United States 

Department of 

Agriculture

Economic

Research

Service

Economic

Information

Bulletin

Number 86

November 2011

How Much Time Do 

Americans Spend on Food?

Karen S. Hamrick, Margaret Andrews, Joanne Guthrie,

David Hopkins, and Ket McClelland
www.ers.usda.gov

Visit Our Website To Learn More!

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its 

programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, 

disability, and, where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental 

status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, 

or because all or a part of an individual’s income is derived from any public 

assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons 

with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program 

information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s 

TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). 

To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil 

Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or 

call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal 

opportunity provider and employer.

Cover photo credit: Shutterstock and Thinkstock 

 

http://www.ers.usda.gov/

Find additional information : 

Use of commercial and trade names does not imply approval or 

constitute endorsement by USDA.

Recommended citation format for this publication:

Karen S. Hamrick, Margaret Andrews, Joanne Guthrie, David Hopkins, and 

Ket McClelland. How Much Time Do Americans Spend on Food? EIB-86, 

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service. November 

2011.
United States

Department

of Agriculture

www.ers.usda.gov

A Report from the Economic Research Service

Abstract

This report uses data from the 2006-08 ERS Eating & Health Module of the American 

Time Use Survey to present an overview of Americans’ eating and other food-related 

time use patterns, including grocery shopping and meal preparation, and teenage time 

use patterns in relation to school meals. On an average day, Americans age 15 and older 

spent 67 minutes eating and drinking as a “primary” or main activity, and 23.5 minutes 

eating and 63 minutes drinking beverages (except plain water) while doing something 

such as watching television, driving, or working. Eleven percent of the population spent 

at least 4.5 hours on an average day engaged in eating and drinking activities. 

Keywords: Time use, eating patterns, obesity, BMI, school meals, grocery shopping, 

meal preparation, Food Stamp Program, SNAP, National School Lunch Program, time 

diary, time use survey, American Time Use Survey, multitasking.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the support and assistance of our ERS colleagues 

Jayachandran Variyam and Ephraim Leibtag. We would like to thank Rachel KrantzKent, the American Time Use Survey staff, and Dorinda Allard, Bureau of Labor 

Statistics; David Berrigan, National Cancer Institute; Abigail Okrent, ERS; and Cathleen 

Zick, University of Utah for helpful comments and suggestions. Special thanks are 

extended to Dale Simms and Cynthia A. Ray for editorial and design assistance.

Karen S. Hamrick, Margaret Andrews, 

Joanne Guthrie, David Hopkins, Ket McClelland

How Much Time Do Americans 

Spend on Food?

Economic

Information

Bulletin

Number 86 

November 2011
ii

How Much Time Do Americans Spend on Food? / EIB-86

Economic Research Service/USDA

Contents

Summary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

 Methods and Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Eating Behavior—How Many Minutes? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

 Age groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

 Region . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

 Extreme groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

 Employment status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

 Work schedule. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

 Income group and SNAP participation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Eating Behavior—Where, When, With Whom, 

and While doing what? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

 Where do Americans eat and drink?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

 When do Americans eat and drink?—Time of day. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

 When do Americans eat and drink—Time of day in the context 

 of other activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

 When do Americans eat and drink?—Frequency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

 When do Americans eat and drink?—Weekdays, Weekends, 

 and Holidays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

 Whom are Americans with when they eat and drink? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

 What other activities are Americans doing while eating 

 and drinking?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Time Use Patterns, BMI and General Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

 General Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Meal Preparation and Grocery Shopping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

 How long does it take? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

 Who does it? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

 Meals obtained at school. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Implications for Future Research. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

References. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Appendix tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Appendix—Technical information on calculation of estimates . . . . . . 58
iii

How Much Time Do Americans Spend on Food? / EIB-86

Economic Research Service/USDA

Summary

What Is the Issue?

ERS collected data on Americans’ time use patterns and eating, Body Mass 

Index (BMI), USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, 

formerly the Food Stamp Program, FSP) participation, meals obtained at 

school, and grocery shopping over 2006-08. The ERS-developed Eating & 

Health Module of the nationally representative American Time Use Survey 

was used to collect this information. This report presents extensive summary 

statistics and analysis using this data for an average day over the 2006-08 

period. Single-year estimates of food-related time use patterns have previously been analyzed. However, by studying 3 years of data together, we are 

able to examine in greater detail various subgroups of the population.

Examining the eating patterns of the U.S. population is a key factor to 

improving our understanding of the determinants of Americans’ nutrition 

and health. Analyzing the time Americans spend in various activities, and in 

particular food-related activities, may provide some insight into why nutrition and health outcomes vary over time and across different segments of the 

population. A better understanding of these factors could improve programs 

and policies targeted at reducing obesity and improving overall nutrition. 

What Did the Study Find?

We looked at time use patterns for Americans age 15 and over and estimated 

time spent in eating activities. We also analyzed time use patterns by BMI, 

general health, and SNAP participation, as well as by other characteristics. 

Our fi ndings include the following:

• On an average day over 2006-08, Americans age 15 and older spent 

about 2.5 hours eating or drinking. Slightly less than half of that time (67 

minutes) was spent eating and drinking as a “primary” or main activity, 

while the remaining time was spent in eating and drinking while doing 

something else considered primary such as watching television, driving, 

preparing meals, or working (78 minutes) and in waiting to eat or traveling to the meal destination (7 minutes). Eleven percent of the population spent at least 4.5 hours on an average day engaged in eating and 

drinking activities. 

• Lower income Americans, those with household incomes less than 185 

percent of the poverty threshold, spend less time engaged in eating and 

drinking activities than those with higher incomes. 

• Those who engaged in secondary eating or drinking while driving, 

working, grooming, or during meal preparation and cleanup had lowerthan-average BMIs, while those who engaged in secondary eating while 

watching television had higher-than-average BMIs. 

• Obese individuals, on average, spent just over 3 hours watching television per day, about 37 minutes more than those with normal weight.

• Women were more likely to grocery shop than men on an average day, 

and spent more time shopping as well. 
iv

How Much Time Do Americans Spend on Food? / EIB-86

Economic Research Service/USDA

• Teenagers who do not obtain breakfast or lunch at school engaged in 

considerably more screentime (non-school computer time and watching 

television) than teens who do obtain meals at school.

How Was the Study Conducted?

Data for this study come from the Eating & Health Module (EH Module), 

a supplement to the American Time Use Survey (ATUS). The ATUS is 

a Bureau of Labor Statistics survey that is conducted by the U.S. Census 

Bureau. ERS and the National Institutes of Health’s National Cancer Institute 

funded the EH Module, which was fi elded from January 2006 to December 

2008. ERS compiles, analyzes, and releases the data collected from the 

EH Module. Over 2006-08, the ATUS and EH Module resulted in a total 

of 37,832 completed interviews. Weighting factors were used in order to 

produce nationally representative estimates. The EH Module contains questions on:

• eating patterns; 

• height, weight, and health status; 

• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly Food Stamp 

Program) participation, meals obtained at school by household children;

• household income; and 

• grocery shopping and meal preparation.

Statistical differences discussed are signifi cant at the 90-percent confi dence 

level.
1

How Much Time Do Americans Spend on Food? / EIB-86

Economic Research Service/USDA

Introduction

Information on Americans’ eating patterns is one key to understanding the 

issues related to the nutrition and health of the U.S. population. A better 

understanding of Americans’ eating patterns, including the context of their 

food consumption, can improve programs and policies targeted at reducing 

obesity and improving overall nutrition and, more generally, inform 

consumer education, food assistance programs, and product development/

marketing. Toward this goal, USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) 

developed, with joint funding by ERS and the National Cancer Institute, 

a supplement to the nationally representative American Time Use Survey 

(ATUS). This supplement—the Eating & Health Module (EH module) 

fi elded over 2006-08—contained questions on eating patterns, Body Mass 

Index (BMI), participation in and income eligibility for food and nutrition 

assistance programs, grocery shopping, and meal preparation. 

This report presents national statistics using EH module data on time use 

patterns related to eating, health, grocery shopping, and meal preparation. 

Annual estimates from the 2006-08 American Time Use Survey have previously been reported by ERS,1 but analysis of 3 years’ of consecutive data can 

provide greater detail on various subgroups of the population. In addition, the 

pooled 2006-08 data smooth the year-to-year variation that resulted from a 

change in the survey instrument. 

Methods and Data

The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ ATUS began in 2003 and is ongoing, with 

the U.S. Census Bureau conducting the interviews.2 One individual age 15 or 

older from each sampled household is interviewed about his or her activities 

for the 24-hour period from 4 am the day before the interview to 4 am of the 

interview day. Survey respondents are asked to identify their primary activity 

(if they were engaged in more than one activity at a time), where they were, 

and whom they were with. All ATUS respondents were also included in 

the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Current Population Survey (CPS), and their 

household labor force participation information from the CPS is updated 

during the ATUS interview. As a consequence, ATUS data include time 

diary, demographic, labor force participation, and household information.

The Eating & Health Module was fi elded from January 2006 to December 

2008. The ATUS collects over 12,000 completed interviews each year. Over 

2006-08, the ATUS and EH Module resulted in 37,832 completed interviews 

of individuals age 15 or over.3 Weighting factors calculated by the U.S. 

Census Bureau applied to the individual ATUS and EH Module respondent 

data produce nationally representative estimates for an average day over 

2006-08. 

The EH Module contains questions on eating patterns; height, weight, and 

health status; Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly 

Food Stamp Program) participation and income; meals obtained at school 

by household children; and grocery shopping and meal preparation (see box, 

“ATUS Eating and Health Module Questions”). The ATUS asks respondents 

to report only their primary, or main, activities.4 However, Americans often 

1Estimates for each year over 2006-

08, documentation, and the microdata 

fi les are available at http://ers.usda.gov/

Data/ATUS/

2The ATUS conducts interviews 

every day of the year except Thanksgiving and Christmas

3Some respondents completed the 

ATUS survey but not the EH Module 

questions. Over 2006-08, there were a 

total of 82 of these cases, or 0.2 percent 

of ATUS respondents.

4The ATUS collects information on 

simultaneous childcare but does not ask 

about any other multitasking or secondary activity.
2

How Much Time Do Americans Spend on Food? / EIB-86

Economic Research Service/USDA

ATUS Eating and Health Module Questions 

Eating as a secondary activity

Because many Americans eat while engaged in other activities, such as driving or watching television, 

information is needed on eating as both a primary and secondary activity. 

Question: We’re interested in fi nding out more about how people fi t meals and snacks into their schedules. 

Yesterday, you reported eating or drinking between [fi ll times from respondent’s time diary]. Were there 

any other times you were eating yesterday—for example while you were doing something else? About how 

long would you say you were eating while you were [fi ll activity]? Not including plain water, were there 

any other times yesterday when you were drinking any beverages? About how long would you say you were 

drinking while you were [fi ll activity]? 

Grocery shopping and meal preparation

Question: I’d like to ask a couple of questions about food preparation. Are you the person who usually 

does the grocery shopping in your household? Are you the person who usually prepares the meals in your 

household? 

