2007 America's Kitchen survey, conducted with the website Allrecipes.com, seem content with their cooking, happy with their eating habits and stubbornly resistant to sacrificing in order to be svelte and healthy.
An astonishing 67% say "eating together as a family" is a better way to instill good values in children than going to religious services regularly or volunteering regularly.
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53% of us are "above-average" cooks.
Remember those rumors about the death of home cooking, the tragic ranks of people microwaving their way to mediocrity? Nonsense, say the folks in the survey. A proud majority (53%) describe their culinary skills as "above average" or "great." Impressively, almost half the people surveyed say that their refrigerators are "fully and freshly stocked."
What's more, no one wants to put those fat fridges on a diet, despite the shocking fact that 66% of American adults and almost 20% of kids are overweight and threatened with a greater risk of heart disease, diabetes and cancer.
Call it good old American independence, a terminal case of eat, drink and be merry. The only habit most would change in order to add "five good years" to their lives is to cook all meals at home.
Forsake the sweet comfort of desserts in exchange for those five extra years? You gotta be kidding, say 57%. Eat only organic foods? Get outta here (57%). Become a vegetarian? No way (74%). Receive your nutrients in the form of a space-age pill? Are you crazy (73%)?
62% say that happiness outweighs health.
When asked if they would eat a food they hate -- and only that food -- for the rest of their days, if it would "make you your ideal weight," 69% say nay.
A majority (62%) prefer being "overweight and happy" as opposed to "the ideal weight and unhappy." They say they want the same for their children.
"People in the United States have gotten used to having whatever food they want, wherever and whenever they want it. Any thought of restricting that produces a negative response," says psychologist Kelly Brownell, director of the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale University. "No one wants to give up a pleasure they've grown accustomed to."
But stop the presses! A majority of those surveyed (52%) said they'd eat the hated food if it would produce "instant peace worldwide." Has Bono invaded our taste buds? Or is it Homeland Security?
73% eat as a family at least two times a week.
Americans may not be eager vegans, but they're doing one thing that impresses the experts: Families are eating together. Most of those surveyed (73%) say that they eat as a family at least two to four times a week, while a solid 45% gather around the table five to seven times weekly. An astonishing 67% say "eating together as a family" is a better way to instill good values in children than "going to religious services regularly" or "volunteering regularly."
Is food our new religion, the latest New Age craze? Surprisingly, no. There is scientific proof that dining as a family is good for you. Studies by Columbia University's National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) show that the greater the frequency of family dinners, the lower the risk that a child will use cigarettes, alcohol or drugs.
"It's about communication. You eat, you talk, you share at a family dinner," says Elizabeth Planet, CASA's director of special projects. "Parents can find out what's up with their kids, what their concerns are, who their friends are. They can communicate their feelings about alcohol, cigarettes and drugs."
74% put TV on their menu.
The salutary effects of eating family-style are undermined, however, if diners are distracted by watching TV or reading, says family therapist and communication expert Loren Ekroth. "You can't carry on a meaningful conversation, and you can't really listen, with the TV on."
That might pose a problem for survey respondents. A majority (74%) say watching the tube at the table is fine, and 41% say reading is acceptable.
28% of us eat and drive -- dangerously.
Respondents are not as enamored of mixing munching and motoring: 95% say eating while driving could be dangerous, but 28% do it at least sometimes. A study at the University of North Carolina found that preparing to eat is actually more dangerous than eating itself. The reason: Reaching for those McNuggets takes your eyes off the road and can cause swerving.
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If you had to name a baby after a food, which name would you choose?
Most popular pick: Peaches
This will be distressing news to Peaches Geldof, 17, daughter of rocker Sir Bob Geldof, and a rising British celeb in her own right. Peaches -- full name Peaches Honeyblossom Michelle Charlotte Angel Vanessa Geldof -- has openly criticized celebs who saddle kids with silly monikers and sympathized with Gwyneth Paltrow's baby, Apple. Peaches says her own "ridiculous" name has haunted her since birth. By the way: Her sisters' names are Little Pixie, Fifi Trixibelle and Heavenly Hiraani Tiger Lily.
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About this exclusive scientific poll: 1,622 Americans ages 25 to 54, selected to reflect U.S. Census population data, were interviewed Aug. 1-22 by InsightExpress for USA WEEKEND Magazine and the website Allrecipes.com. The margin of error is 2%.
See complete results at Allrecipes.com.
Coming in two weeks:
$10,000 winner of America's Top Recipe contest, sponsored by USA WEEKEND Magazine and Allrecipes.com.
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