Food Stamp Program participation

This information allows analysis of the time use patterns of food stamp recipients versus others, particularly 

low-income persons who are not participating in the program.

Question: In the past 30 days, did you or anyone in your household get food stamp benefi ts?

Breakfast and lunch obtained at school 

Question: Please think back over the past week starting last [day of week] up to today, [day of week]. In the 

past week, did [fi ll names of children in the household under age 18] eat a BREAKFAST that was prepared 

and served at a school, a paid day care or Head Start center, or a summer day program? This question refers 

to ONLY BREAKFASTS prepared at the school or center—not meals brought from home. 

What about LUNCH? In the past week, did [fi ll names of children in the household under age 18] eat a LUNCH 

that was prepared and served at a school, a paid day care or Head Start center, or a summer day program? This 

question refers to ONLY LUNCHES prepared at the school or center—not meals brought from home. 

Height, weight, and general health

From this self-reported information, Body Mass Index (BMI) can be calculated, and time use patterns, such as 

activity levels and eating patterns, can be analyzed by BMI levels.

Question: I’m going to switch topics and ask you a few fi nal questions about your physical health that might 

affect how you use your time. In general, would you say that your health is Excellent, Very Good, Good, 

Fair, or Poor? How tall are you without shoes? How much do you weigh without shoes? 

Household income

This question asks if total household income before taxes was above or below a certain amount. The ATUS 

Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing software automatically calculates the dollar amount of 185 and 130 

percent of the poverty threshold based on the respondent’s household composition. These income thresholds 

determine income eligibility for food assistance programs.

Question: Last month, was your total household income before taxes more or less than [fi ll 185 percent of 

poverty threshold] per month?

If answer was LESS:

Was it more or less than [fi ll 130 percent of poverty threshold] per month? 

A text version of the Eating & Health Module questionnaire is available at http://www.bls.gov/tus/ehmquestionnaire.pdf
3

How Much Time Do Americans Spend on Food? / EIB-86

Economic Research Service/USDA

eat and drink while engaged in another activity—like watching television, 

driving a vehicle, working, or grooming—that the individual considers as 

primary. By determining and analyzing the time spent in both primary and 

secondary eating/drinking, a more complete picture of Americans’ eating 

patterns emerges. 

The ATUS and EH Module provide information about eating/drinking 

behavior that has not been available before for nationally representative data. 

The ATUS is a time use survey, and so does not include food intake information. Nonetheless, the data provide important information on eating/drinking 

duration, frequency, and context that allows for the characterization of eating 

patterns across different groups. 

Because Americans’ time use patterns do not change much from year to 

year, the ATUS and EH Module data can be pooled over years to obtain estimates of average time use behavior. However, a survey instrument change in 

October 2006 in the EH Module resulted in increased estimates of time spent 

in secondary eating and secondary drinking. As of October 2006, respondents 

could report that they were engaged in secondary eating and/or drinking “all 

day,” excluding time spent in primary eating and sleeping, instead of reporting 

secondary eating and/or drinking for each of their day’s activities. This shortanswer option of “all day” resulted in an increase in the average time spent 

in secondary eating and secondary drinking from 2006 to 2008, while the 

percentage of people engaged in any secondary eating or drinking remained 

constant. Pooling the data over 3 years mitigates the methodology issues.5

Estimates of average time use are presented here using different age cutoffs 

for different activities. Statistics in the Eating Behavior sections on average 

time spent eating and drinking are presented for those age 15 and over, 

utilizing the entire dataset. (Average time estimates for the population age 

18 and over are also provided in the tables for readers who are interested in 

average time spent by adult Americans.) In the Time Use Patterns, BMI, and 

General Health sections, estimates of time spent by BMI are calculated for 

those age 20 and older to correspond with the Centers for Disease Control 

and Prevention adult interpretation of BMI. Most estimates concerning meal 

preparation and grocery shopping are for adults age 18 and over. In addition, 

SNAP (formerly FSP) defi nes adults as those age 18 or older, so this cutoff is 

appropriate for SNAP/FSP statistics. Finally, time use estimates pertaining to 

meals obtained at school are for those adults age 19 and older in households 

with school-age children or youth, or those age 15-18 who are in school. This 

cutoff is because teenagers who are in high school and are age 18 can obtain 

meals at school (see box, “Age Groups Used in Report Statistics”). 

All estimates are for an average day over 2006-08. This measure provides a 

way to see time allocation across the population. However, many activities 

are not done on a daily basis, and some activities are never done by some 

individuals. Grocery shopping and exercise are examples of activities that 

exhibit day-to-day variation for an individual’s time use, and also variation 

among individuals’ time use. These estimates are then a snapshot, short-term 

measure of Americans’ time use. All estimates calculated from the ATUS 

time diaries, and the ATUS and EH Module questionnaires are of selfreported information. 

5See http://www.ers.usda.gov/Data/

ATUS/Documentation.htm for more 

information on the survey instrument 

change.
4

How Much Time Do Americans Spend on Food? / EIB-86

Economic Research Service/USDA

Age Groups Used in Report Statistics

Report section Age group Reason

Eating Behavior—

How Many Minutes?

15 years old and over, 

tables and text

Note: 18 years old and 

over included in tables

Utilizes entire dataset

Eating Behavior—

Where, When, With 

Whom, and While Doing 

What?

15 years old and over, 

tables and text

Note: 18 years old and 

over included in tables

Utilizes entire dataset

Time Use Patterns, Body 

Mass Index (BMI) and 

General Health

20 years old and over Adult BMI interpretation is 

for age 20 and over

Meal Preparation and Grocery Shopping

How long does it take? 18 years old and over

Adults are of interest,

Supplemental Nutrition 

Assistance Program 

(SNAP)/Food Stamp 

Program (FSP) defi nition 

of adult

Who does it? 18 years old and over

Adults are of interest,

SNAP/FSP defi nition of 

adult

Meals obtained at school

19 years old and over, 

and 15-18 years old and 

in school

Adults beyond high school 

age with school-age children/youth in household, 

and teens in school
5

How Much Time Do Americans Spend on Food? / EIB-86

Economic Research Service/USDA

Eating Behavior—How Many Minutes?

On an average day over 2006-08, Americans age 15 or older spent an average 

(mean) 67 minutes engaged in primary eating and drinking (the ATUS does 

not separately report primary eating versus primary drinking), that is, eating 

and drinking as a main activity. An additional 23.5 minutes were spent in 

secondary eating, that is, eating while engaged in another activity considered primary, and 63 minutes in secondary drinking of beverages other than 

plain water (table 1, appendix table 1). Men spent 69 minutes in primary 

eating and drinking, whereas women spent only 65 minutes.6 The time spent 

in secondary eating was about the same for men and women. Americans 

spent, on average, an additional 7 minutes in other activities associated with 

primary eating—travel to a meal location and waiting for food. Thus, the 

6Statistical differences described in 

the text are signifi cant at the 90-percent 

confi dence level.

Table 1

Time spent in eating and drinking and percent of population age 15+ (18+) and older engaged 

in each activity, on an average day over 2006-08

Average minutes per day, 

civilian population 

Average percentage 

engaged in activity per day

Average minutes per day, 

for persons who engaged 

in the activity

Minutes Percent Minutes

Total Men Women Total Men Women Total Men Women

AGE 15 and older

Total time in primary eating 

and drinking 66.9 68.6 65.2 95.9 96.2 95.6 69.7 71.4 68.2

Total time in associated 

activities 7.4 7.9 6.9 25.6 27.3 24.1 28.9 29.1 28.7

Secondary eating 23.5 22.8 24.1 52.5 48.4 56.3 44.7 47.0 42.9

Secondary drinking 63.1 59.1 66.9 35.4 33.0 37.5 178.5 178.8 178.3

Total secondary eating and 

drinking (adjusted for overlap) 77.7 73.5 81.6 53.9 49.9 57.7 144.1 147.3 141.5

Total time in all eating & 

drinking activities 152.0 150.1 153.8 NA NA NA 242.7 247.7 238.4

AGE 18 and older

Total time in primary eating 

and drinking 67.8 69.6 66.0 96.0 96.2 95.8 70.6 72.4 68.9

Total time in associated 

activities 7.4 8.0 6.9 25.7 27.5 24.0 28.9 29.1 28.7

Secondary eating 23.9 23.1 24.6 52.1 48.2 55.7 45.9 48.0 44.2

Secondary drinking 65.1 61.0 68.9 35.5 33.1 37.7 183.5 184.1 183.1

Total secondary eating and 

drinking (adjusted for overlap) 79.7 75.4 83.8 53.6 49.7 57.2 148.8 151.6 146.5

Total time in all eating & 

drinking activities 154.9 153.0 156.7 NA NA NA 248.3 253.2 244.0

NA = Not applicable.

Notes: A primary activity refers to an individual’s main activity. 

Primary eating & drinking includes Eating and drinking (110101 and 110199), Eating and drinking not elsewhere classifi ed (119999) and Eating 

and drinking as part of job (050202).

Travel times not included except in associated activities.

Total secondary eating and secondary drinking time (adjusted for overlap) is one-half the sum of the total time assuming all overlap (secondary 

eating & drinking occur at the same time during a primary activity) plus the total time assuming no overlap (secondary eating & drinking occur 

during the same primary activity, but not at the same time).

Source: 2006-08 Bureau of Labor Statistics American Time Use Survey and ERS Eating & Health Module data.
6

How Much Time Do Americans Spend on Food? / EIB-86

Economic Research Service/USDA

average total time spent in eating and drinking activities was 152 minutes 

(2.5 hours). (Average times were essentially the same for those age 18 or 

older as for those 15 or older. See Appendix for technical information on 

how estimates were calculated.)

Ninety-six percent of Americans engaged in primary eating eating and 

drinking on an average day, 52.5 percent in secondary eating, and 35 percent 

in secondary drinking. Since almost all Americans engage in primary eating 

and drinking on an average day, the average time spent by “participants”—

those who engage in an activity, in this case primary eating and drinking—was 

70 minutes, about the same as the average over the population, 67 minutes. 

However, since secondary eating and drinking had a lower share of participation, participant times were considerably higher than the total population averages. Of those who engaged in secondary eating, the average time spent was 45 

minutes, and for secondary drinking, 178.5 minutes (just under 3 hours).

Age Group

Individuals age 65 and over spent considerably more time in primary eating 

and drinking than other age groups—81.5 minutes on an average day—and 

less time in secondary eating and secondary drinking than did those age 

18-64. Teenagers (age 15-17) spent the least amount of time in primary/

secondary eating/drinking (fi g. 1, appendix table 2).

Region

Time spent in eating/drinking activities showed some variation across 

regions (appendix table 3). Individuals residing in metro and nonmetro areas 

spent about the same amount of time in primary eating and drinking and in 

secondary eating, though respondents in nonmetro areas spent more time 

Total time in primary

eating and drinking

Secondary eating Secondary drinking

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Age 15−17

Age 18−24

Age 25−64

Age 65+

Figure 1

Time spent in eating activities by age group, 

on an average day over 2006-08

Minutes

Source: 2006-08 Bureau of Labor Statistics American Time Use Survey and ERS Eating 

& Health Module data.
7

How Much Time Do Americans Spend on Food? / EIB-86

Economic Research Service/USDA

in secondary drinking—73 minutes versus 61 minutes for metro residents. 

Respondents in the Northeast and West spent more time in primary eating 

and drinking than those in the Midwest or South. 

Extreme Groups

EH module data allow analysis of those with extreme time behavior with 

respect to eating activities. Of particular interest are constant grazers, those 

who spent at least 4.5 hours a day (about twice the 2006 average time) on 

primary or secondary eating or drinking activities, those with no primary 

eating and drinking, and those who reported that they engaged in secondary 

eating and/or secondary drinking “all day.”

Constant grazers, who made up 11 percent of the population age 15 and over, 

spent 75 minutes engaged in primary eating and drinking, 133 minutes (2.2 

hours) in secondary eating, and 483 minutes in secondary drinking (8 hours). 

Constant grazers had a slightly lower rate of engaging in primary eating 

and drinking than the total population, but much higher rates of engaging in 

secondary eating (93 percent) and secondary drinking (90 percent). Constant 

grazers’ average BMI was 27.3, which is not statistically different from 

the total population average BMI of 27.1, and represents only a 1-pound 

difference in weight for a person 5’ 6” tall. Both BMI values are above the 

minimum for overweight (25.0). 

Four percent of the population reported no primary eating and drinking (table 

1), though they engaged in secondary eating and secondary drinking at much 

higher rates (82 percent for secondary eating and 63 percent for secondary 

drinking) than the total population and spent much longer doing so—51 

minutes in secondary eating and 138 minutes (2.3 hours) in secondary 

drinking. So, clearly this group offsets the time saved on meals with 

secondary snacking over the course of the day. 

In October 2006, “all day” became a response option for the secondary eating 

and secondary drinking questions.7 “All day” does not include sleep time 

or time spent in primary eating. Those who reported that they engaged in 

secondary eating and/or secondary drinking “all day” had shorter average 

times spent in primary eating than the total population. This reporting change 

did not have much effect on average secondary eating times, but increased 

average time reported for secondary drinking, a less defi ned activity than 

secondary eating. If an individual takes a sip of coffee once every 10 or 

15 minutes over 3 hours, is that 3 hours of secondary drinking? Since the 

data are self-reported, it is the respondent’s view of what constitutes coffee 

drinking that determines how the survey question is answered. Thus, the 

responses refl ect how individuals view their food consumption behavior. 

Employment Status

Those employed spent less time in primary eating and drinking and more 

time in secondary eating/drinking than those not employed (fi g. 2). The 

difference in secondary drinking times is considerable—71 minutes for those 

employed versus 48.5 minutes for those not employed.

7See http://www.ers.usda.gov/Data/

ATUS/Documentation.htm for more 

information on the survey instrument 

change.
8

How Much Time Do Americans Spend on Food? / EIB-86

Economic Research Service/USDA

Work Schedule

Of those who are employed, does when they work make a difference in 

their eating/drinking behavior over the day? Figure 3 and appendix table 4 

show the time spent in eating and drinking activities for employed workers 

by their work shift. This analysis includes only those respondents who were 

employed and engaged in paid work at their workplace on their diary day.8

On an average day, not all employed persons would be working. 

Those who performed at least half of their paid work time at their workplace 

between 8 am and 4 pm are classifi ed as day shift workers, between 4 pm and 

12 am (midnight) as evening shift workers, and between 12 am (midnight) 

and 8 am as night shift workers.9 Those who worked day shifts spent more 

time in primary eating and drinking than those in other shifts, perhaps due to 

their standard schedules. 

Income Group and SNAP Participation

The EH Module data indicate whether the respondent’s household income 

was above or below 185 percent/130 percent of the poverty threshold. 

These levels correspond with the income eligibility thresholds for reducedprice school meals and for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for 

Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) (185 percent), and for free school 

meals and SNAP10 (130 percent).11

Those with household income greater than 185 percent of the poverty 

threshold spent more time in all eating/drinking activities than those with 

incomes below 185 percent (fi g. 4.) The greater amounts of time spent in 

secondary eating and drinking are likely due to the fact that those with higher 

incomes are more likely to be employed than those with lower incomes. In 

8The analysis includes a small 

number of individuals who engaged in 

unpaid work for a family business (for 

fewer than 15 hours/week) or who were 

not employed but engaged in job search 

activities, such as interviewing for jobs.

9Those who did not have a majority 

of their paid work time at their workplace in any one shift were not included 

in the analysis. Only those with a 

minimum of 1 hour of paid work done 

at the workplace were included. Otherwise, the defi nitions of work schedules 

in Polivka (2008) were used. Because 

the ATUS time diary is from 4 am to 4 

am, night shift workers are identifi ed 

as those who performed at least half 

of their paid work at their workplace 

between 4 am and 8 am and/or between 

12 am (midnight) and 4 am.

10Current regulations allow States to 

raise gross income eligibility standards 

above the Federal standard under some 

circumstances. 

11See USDA Food and Nutrition 

Service for more information on food 

and nutrition assistance programs and 

eligibility, http://www.fns.usda.gov/fns/.

Figure 2

Time spent in eating activities by employment status, on an average 

day, 2006-08, age 15+

Minutes

Source: 2006-08 Bureau of Labor Statistics American Time Use Survey and ERS Eating 

& Health Module data.

Total time in primary

eating and drinking

Secondary eating Secondary drinking

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Employed

Not employed
9

How Much Time Do Americans Spend on Food? / EIB-86

Economic Research Service/USDA

addition, those with higher incomes were more likely to eat out at a restaurant or bar—23 percent of those with higher incomes ate at a restaurant on an 

average day, versus 13 percent of individuals with household incomes less 

than 185 percent of the poverty threshold. 

Figure 3

Time spent in eating/drinking activities by work shift, on an average 

day worked 2006-08, age 15+

Minutes

Source: 2006-08 Bureau of Labor Statistics American Time Use Survey and ERS Eating 

& Health Module data.

Total time in primary

eating and drinking

Secondary eating Secondary drinking

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Day shift

Evening shift

Night shift

Figure 4

Time spent in eating/drinking activities by income group, 

average day 2006-08, age 15+

Minutes

Source: 2006-08 Bureau of Labor Statistics American Time Use Survey and ERS Eating 

& Health Module data.

Total time in primary

eating and drinking

Secondary eating Secondary drinking

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Income less than 185%

poverty threshold

Income greater than 185%

poverty threshold
10

How Much Time Do Americans Spend on Food? / EIB-86

Economic Research Service/USDA

Individuals in SNAP/FSP households spent less time in primary eating and 

drinking and secondary drinking than income-eligible (household income 

less than 130 percent of the poverty threshold) nonparticipating households 

(fi g. 5).12,13 Higher income, non-SNAP individuals spent more time in 

primary eating than the other groups, perhaps due to more eating out. Indeed, 

22.5 percent of this group ate at a restaurant on an average day, versus 9 

percent of those in SNAP/FSP households and 13 percent of those in incomeeligible nonparticipating households. This is consistent with the SNAP/FSP 

program structure, which requires that benefi ts be used to purchase food for 

at-home consumption.

12The Food Stamp Program (FSP) 

was renamed the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) as of 

October 1, 2008. The ATUS and EH 

Module data were collected from January 2006 to December 2008, so most of 

the data collection took place when the 

program was the FSP. However, since 

SNAP is the current program name, 

SNAP or SNAP/FSP is used here.

13Estimates in this report should 

not be used to estimate the number of 

SNAP/FSP participants or case loads 

for a variety of reasons, including that 

the ATUS and EH Module data include 

only those age 15 and over, and so 

do not contain the entire SNAP/FSP 

population. See Hamrick (2010, p. 13) 

for more information.

Figure 5

Time spent in eating/drinking activities by SNAP/FSP status, 

on an average day 2006-08, age 15+

Minutes

SNAP = Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; FSP = Food Stamp Program.

Source: 2006-08 Bureau of Labor Statistics American Time Use Survey and ERS Eating 

& Health Module data.

Total time in primary

 eating/drinking

Secondary eating Secondary drinking

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

SNAP/FSP participating

household

Income eligible nonparticipating household

Non-participating, 

income > 130% poverty

threshold household
11

How Much Time Do Americans Spend on Food? / EIB-86

Economic Research Service/USDA

Eating Behavior—Where, When, With Whom, and 

While Doing What?

Understanding Americans’ eating patterns over the course of a day, not 

just a summary snapshot of the day, provides a detailed picture of eating 

behavior. How many times a day do Americans engage in eating or drinking? 

What times of day are they eating or drinking? It is also useful to understand the context of eating patterns. Where are individuals when they are 

eating/drinking? Whom are they with? What are their primary activities 

while they are engaged in secondary eating or drinking? All of this information together highlights differences in eating patterns across groups, 

particularly body mass index (BMI) groups. There is extensive literature 

devoted to Americans’ eating patterns,14 especially as they affect obesity. 

Some researchers have found that context, or environment, plays a role in 

America’s obesity problem;15 the ATUS/EH data are a rich source of eating 

context information.

Where Do Americans Eat and Drink?

Over two-thirds of Americans’ primary eating and drinking occurrences, 

on an average day in 2006-08, took place at home (fi g. 6a). The next most 

frequent primary eating and drinking location (13 percent) was at the workplace. A close third is a restaurant or bar, at 11 percent. Only 4 percent 

of eating/drinking occurrences took place in someone else’s home. The 

remaining primary eating and drinking occurrences took place at a variety of 

locations and in transportation modes, with no single location having more 

than 2 percent of total occurrences.

14See Ma et al., 2003; and Howarth et 

al., 2007.

15See French, Story, and Jeffery, 

2001; and Guthrie, Lin, and Frazão, 

2002.

Figure 6a

Where primary eating/drinking takes place, percent of occurrences, 

2006-08, age 15+

Source: 2006-08 Bureau of Labor Statistics American Time Use Survey and ERS Eating 

& Health Module data.

67.5

12.8

11.1

3.9

4.5 0.2

Own home or yard

Workplace

Restaurant or bar

Someone else’s home

Other places

Modes of transportation
12

How Much Time Do Americans Spend on Food? / EIB-86

Economic Research Service/USDA

For secondary eating and drinking, 49 percent of occurrences took place 

at home (fi g. 6b) and 16 percent at the workplace. The third most frequent 

location (11 percent) was while driving. Five percent of secondary eating/

drinking occurrences took place while individuals were engaged in personal 

care (location is not reported for personal care activities), and another 5 

percent while at someone else’s home. 

Though restaurants or bars accounted for only 11 percent of eating/drinking 

occurrences, they represented 20 percent of the time spent in primary eating 

and drinking (fi g. 7a), indicating more leisurely occurrences. For secondary 

eating/drinking (fi g. 7b), the main difference in the percentages of occurrences and time spent is at the workplace—16 percent of occurrences versus 

27 percent of time spent.

When Do Americans Eat and Drink?—Time of Day

Americans have two peak times for eating and drinking—noon to 1 pm and 

6 to 7 pm—when 40 percent or more of Americans are engaged in primary 

or secondary eating/drinking (fi g. 8). The morning peak is from 7 to 8 am, 

and is not as pronounced for primary eating and drinking as the later peaks. 

For the 13 hours from 9 am to 10 pm, 5-10 percent of Americans are engaged 

in secondary eating, and likewise 5-10 percent are engaged in secondary 

drinking. Men and women have similar eating/drinking patterns over the 

course of the day; however, women are more likely than men to be engaged 

in eating/drinking in the morning and in the afternoon, and less likely overnight from 11 pm to 7 am (fi g. 9). This fi nding correlates with the fact that 

men are more likely than are women to work on night shift jobs, according to 

analysis of the ATUS data (Polivka, 2008).

Figure 6b

Where secondary eating/drinking takes place, percent of occurrences, 

2006-08, age 15+

Source: 2006-08 Bureau of Labor Statistics American Time Use Survey and ERS Eating 

& Health Module data.

48.6

15.8

11.3

5.3

4.7

10.7

3.6

Own home or yard

Workplace

While driving vehicle

During personal care

Someone else’s home

Other places

Other modes of 

transportation
13

How Much Time Do Americans Spend on Food? / EIB-86

Economic Research Service/USDA

The primary eating and drinking patterns for constant grazers are the same 

as others’ in terms of when they eat/drink as a main activity. However, 20 

percent of this group was engaged in secondary eating during any given hour 

from 9 am to 10 pm (fi g. 10), whereas only about 5 percent of the rest of 

Americans were engaged in secondary eating during those 12 hours. Also, 

over 50 percent of the constant grazers were engaged in secondary drinking 

at any time over this same time period. 

Figure 7a

Where primary eating/drinking takes place, percent of time spent,

2006-08, age 15+

Source: 2006-08 Bureau of Labor Statistics American Time Use Survey and ERS Eating 

& Health Module data.

59.4

11.0

19.9

4.8

4.8 0.2

Own home or yard

Workplace

Restaurant or bar

Someone else’s home

Other places

Modes of transportation

Figure 7b

Where secondary eating/drinking takes places, percent of time spent, 

2006-08, age 15+

Source: 2006-08 Bureau of Labor Statistics American Time Use Survey and ERS Eating 

& Health Module data.

Own home or yard

Workplace

While driving vehicle

During personal care

Someone else’s home

Other places

Other modes of 

transportation

46.6

27.1

11.4

5.8

4.4

3.1 1.7
14

How Much Time Do Americans Spend on Food? / EIB-86

Economic Research Service/USDA

Figure 8

Percentage of Americans engaged in eating and drinking by time of day, 2006-08, age 15+

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

noon

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

mid

night

123

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50 Primary eating and drinking

Secondary eating

Secondary drinking

Either primary or secondary

Percent

am pm am

Source: 2006-08 Bureau of Labor Statistics American Time Use Survey and ERS Eating & Health Module data.

Figure 9

Percentage of Americans engaged in eating and drinking by time of day, 2006-08, age 15+, by gender

Percent

Source: 2006-08 Bureau of Labor Statistics American Time Use Survey and ERS Eating & Health Module data.

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

noon

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

mid

night

123

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

Men primary eating and drinking

Men secondary eating

Men secondary drinking

Men either primary or 

secondary

Women primary eating and drinking

Women secondary eating

Women secondary drinking

Women either primary or 

secondary

am pm am
15

How Much Time Do Americans Spend on Food? / EIB-86

Economic Research Service/USDA

When Do Americans Eat and Drink—Time of Day in the 

Context of Other Activities

Time spent sleeping dominates all activities over much of the day (fi g. 11), 

with over 90 percent of Americans age 15 and over asleep between 2 am and 

3 am.16 Primary eating and drinking peak at noon and 6 pm, and other activities adjust around this activity. For example, the paid work and caring activity 

bands narrow at noon as more Americans focus on lunch.

When Do Americans Eat and Drink—Frequency

On an average day over 2006-08, Americans age 15 and over had an average 

of 2 primary eating and drinking occurrences, 0.8 secondary eating occurrence, 

and 1 secondary drinking occurrence (table 2). This totals to about four eating/

drinking occurrences (not adjusting for possible overlap of secondary eating/

drinking) per person. The average number of eating occurrences was consistent 

across subgroups, though men had fewer occurrences (3.7) than women (4.2). 

Also, Americans had more eating/drinking occurrences on weekdays (4.0) than 

on weekends/holidays (3.8). Those employed had more eating/drinking occurrences than those not employed: 4.0 versus 3.7. Employed persons had fewer 

primary eating and drinking occurrences but more secondary eating/drinking 

occurrences than those not employed. 

16Sleeping is defi ned as ATUS activities 0101xx. Primary eating & drinking 

is 1101xx, 119999, and 050202. Paid 

work is all of 05xxxx except 050202. 

Educational activities is 06xxxx. 

Household purchasing activities is 

02xxxx, 07xxxx, 08xxxx, 09xxxx, and 

16xxxx. Caring activities—for self 

& others is 0102xx, 0103xx, 0104xx, 

019999, 03xxxx, and 04xxxx. Recreational and other activities is 10xxxx, 

1102xx, 12xxxx, 13xxxx, 14xxxx, 

15xxxx, and 50xxxx. Travel is 18xxxx.

Figure 10

Percentage of constant grazers engaged in eating and drinking by time of day, 2006-08, age 15+

Percent

Source: 2006-08 Bureau of Labor Statistics American Time Use Survey and ERS Eating & Health Module data.

am pm am

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

noon

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

mid

night

123

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

CG-Primary eating and drinking

CG-Secondary eating

CG-Secondary drinking

CG-Either primary or secondary

Not CG-Primary eating and drinking

Not CG-Secondary eating

Not CG-Secondary drinking

Not CG-Either primary or secondary
16

How Much Time Do Americans Spend on Food? / EIB-86

Economic Research Service/USDA

When Do Americans Eat and Drink?—Weekdays, 

Weekends, and Holidays

Eating/drinking behavior differences between weekdays and weekends/holidays17 are as expected—both men and women spend more time in primary 

eating on weekends/holidays than on weekdays (fi g. 12). Secondary eating/

drinking is about the same between the weekdays and weekends/holidays 

for both men and women. So, Americans spent less time eating/drinking on 

weekdays but had more eating occurrences, and had fewer eating occurrences 

on the weekends, but spent more time engaged in eating/drinking.

Whom Are Americans With When They Eat and Drink?

Not surprisingly, people who live alone were more likely to eat alone over 

2006-08. Individuals in single-person households ate alone for primary eating 

and drinking 71 percent of the time (fi g. 13a). For secondary eating/drinking, 

58 percent of the time they ate or drank alone, and an additional 23 percent 

of secondary eating/drinking occurrences were at work or while grooming (or 

other personal care) (fi g. 13b). (The ATUS does not collect information on 

whether the respondent was alone or with someone while at work or engaged 

in a personal activity.)

17Weekdays are Monday through Friday; weekends are Saturday and Sunday; 

holidays are New Year’s Day, Easter, 

Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor 

Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

Figure 11

Percent of Americans engaged in activities by time of day, 2006-08, age 15+

Percent

Percentages here will not match percentages in the previous section. Because individuals may engage in more than one primary activity in a 

given hour, the sum of the percentages adds to more than 100 percent. The chart above re-indexes the percentages of the activities so that the 

sum adds to 100 percent. All primary activities are included in the eight major categories.

Source: 2006-08 Bureau of Labor Statistics American Time Use Survey and ERS Eating & Health Module data.

am pm am

noon mid

night

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Travel

Recreation

Caring

HH activities 

& purchase

Education

Paid work

Primary eating

 & drinking

Sleeping
17

How Much Time Do Americans Spend on Food? / EIB-86

Economic Research Service/USDA

Figure 12

Time spent in eating/drinking activities, weekdays and weekends/

holidays, by sex, on an average day over 2006-08, age 15+

Minutes

Source: 2006-08 Bureau of Labor Statistics American Time Use Survey and ERS Eating 

& Health Module data.

Total time in

primary eating

Secondary eating Secondary drinking

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Men-weekdays

Women-weekdays

Men-weekends/holidays

Women-weekends/

holidays

Table 2

Frequency of eating occurrences, on an average day, 2006-08

Number of eating/

drinking occurrences on an average day, 2006-08Primary eating/drinking 

occurrences

Secondary 

eating occurrences

Secondary 

drinking 

occurrences

Simple total 

(not adjusted 

for possible 

overlap)

Age 15+

Total population 2.04 0.83 1.06 3.90

 Men 2.08 .74 .88 3.70

 Women 2.01 .92 1.23 4.16

 Employed 2.02 .87 1.14 4.03

 Not employed 2.10 .76 .91 3.77

 Metro 2.04 .84 1.02 3.90

 Nonmetro 2.07 .78 1.23 4.08

 Weekdays 2.09 .84 1.08 4.01

 Weekends 1.94 .80 1.02 3.76

Age 18+

Total population 2.05 .83 1.08 3.96

 Men 2.08 .74 .90 3.72

 Women 2.02 .92 1.26 4.20

 Employed 2.02 .87 1.15 4.04

 Not employed 2.10 .75 .94 3.79

 Metro 2.04 .84 1.05 3.93

 Nonmetro 2.08 .78 1.24 4.10

 Weekdays 2.09 .84 1.10 4.03

 Weekends 1.94 .80 1.04 3.78

Source: 2006-08 Bureau of Labor Statistics American Time Use Survey and ERS Eating & 

Health Module data.
18

How Much Time Do Americans Spend on Food? / EIB-86

Economic Research Service/USDA

Figure 13a

Single-person households, 2006-08, primary eating

Source: 2006-08 Bureau of Labor Statistics American Time Use Survey and ERS Eating 

& Health Module data.

Alone

71%

With others

29%

Figure 13b

Single-person households, 2006-08, secondary eating/drinking

Source: 2006-08 Bureau of Labor Statistics American Time Use Survey and ERS Eating 

& Health Module data.

Alone

With others 58%

19%

At work 

17%

Grooming/other 

personal care 6%
19

How Much Time Do Americans Spend on Food? / EIB-86

Economic Research Service/USDA

People in multi-person households (two or more people) ate with household members 56 percent of the time for primary eating and drinking, 

and 36 percent of the time for secondary eating/drinking (fi gures 14a and 

14b). About a third of secondary eating/drinking occurrences were alone. 

Twenty-one percent of secondary eating/drinking occurrences were at work 

or while grooming, about the same as for those who live alone.

Figure 14a

Multi-person households, 2006-08, primary eating 

Source: 2006-08 Bureau of Labor Statistics American Time Use Survey and ERS Eating 

& Health Module data.

Alone 

27%

With household

members 56%

With others

17%

Figure 14b

Multi-person households, 2006-08, secondary eating/drinking 

Source: 2006-08 Bureau of Labor Statistics American Time Use Survey and ERS Eating 

& Health Module data.

Alone

32%

With household 

members 36%

With others

11%

At work 

16%

Grooming/other 

personal care 5%
20

How Much Time Do Americans Spend on Food? / EIB-86

Economic Research Service/USDA

What Other Activities Are Americans Doing While 

Eating and Drinking?

The ATUS includes over 400 detailed activities used in the coding of time 

diaries. Over 2006-08, secondary eating and drinking occurred in all of those 

activities except sleeping and primary eating and drinking. By far, the activities that most often accompanied secondary eating/drinking were watching 

television (17 percent of occurrences) and engaging in paid work (15.5 

percent). The next most frequent were socializing with others (5 percent), 

self-grooming (5 percent), and food and drink preparation (4 percent).

Table 4 provides the characteristics of those who engaged in secondary 

eating/drinking by the most prevalent primary groups of activities—

secondary eating while driving, working, watching television, preparing 

meals or meal cleanup, and grooming. Secondary eating is a more defi ned 

activity than secondary drinking, and so is a stronger indicator of eating/

drinking behavior. Also included is the average body mass index (BMI) 

of those who engaged in secondary eating for each activity to determine if 

different types of multi-tasking are associated with different eating patterns 

or with different BMIs.

Those who engaged in secondary eating while driving, working, watching 

television, preparing meals/meal cleanup, or grooming spent roughly 10 

minutes less in primary eating and drinking on an average day than the 

total population. As expected, this group spent much longer, on average, in 

secondary eating and drinking—the total population average includes those 

who had no secondary eating or drinking. 

For those who engaged in secondary eating while driving, working, preparing 

meals/meal cleanup, or grooming, the average BMI is about the same or lower 

as that of the total population, age 15 and over (27.1). However, for those who 

engaged in secondary eating while watching television, the average BMI is 

27.6. For an individual who is 5’6”, the difference of 0.5 BMI represents 3 

pounds. This fi nding suggests that it is not just secondary eating but the accompanying activity that may be associated with higher BMIs. 

Table 3

Top 10 activities that accompanied secondary eating/drinking, 

2006-08, age 15+

ATUS 

activity code Activity Percent

120303 Television and movies (not religious) 16.8

050101 Work, main job 15.5

120101 Socializing and communicating with others 5.2

010201 Washing, dressing, and grooming oneself 5.0

020201 Food and drink preparation 4.4

180501 Travel related to working 3.5

180782 Travel related to shopping (except grocery shopping) 3.0

120312 Reading for personal interest 2.9

120301 Relaxing, thinking 2.5

020101 Household--interior cleaning 2.5
21

How Much Time Do Americans Spend on Food? / EIB-86

Economic Research Service/USDA

Table 4

Time spent on secondary eating/drinking by selected accompanying activity 

on an average day, 2006-08

AGE 15+ Total Men Women

Total population

Total time in primary eating Minutes on an average day 67.2 69.0 65.4

Secondary eating Minutes on an average day 23.7 23.2 24.3

Secondary drinking Minutes on an average day 64.0 60.2 67.9

Body Mass Index Average BMI 27.1 27.6 26.7

Engaged in secondary eating while driving

Total time in primary eating Minutes on an average day 54.2 55.0 53.5

Secondary eating Minutes on an average day 130.7 136.0 125.5

Secondary drinking Minutes on an average day 163.8 187.3 140.8

Body Mass Index Average BMI 26.6 27.9 25.4

Engaged in secondary eating while performing paid work

Total time in primary eating Minutes on an average day 54.4 56.4 52.4

Secondary eating Minutes on an average day 60.6 64.5 56.7

Secondary drinking Minutes on an average day 139.5 143.5 135.6

Body Mass Index Average BMI 27.0 27.7 26.3

Engaged in secondary eating while watching television

Total time in primary eating Minutes on an average day 59.6 60.5 58.6

Secondary eating Minutes on an average day 68.7 68.6 68.8

Secondary drinking Minutes on an average day 120.0 117.6 122.4

Body Mass Index Average BMI 27.6 28.0 27.1

Engaged in secondary eating while preparing meals or during meal cleanup

Total time in primary eating Minutes on an average day 54.0 54.9 53.7

Secondary eating Minutes on an average day 140.1 178.9 124.8

Secondary drinking Minutes on an average day 147.5 156.3 144.0

Body Mass Index Average BMI 26.7 27.2 26.6

Engaged in secondary eating while grooming

Total time in primary eating Minutes on an average day 57.2 56.0 58.0

Secondary eating Minutes on an average day 215.4 246.9 195.4

Secondary drinking Minutes on an average day 164.9 165.0 164.8

Body Mass Index Average BMI 25.9 27.1 25.1

—continued
22

How Much Time Do Americans Spend on Food? / EIB-86

Economic Research Service/USDA

Table 4

Time spent on secondary eating/drinking by selected accompanying activity 

on an average day, 2006-08

AGE 18+ continued Total Men Women

AGE 18+

Total population

Total time in primary eating Minutes on an average day 68.1 69.9 66.3

Secondary eating Minutes on an average day 24.1 23.5 24.8

Secondary drinking Minutes on an average day 66.0 62.0 70.0

Body Mass Index Average BMI 27.4 27.8 26.9

Engaged in secondary eating while driving

Total time in primary eating Minutes on an average day 54.4 55.0 53.8

Secondary eating Minutes on an average day 131.1 134.2 127.9

Secondary drinking Minutes on an average day 165.5 187.6 143.8

Body Mass Index Average BMI 26.8 28.0 25.5

Engaged in secondary eating while performing paid work

Total time in primary eating Minutes on an average day 54.7 56.7 52.8

Secondary eating Minutes on an average day 60.6 64.1 57.2

Secondary drinking Minutes on an average day 140.4 143.8 137.0

Body Mass Index Average BMI 27.0 27.8 26.3

Engaged in secondary eating while watching television

Total time in primary eating Minutes on an average day 60.2 61.0 59.4

Secondary eating Minutes on an average day 70.2 69.2 71.2

Secondary drinking Minutes on an average day 122.4 119.4 125.6

Body Mass Index Average BMI 27.9 28.3 27.4

Engaged in secondary eating while preparing meals or during meal cleanup

Total time in primary eating Minutes on an average day 54.3 55.5 53.9

Secondary eating Minutes on an average day 140.0 174.6 126.4

Secondary drinking Minutes on an average day 149.7 159.7 145.8

Body Mass Index Average BMI 26.8 27.3 26.6

Engaged in secondary eating while grooming

Total time in primary eating Minutes on an average day 58.2 56.5 59.3

Secondary eating Minutes on an average day 235.6 262.5 218.2

Secondary drinking Minutes on an average day 179.6 178.7 180.1

Body Mass Index Average BMI 26.3 27.6 25.5

Note: A primary activity refers to an individual’s main activity. Travel times not included.

Primary eating & drinking includes Eating and drinking (110101 and 110199), Eating and drinking not elsewhere classifi ed (n.e.c.) (119999), 

and Eating and drinking as part of job (050202). Driving is 18xxxx (travel with TEWHERE=12). Paid work is 05xxxx. Watching television is 

120303 and 120304. Preparing meals is 0202xx. Grooming is 0102xx. BMI = Body Mass Index.

Source: 2006-08 Bureau of Labor Statistics American Time Use Survey and ERS Eating & Health Module data.

—continued
23

How Much Time Do Americans Spend on Food? / EIB-86

Economic Research Service/USDA

Time Use Patterns, BMI, and General Health

Obesity is the most common food and nutrition-related health problem in 

America. The ATUS and EH Module data allow research on the types of 

activities and eating patterns that are associated with obesity and those that 

are associated with healthy weight, overall health, and well-being. 

The Eating & Health Module asked ATUS respondents their height and 

weight, which allows the calculation of body mass index (BMI).18 BMI can 

then be analyzed in conjunction with time diary, demographic, and labor 

force information. Although self-reported, researchers have found that differences between self-reported BMI and measured BMI are small, and so are 

acceptable to use for analysis of nonelderly adults.19 In addition, the expected 

underreporting of BMI (through underreporting of weight and/or overreporting of height) in the EH Module data does not appear to be large.20 So 

while the EH Module BMIs should not be used to obtain an offi cial measure 

of obesity in the United States, the data are suitable for analyzing time use 

behavior as it relates to BMI. 

Table 5 shows eating/drinking mean times among the BMI groups for 

Americans age 20 and over.21 Only 1.4 percent of the ATUS and EH Module 

survey respondents age 20 and over are underweight.22 Because this group 

is so small, the discussion in this section focuses on those who are normal 

weight, overweight, and obese. Those with normal weight have a mean duration of primary eating longer than that for the other groups. In addition, the 

time spent in secondary eating is longer as well. Although these differences 

in times spent appear small, these small amounts of time add up, and result in 

different eating patterns.

It may be that the eating pattern differences among the weight groups are 

not captured by absolute time spent, but by the relative time spent in primary 

and secondary eating/drinking. Underweight, normal-weight, and overweight 

persons had higher ratios of primary to secondary eating/drinking than those 

who were obese (fi g. 15), which may indicate that obese individuals were 

doing more “mindless” eating/drinking (Wansink, 2004).

Some activities exhibit clear differences in the time spent across BMI groups 

(fi g. 16). (Appendix table 5 presents the time spent on all major activities 

by BMI group and by employment status.) Those who are overweight spent 

the longest amount of time working of the BMI groups, at 233 minutes (3.9 

hours) time spent in paid work on an average day. This total may seem low, 

but it is averaged over those employed (full- and part-time) and those not 

employed, and averaged over 7 days of the week, including holidays. The 

higher work time average for obese respondents may indicate that those who 

spend more time working have less time for activities that contribute to a 

healthy lifestyle.

The average time spent watching television rises from those who are normal 

weight (146.5 minutes or 2.4 hours) to those who are overweight (164 

minutes or 2.7 hours) to those who are obese (184 minutes or 3.1 hours).23

The difference in time spent watching TV between those of normal weight 

and those who are obese is 37 minutes a day.

18All height and weight values are 

self-reported. Height and weight are 

bottom- and top-coded for confi dentiality. The EH Module includes a screening question for pregnancy as pregnant 

women were not asked their weight and 

so have missing BMIs. See Hamrick 

(2010), Eating and Health Module 

User’s Guide for more information. See 

http://www.ers.usda.gov/Data/ATUS/

Documentation.htm for discussion 

of nonresponse bias of missing Body 

Mass Index (BMI) values.

19Cawley and Burkhauser, 2006; 

Kuczmarski, Kuczmarski, and Najjar, 

2001.

20Pinkston and Steward, 2009.

21Body Mass Index for adults age 20 

or over is calculated as: weight (LB) 

/ [height (in)]2 x 703. BMI groups are 

underweight (BMI < 18.5), normal 

weight (18.5 ≤ BMI < 25), overweight 

(25 ≤ BMI < 30), and obese (30 ≤

BMI). For purposes of interpreting 

BMI, Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention defi ne adults as those age 20 

and over. See CDC for more information on adult BMI: http://www.cdc.

gov/healthyweight/assessing/bmi/index.

html

22Those who are underweight are 

younger, on average, than other persons, with an average age of 41 years 

versus 47 for those not underweight 

and over 20 years old. Twenty percent 

are age 20-24, versus 9 percent for 

the other BMI groups. Those who 

are underweight are less likely to be 

employed and more likely to have 

household income less than 185 percent 

of the poverty threshold.

23See Wansink (2004) for a discussion of how watching television can 

prolong food consumption.
24

How Much Time Do Americans Spend on Food? / EIB-86

Economic Research Service/USDA

Table 5

Time spent in eating/drinking activities by BMI group (age 20+) on an average day over 2006-08 

Average minutes per day, 

population

Average minutes per day, 

men

Average minutes per day, 

women

BMI GROUPS

Underweight

Total time in primary eating & drinking 65.8 61.9 67.0

Secondary eating 20.7 20.6 20.8

Secondary drinking 76.2 87.4 72.9

Normal weight

Total time in primary eating & drinking 71.0 73.7 69.3

Secondary eating 27.9 25.4 29.5

Secondary drinking 66.8 60.5 70.8

Overweight

Total time in primary eating & drinking 68.8 70.3 66.6

Secondary eating 22.9 22.8 22.9

Secondary drinking 62.2 60.8 64.3

Obese

Total time in primary eating & drinking 65.1 67.8 62.1

Secondary eating 20.6 22.2 18.8

Secondary drinking 70.4 67.0 74.2

Note: A primary activity refers to an individual’s main activity. 

Primary eating & drinking includes Eating and drinking (110101 and 110199), Eating and drinking, not elsewhere classifi ed (119999) and Eating 

and drinking as part of job (050202).

Underweight is BMI<18.5, 18.5 ≤ BMI < 25.0 is Normal weight, 25.0 ≤ BMI < 30.0 is Overweight, 30.0 ≤ BMI is Obese. Pregnant women not 

included in weight and Body Mass Index estimates.

Source: 2006-08 Bureau of Labor Statistics American Time Use Survey and ERS Eating & Health Module data.

Figure 15

Ratio of time spent in primary and secondary eating and drinking 

on an average day over 2006-08, age 20+

Number

Source: 2006-08 Bureau of Labor Statistics American Time Use Survey and ERS Eating & 

Health Module data.

Total

Population

Underweight Normal

weight

Overweight Obese

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Ratio of primary eating/drinking to secondary eating/drinking

Ratio of primary eating/drinking to secondary eating
25

How Much Time Do Americans Spend on Food? / EIB-86

Economic Research Service/USDA

Figure 16

Selected activities by BMI group

Minutes

Source: 2006-08 Bureau of Labor Statistics American Time Use Survey and ERS Eating & Health Module data.

Total population Underweight Normal weight Overweight Obese

0

10

20

30

40

Total population Underweight Normal weight Overweight Obese

0

50

100

150

200

250

Total population Underweight Normal weight Overweight Obese

0

50

100

150

200

Total population Underweight Normal weight Overweight Obese

0

5

10

15

20

Minutes

Meal prep and cleanup

Paid work

Minutes

Minutes

Watching TV

Sports & exercise
26

How Much Time Do Americans Spend on Food? / EIB-86

Economic Research Service/USDA

Finally, normal-weight respondents spent the longest average time engaged 

in sports and exercise, 18.3 minutes on an average day, while those who were 

obese averaged only 12.2 minutes. 

General Health

The EH Module included a question on general health—In general, would 

you say that your health is Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, or Poor?

Self-rated health status is an inexpensive measure from a survey instrument 

standpoint that has been found to provide meaningful information on health 

and well-being. Self-reported general health status has been found to predict 

mortality and morbidity and is used in other Federal surveys to assess overall 

well-being.24

Time spent in various activities by health status is as expected (appendix 

table 6). Those with poor health spend more time sleeping than others and 

less time in paid work. (Time spent sleeping is over a 24-hour period, not just 

overnight.) Those with good, fair, and poor health spent less time engaged 

in primary eating and drinking than those with excellent or very good health 

(fi g. 17). With only this information, it is diffi cult to determine what the 

relationship is between primary eating and drinking time and health; further 

research is needed to identify the relationships underlying this association. 

Eighty-three percent of those age 20 or over reported excellent, very good, 

or good health. The distribution of health status between men and women 

is essentially the same. Those with household income less than 185 percent 

of the poverty threshold had, on average, worse health status than those 

with higher incomes. Those participating in SNAP/FSP and those who 

were income-eligible non-participants reported worse health status and 

higher BMIs, on average, than nonparticipants with higher income. Metro 

and nonmetro residents had essentially the same health status distributions. 

However, nonmetro residents had higher BMIs than those in metro areas.

24Hennessy et al., 1994.

Figure 17

Time spent in eating/drinking activities by general health status, age 20+

Minutes

Source: 2006-08 Bureau of Labor Statistics American Time Use Survey and ERS Eating & Health Module data.

Total population Excellent Very good Good Fair Poor

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80 Primary eating Secondary eating Secondary drinking
27

How Much Time Do Americans Spend on Food? / EIB-86

Economic Research Service/USDA

Meal Preparation and Grocery Shopping

How Long Does It Take?

Retail market changes over the years have changed the patterns of how individuals shop. Better understanding of shopping patterns can inform research 

on the impact of food industry changes. On an average day over 2006-08, 

about 14 percent of Americans age 18 and over shopped for groceries (table 

6).25 Thus, grocery shopping is not an activity that people typically do every 

day. The average time spent in grocery shopping for those who shopped was 

44 minutes.

Women were more likely to grocery shop than men and spent more time 

shopping than men as well. Those age 65 and over were the most likely of 

the age groups to shop on an average day. Those employed were less likely 

to shop on an average day, and employed individuals spent less time grocery 

shopping than those not employed. 

25We do not include travel time to 

grocery shopping in our analysis here. 

A 2009 USDA report to Congress (Ver 

Ploeg et al., 2009) presented fi ndings 

of a study on “food deserts,” areas that 

have limited access to affordable, nutritious food. Time spent in travel to and 

from grocery shopping was analyzed. 

Individuals in low-income areas with 

low supermarket access have longer 

travel times to the grocery store, go 

grocery shopping less frequently, and 

are more likely to use work as an “anchor” for grocery shopping than others.

Table 6

Time spent in grocery shopping on an average day over 2006-08 

Average grocery 

shopping time, total 

population (minutes)

Average percent engaged in 

grocery shopping (percent)

Average grocery shopping 

time, participants (minutes)

Total population 6.1 13.9 44.3

Gender

 Men 4.3 10.4 41.0

 Women 7.9 17.1 46.2

Age group

 Age 18-24 4.1 8.3 49.1

 Age 25-64 6.1 14.4 42.7

 Age 65+ 7.7 15.8 48.7

Employment 

 Employed 5.4 13.0 41.7

 Not employed 7.7 15.7 48.8

Income group

 Income >185% poverty threshold 6.1 14.4 42.5

 Income < 185% poverty threshold 6.3 13.0 48.2

 Income missing 5.9 11.3 51.9

SNAP/FSP participation

 SNAP/FSP participant household 7.2 13.3 53.9

 Non-SNAP but income eligible 5.8 12.8 44.8

 Non-SNAP, income>130% poverty threshold 6.2 14.2 43.2

Region

 Metro 6.3 14.1 44.5

 Nonmetro 5.4 12.6 43.1

Grocery shopping is 070101.

Participants are those who engaged in grocery shopping on their diary day.

Travel times not included.

Sources: 2006-08 American Time Use Survey and Eating and Health Module data.
28

How Much Time Do Americans Spend on Food? / EIB-86

Economic Research Service/USDA

Those with higher household incomes were more likely to grocery shop on 

an average day than those with household incomes less than 185 percent of 

the poverty threshold. The different participation rates—14.4 percent for 

higher income individuals and 13.0 percent for lower income individuals—is 

equivalent to higher income individuals shopping once every 6.9 days and 

lower income individuals shopping once every 7.7 days, almost a 1-day 

difference in grocery shopping frequency. Individuals in SNAP/FSP households had about the same grocery shopping participation rates as other lowincome respondents who were in households that did not receive SNAP/

FSP benefi ts. SNAP/FSP participants spent the longest time grocery shopping among all groups, 54 minutes for those who grocery shopped. Metro 

residents were more likely to grocery shop on an average day than nonmetro 

residents, although time spent shopping was about the same. 

On an average day, Americans age 18 and over spent 33 minutes in food 

preparation, including cleanup (table 7). Over half, 54 percent, of Americans 

engaged in food prep on an average day. Those who engaged in food prep 

spent just over an hour on this activity. Women spent more time in food prep 

Table 7

Time spent in meal preparation and cleanup on an average day over 2006-08, 

total population (age 18+) and meal prep participants 

Average meal prep time, 

total population (minutes)

Average percent engaged

in meal prep (percent)

Average meal prep time, 

participants (minutes)

Total population 33.0 53.6 61.5

Gender

 Men 18.3 39.2 46.8

 Women 46.6 67.1 69.5

Age group

 Age 18-24 15.2 30.6 49.5

 Age 25-64 34.0 55.8 61.0

 Age 65+ 41.6 61.0 68.1

Employment 

 Employed 25.7 49.1 52.5

 Not employed 47.9 63.0 76.1

Income group

 Income >185% poverty threshold 29.5 52.2 56.4

 Income < 185% poverty threshold 40.3 57.0 70.8

 Income missing 40.2 53.4 75.3

SNAP/FSP participation

 SNAP/FSP participant household 47.9 64.1 74.7

 Non-SNAP but income eligible 39.9 54.8 72.8

 Non-SNAP, income>130% poverty threshold 30.4 52.8 57.6

Region

 Metro 32.6 53.3 61.1

 Nonmetro 34.7 54.9 63.3

Meal preparation is: Food and drink preparation (020201); Food presentation (020202); Kitchen and food cleanup (020203); Food & drink prep, presentation, and clean-up, not elsewhere classifi ed (020299). SNAP = Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; FSP = Food Stamp Program.

Participants are those who engaged in food prep and cleanup on their diary day.

Sources: 2006-08 American Time Use Survey and Eating and Health Module data.
29

How Much Time Do Americans Spend on Food? / EIB-86

Economic Research Service/USDA

than men, 47 minutes versus 18 minutes, and were more likely to engage in 

food prep on an average day, 67 percent versus 39 percent.

Those who were 65 and older spent the most time in food preparation (42 

minutes), had the highest rate of food preparation (61 percent), and had the 

longest time spent by those who prepared food (68 minutes). This is consistent 

with the fi nding that those age 65 and over were more likely to grocery shop 

on an average day than those in other age groups, spent the longest amount of 

time in primary eating and drinking, and spent less time in secondary eating/

drinking than other age groups. Clearly those age 65 and over are preparing 

and having meals, as opposed to just eating/drinking food.26

Those employed spent less time and were less likely to engage in food prep 

on an average day than the total population average. Persons in households 

with higher incomes spent less time, but were equally likely to prepare food 

as those with lower incomes. Over two-thirds of individuals in SNAP/FSP 

households engaged in food prep on an average day, and those SNAP/FSP 

recipients who prepared food spent 75 minutes doing so. Nonmetro residents 

spent slightly more time, on average, than metro residents in food prep, 35 

minutes versus 33 minutes.

Who Does It?

The EH Module included questions: Are you the person who usually does 

the grocery shopping in your household? Are you the person who usually 

prepares the meals in your household? Responses were—Yes, No, and 

Split Equally with other household member(s). Over 2006-08, 73 percent 

of women and 32 percent of men age 18 or over reported that they were the 

usual person to do the grocery shopping for their household (table 8). Eleven 

percent of women and 18 percent of men reported that grocery shopping is 

split equally in their household. Those age 25-64 and 65 and over had similar 

responses to the grocery shopping question. However, those age 18-24, for 

both men and women, were more likely to report that they were not the usual 

grocery shopper in the household.

Only a small number of individuals in single-person households reported 

that they were not the usual grocery shopper, 5 percent of men and 6 percent 

of women. Individuals in two-adult, no-children households had the highest 

percentage reporting that grocery shopping was split equally. As expected, in 

one-adult households with a child or children, the adult was the usual grocery 

shopper in almost all cases, 98 percent.

The distribution of responses for usual meal preparer was very similar to 

that of usual grocery shopper—73 percent of women and 30 percent of men 

reported that they were the usual meal preparer in the household. For those 

65 and over, women were even more likely to be the usual meal preparer (82 

percent) than the usual grocery shopper (73 percent). 

26The authors listened to many ATUS 

interviews as part of the process of 

fi elding the EH Module. Rarely did a 

respondent under 65 years old refer 

to eating as a meal, or identify eating 

as being breakfast, lunch, or dinner/

supper. Eating activities were reported 

by the food eaten, such as “I ate a 

sandwich.” Respondents who were over 

65 were much more likely to identify 

meals as an activity and identify which 

meal, such as breakfast.
30

How Much Time Do Americans Spend on Food? / EIB-86

Economic Research Service/USDA

Table 8

Usual grocery shopper and usual meal preparer (age 18+) in household, 2006-08 

Total Men Women Total Men Women

Are you the person who usually 

does the grocery shopping? 

Are you the person who usually

prepares the meals?

Percent

 Yes 53.3 32.3 72.9 52.3 29.7 73.4

 No 32.0 49.3 15.7 34.1 54.3 15.3

 Split equally 14.8 18.4 11.4 13.6 16.1 11.3

Age

Age 18-24

 Yes 30.2 21.6 38.9 29.4 20.7 38.2

 No 57.3 66.8 47.7 56.6 65.7 47.3

 Split equally 12.5 11.7 13.4 14.0 13.6 14.4

Age 25-64

 Yes 56.2 33.3 78.4 54.4 31.1 77.0

 No 28.5 47.1 10.4 31.0 51.4 11.2

 Split equally 15.3 19.6 11.2 14.6 17.5 11.9

Age 65+

 Yes 57.6 36.6 73.4 59.9 30.0 82.3

 No 28.4 45.4 15.6 31.2 58.9 10.4

 Split equally 14.0 17.9 11.1 8.9 11.1 7.3

Household type

Single-person (adult) household

 Yes 94.4 94.8 94.0 94.8 93.9 95.6

 No 5.6 5.2 6.0 5.2 6.1 4.4

 Split equally NA NA NA NA NA NA

Two adults, no children

 Yes 46.0 24.0 67.9 45.8 20.8 70.9

 No 32.1 50.3 13.9 36.7 59.9 13.5

 Split equally 22.0 25.7 18.2 17.5 19.3 15.6

One adult, child/children

 Yes 97.8 96.2 98.2 94.3 91.6 94.9

 No 1.4 2.4 1.2 3.5 5.5 3.1

 Split equally 0.8 1.4 0.7 2.2 2.9 2.0

Two adults, child/children

 Yes 49.5 18.3 79.4 48.1 16.7 78.2

 No 33.5 58.7 9.4 34.6 60.9 9.5

 Split equally 17.0 23.0 11.2 17.2 22.4 12.3

Notes: Data refer to persons 18 years or older.

For household type, other household types not presented.

Child/children refers to person under age 18.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics American Time Use Survey and ERS Eating & Health Module. 
31

How Much Time Do Americans Spend on Food? / EIB-86

Economic Research Service/USDA

Meals Obtained at School

The EH Module asked respondents from households with children or youths 

age 18 or younger if the children/youths in the household obtained meals 

prepared at school, day care, or a summer program in the previous week. 

This question was asked for breakfasts and lunches. 

In FY2009, the National School Lunch Program provided meals to more than 

31 million children each school day, at a cost of $9.8 billion. The School 

Breakfast Program, which operated in over 101,000 public and nonprofi t 

private schools and residential childcare institutions in FY2009, cost $2.9 

billion. Both programs require that school meals meet nutrition standards 

established by the Food and Nutrition Service of USDA. Children from 

families with incomes at or below 130 percent of the poverty threshold are 

eligible for free meals, and those with family incomes between 130 percent 

and 185 percent of the poverty threshold are eligible for reduced-price meals; 

others may receive USDA program meals but pay a price set by their local 

school district. Other USDA child nutrition programs include the Child Care 

Food Program, which provides nutritious meals and snacks to children in 

participating childcare/Head Start centers and family day care homes, and the 

Summer Food Service Program ($357.9 million in FY2009), which provides 

meals to children living in low-income areas during the summer months 

when school is out. Besides these USDA-supported meal programs, schools, 

day care centers, and summer programs may provide meals and snacks to 

children for a fee or through other funding mechanisms.

The decision to obtain meals prepared at school, day care, or summer 

programs (hereafter called school/day care meals) may be based on either 

time or money factors. For low-income households, USDA-provided free or 

reduced-price meals may offer monetary benefi ts. For them, and for other 

households, they may also relieve time constraints. Information from the EH 

Module can be used to understand the time benefi ts of school/day care meals 

and to learn more about the types of households that value those benefi ts. 

For the adults in these households, school/day care meals may provide a time 

savings; for teenagers, obtaining school meals is an indicator of the teen’s 

environment.

Over 2006-08, 54 percent of households with children reported that at least 

one child obtained either breakfast, lunch, or both meals from school, day 

care, or a summer program. In these households, adult respondents who were 

the household’s usual meal preparers spent more time in paid work, 223 

minutes (3.7 hours), and less time in child care, 80 minutes, than did respondents from other households with children (table 9 and appendix tables 8, 9a, 

and 9b).27 This indicates that working parents “outsource” their children’s 

meals, buying prepared meals for their children at school or day care. Doing 

so can save households time otherwise spent preparing and packing meals 

at home, and this may be especially valuable to households with principal 

meal preparers employed in paid work. However, adults in households with 

children who obtain meals at school actually spent slightly longer on an 

average day in meal preparation and cleanup, 54 minutes versus 52.5 minutes 

for those in households with children who did not obtain meals at school. 

It could be that those whose children obtained meals at school would have 

engaged in meal prep/clean up for an even longer duration without school/

27For an overview of working parents’ time use patterns, see Allard and 

Janes, 2008.
32

How Much Time Do Americans Spend on Food? / EIB-86

Economic Research Service/USDA

day care meals. Further research is needed to analyze the factors infl uences 

these two groups’ time use patterns. 

Usual meal preparers in households with incomes above 185 percent of the 

poverty threshold and with children who obtain meals at school/day care 

spent more time in paid work than those in households in which children did 

not receive school/day care meals (fi g. 18). Since these higher income households do not have the monetary incentive of free- or reduced-price school/

day care meals, the value of the time-saving benefi t is clear.

Teenagers age 15-18 who obtained school meals spent more time engaged in 

education activities and less time in paid work than those who did not obtain 

school meals (fi g. 19 and appendix table 10).28 They also had less “screentime”—total time spent on a computer (excluding school-related computer 

use) and watching television.29, 30 Most of the difference in screentime was 

in time spent watching television—those who obtained school meals spent 

116 minutes on an average day watching TV, and those who did not spent 

142 minutes watching TV. Those who did not obtain meals at school spent 

77 fewer minutes a day engaged in education activities and 29 minutes more 

engaged in screentime on an average day (equivalent to 178 hours a year) 

than those who did obtain meals at school on an average day. 

Looking at those age 15 and 16 versus those age 17 and 18 (not shown in 

chart), the older teens spent more time in paid work and less time in education activities than the younger teens, as expected since older high school 

students have more freedom and may have reduced class loads. However, 

this was true for both those who obtained meals at school and those who did 

not. Screentime for the older teens was about the same as for the younger 

teens.

The average BMI of teenagers age 15-18 who obtained meals at school was 

23.7, which is about the same as that of teenagers who do not obtain meals at 

school, 23.3.

28For an overview of high school 

students’ time use patterns, see Allard, 

2008.

29We defi ned screentime as the 

activities: household and personal email 

and messages (020904); television and 

movies, not religious (120303); television, religious (120304); playing games 

(120307); computer use for leisure, 

except games (120308); and computer 

use for volunteer activities (150101). 

Playing games includes both computer 

games and card, board, or pencil puzzle 

games, so this activity may overstate 

computer screentime. We cannot 

perfectly capture all computer use, as 

mode of delivery was not asked for 

some activities. For example, reading 

for personal interest (120312) could be 

on a variety of media.

30Kalenkoski and Pabilonia (2009) 

found that an increase in paid work 

reduced time teens spent on screentime. 

Their fi nding appears in confl ict with 

our fi nding. However, they did not consider whether or not the teens obtained 

meals at school.

Table 9

Average time spent in various activities by usual meal preparers (age 19+) on an average day, 2006-08, 

by employment status and school meal obtainment

Household members 

obtained meals at school

Household members did not 

obtain meals at school

Total Employed Not employed Total Employed Not employed

Minutes

Food prep/cleanup 54.1 43.8 82.0 52.5 43.5 71.8

Housework 138.1 113.3 205.2 138.8 117.9 183.8

Childcare 80.3 68.3 112.5 92.3 72.2 135.6

Paid work 222.7 301.8 8.4 193.4 280.2 6.4

Sleep 504.6 494.1 533.1 508.9 495.3 538.3

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics American Time Use Survey and ERS Eating & Health Module. 
33

How Much Time Do Americans Spend on Food? / EIB-86

Economic Research Service/USDA

Figure 18

Time spent in selected activities, individuals in households with children/youth on an average day 2006-08,

usual meal preparers only

Minutes

Source: 2006-08 Bureau of Labor Statistics American Time Use Survey and ERS Eating & Health Module data.

Housework Childcare Paid work Housework Childcare Paid work

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

Obtain meals at school No meals at school/daycare

Income less than 185%

of the poverty threshold

Income greater than 185%

of the poverty threshold

Figure 19

Time spent in selected activities, teenagers age 15-18 and in school, on an average day 2006-08

Minutes

Source: 2006-08 Bureau of Labor Statistics American Time Use Survey and ERS Eating & Health Module data.

Total

Paid work Education Screen time

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

Obtain meals at school No meals at school/daycare

Paid work Education Screen time Paid work Education Screen time

Metro Nonmetro
34

How Much Time Do Americans Spend on Food? / EIB-86

Economic Research Service/USDA

Implications for Future Research

This report presents an overview of the time Americans spent in eating and 

drinking beverages on an average day over 2006-08 and the characteristics 

and context of eating/drinking occurrences, including eating patterns by BMI 

group and meal preparation/grocery shopping patterns. 

Among our fi ndings was that certain eating patterns and activities, as 

reported in the Eating and Health Module over 2006-08, were associated with 

BMI group. Those who were normal weight spend more time, on average, 

in meal preparation and meal cleanup and also in sports and exercise than 

those who were overweight or obese. Those who were overweight or obese 

spent more time watching television than those who were normal weight, 

and those who were overweight spent the longest time, on an average day, in 

paid work. These fi ndings indicate that the tradeoffs individuals face in determining how to spend their time have longrun implications—how individuals 

fi t meal preparation and exercise around a work schedule could determine 

whether or not they become or remain overweight.

We also found that those who were employed were less likely to shop for 

groceries on an average day, spent less time in grocery shopping, were less 

likely to prepare meals, and spent less time in meal prep/cleanup than those 

not employed. For those employed individuals in households with children, 

the children were more likely to obtain meals at school. These fi ndings indicate that individuals’ time constraints factor into their decisions on time spent 

in food-related activities. 

These fi ndings are useful in thinking about how Americans fi t eating into 

their lives and provide better understanding of behaviors associated with 

obesity. However, the statistics presented here are initial research fi ndings 

on these data, and more research can be done to investigate the relationships 

between time use and well-being.

Future research using the American Time Use Survey and the Eating 

& Health Module data could improve programs and policies targeted at 

reducing obesity and improving overall nutrition. For example, Americans 

age 65 and over spend more time in primary eating and less time in 

secondary eating/drinking than other age groups. Is this due to their schedules, as many in this age group are retired, or is it a generational perception 

of eating as meal-based and not an incidental activity? What explains the 

regional differences in eating behavior and exercise participation—weather, 

availability of public transportation, access to supermarkets, time spent 

commuting, or other factors? 

Low-income Americans have different eating patterns than those with higher 

incomes. Specifi cally, those with lower incomes spent less time in primary 

eating and drinking. Further investigation is needed to see why this is so and 

if it is cause for concern.
35

How Much Time Do Americans Spend on Food? / EIB-86

Economic Research Service/USDA

Those who are employed have different eating patterns than those who are 

not, and workers on different shifts have different eating patterns. In addition, adults who are overweight have the longest average time in paid work 

on an average day of the BMI groups. How does employment, occupation, 

and work shift affect eating/exercise patterns and BMI? Understanding these 

relationships would help to understand the time pressures that some individuals face in fi tting meal preparation and exercise into their schedules.

Analysis of teenagers found that those who do not obtain meals at school 

engaged in considerably more screentime (non-school computer time 

and watching television) than those who do obtain meals at school. 

Understanding the relationships and factors that create this association could 

help inform programs concerned with childhood obesity.

ERS is currently engaged in furthering research on time use patterns. 

Specifi c projects include analysis of low-income individuals’ eating patterns; 

measuring travel to grocery shopping in minutes; analysis of teenagers’ time 

use patterns; research on work shifts and eating and exercise behavior; and 

BMI analysis of those who walk or cycle to work.
36

How Much Time Do Americans Spend on Food? / EIB-86

Economic Research Service/USDA

References

Allard, Mary Dorinda. 2008. “How high school students use their time: 

a visual essay,” Monthly Labor Review, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 

November, pp. 51-61. http://stats.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2008/11/art4full.pdf.

Allard, Mary Dorinda, and Marianne Janes. 2008. “Time use of working 

parents: a visual essay,” Monthly Labor Review, Bureau of Labor 

Statistics, June, pp. 3-14. http://stats.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2008/06/art1full.

pdf.

Andrews, Margaret, and Karen Hamrick (2009). “Shopping For, Preparing, 

and Eating Food: Where Does the Time Go?” Amber Waves, 7(4): 4. 

http://www.ers.usda.gov/AmberWaves/December09/.

Cawley, John, and Richard V. Burkhauser. 2006 “Beyond BMI: The Value 

of More Accurate Measures of Fatness and Obesity in Social Science 

Research,” National Bureau of Economic Research Working Paper 12291. 

http://www.nber.org/papers/w12291.

French, S.A., M. Story, and R.W. Jeffery. (2001). “Environmental Infl uences 

on Eating and Physical Activity,” Annual Review of Public Health, 22: 

309-335.

Gershuny, Jonathan, Deborah Lader, and Sandra Short. 2006. The Time 

Use Survey, 2005: How we spend our time. United Kingdom Offi ce 

for National Statistics report. http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/article.

asp?ID=1600.

Guthrie, J.F., B. Lin, and Elizabeth Frazão. (2002). “Role of Food Prepared 

Away from Home in the American Diet, 1977-78 versus 1994-96: 

Changes and Consequences,” Journal of Nutrition Education and 

Behavior, 34(3): 140-150.

Guthrie, Joanne F., and Ket McClelland (2009). “Working Parents 

Outsource Children’s Meals.” Amber Waves: 5, http://www.ers.usda.gov/

AmberWaves/March09/Findings/OutsourceMeals.htm.

Hamermesh, Daniel S. 2010. “Incentives, time use and BMI: The roles of 

eating, grazing, and goods,” Economics and Human Biology, 8(1): 2-15.

Hamrick, Karen. 2010. Eating and Health Module User’s Guide, 

Administrative Publication No. AP-047, USDA, Economic Research 

Service. http://ers.usda.gov/Publications/AP/AP047/.

Hamrick, Karen, David Hopkins, and Ket McClelland. (2008). “How Much 

Time Do Americans Spend Eating?” Amber Waves 6(3): 36-37. http://

www.ers.usda.gov/AmberWaves/June08/DataFeature/.

Hennessy, C.H., D.G. Moriarty, M.M. Zack, P.A. Scherr, and R. Brackbill. 

1994. “Measuring health-related quality of life for public health surveillance,” Public Health Reports, 109(5): 665-672. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.

gov/pmc/articles/PMC1403555/.
37

How Much Time Do Americans Spend on Food? / EIB-86

Economic Research Service/USDA

Howarth, N.C., T.T.K. Huang, S.B. Roberts, B-H. Lin, and M.A. McCrory. 

(2006). “Eating patterns and dietary composition in relation to BMI in 

younger and older adults.” International Journal of Obesity, 31, 675-684.

Kalenkoski, Charlene Marie, and Sabrina Wulff Pabilonia. 2009. “Time to 

Work or Time to Play: The Effect of Student Employment on Homework, 

Housework, Screen Time, and Sleep,” Bureau of Labor Statistics Working 

Paper 423, March. http://stats.bls.gov/osmr/abstract/ec/ec090010.htm.

Kuczmarski, M.F., R.J. Kuczmarski, and M. Najjar. 2001. “Effects of Age 

on Validity of Self-Reported Height, Weight, and Body Mass Index: 

Findings from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination 

Survey, 1988-1994,” Journal of The American Dietetic Association, 

101(1): pp. 28-34.

Ma, Y., E.R. Bertone, E.J. Stanek III, G.W. Reed, J.R. Hebert, N.L. Cohen, 

P.A. Merriam, I.S. Ockene (2003). “Association between Eating Patterns 

and Obesity in a Free-living US Adult Population,” American Journal of 

Epidemiology 158(1): 85-92.

Mertz, W., J.C. Tsui, J.T. Judd, S. Reiser, J. Hallfrisch, E.R. Morris, Priscilla 

D. Steele, and E. Lashley. (1991). “What are people really eating? The 

relation between energy intake derived from estimated diet records 

and intake determined to maintain body weight.” American Society for 

Clinical Nutrition, 54: 291-295.

Pinkston, Josh, and Jay Stewart. 2009. “How Does Time Use Affect the 

Probability of Becoming Obese?” Paper presented at the American Time 

Use Research Conference, College Park, MD, June 22-24. http://www.

popcenter.umd.edu/research/sponsored-events/atus-conf-workshop-2009.

Polivka, Anne. 2008. “Day, Evening, and Night Workers: A Comparison of 

What They Do in Their Nonwork Hours and with Whom They Interact,” 

in How Do We Spend Our Time? Evidence from the American Time 

Use Survey, Jean Kimmel, ed., W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment 

Research, Kalamazoo, MI.

Reifschneider, Marianne J., Karen S. Hamrick, and Jill N. Lacey. (2011). 

“Exercise, Eating Patterns, and Obesity: Evidence from the ATUS and Its 

Eating & Health Module.” Social Indicators Research 101(2): 215-219. 

http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11205-010-9655-y.

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (2010). American 

Time Use Survey User’s Guide: Understanding ATUS 2003 to 2009, July. 

http://stats.bls.gov/tus/atususersguide.pdf.

Vernon, Margaret K. 2005. “Pre-testing Sensitive Questions: Perceived 

Sensitivity, Comprehension, and Order Effects of Questions about Income 

and Weight, Bureau of Labor Statistics Working Paper, August. http://

stats.bls.gov/ore/pdf/st050090.pdf.

Ver Ploeg, M., V. Breneman, T. Farrigan, K. Hamrick, D. Hopkins, P. 

Kaufman, B-H. Lin, M. Nord, T. Smith, and R. Williams (2009). Access 
38

How Much Time Do Americans Spend on Food? / EIB-86

Economic Research Service/USDA

to Affordable and Nutritious Food—Measuring and Understanding Food 

Deserts and Their Consequences: Report to Congress. Administrative 

Publication AP-036. U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research 

Service. http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/AP/AP036/.

Wansink, B. (2004). “Environmental Factors That Increase the Food Intake 

and Consumption Volume of Unknowing Consumers,” Annual Review of 

Nutrition 24(1): 455-479.

Websites

American Time Use Survey: http://www. stats.bls.gov/tus/

Eating & Health Module: http://www. ers.usda.gov/Data/ATUS/

Metabolic Equivalent values for Activities in the American Time Use 

Survey: http://www. riskfactor.cancer.gov/tools/atus-met/

USDA Food and Nutrition Service: http://www.fns.usda.gov/fns/

Centers for Disease Control U.S. Obesity Trends: 

http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/trends.html
39

How Much Time Do Americans Spend on Food? / EIB-86

Economic Research Service/USDA

Appendix table 1a

Time spent in eating and drinking activities on an average day over 2006-08, 

with cell sizes and confi dence intervals

Average minutes per day, 

civilian population Minutes

Total population Men Women

With cell sizes and

confi dence intervals (CI)

Cell 

size Total

90% 

CI min

90% 

CI max

Cell 

size Men

90% 

CI min

90% 

CI max

Cell 

size Women

90% 

CI min

90% 

CI max

Age 15 and older

Total time in primary eating 

and drinking 37,832 66.9 66.39 67.37 16,427 68.6 67.90 69.38 21,405 65.2 64.50 65.95

Total time in associated activities 37,832 7.4 6.94 7.54 16,427 7.9 7.43 8.43 21,405 6.9 6.53 7.27

Secondary eating 37,832 23.5 22.34 24.61 16,427 22.8 20.86 24.70 21,405 24.1 22.77 25.49

Secondary drinking 37,832 63.1 61.10 65.12 16,427 59.1 56.19 61.95 21,405 66.9 63.99 69.83

Range of total secondary 

eating plus drinking

Secondary eating and drinking 

(minimum) 37,832 76.8 74.69 78.93 16,427 72.6 69.45 75.82 21,405 80.7 77.91 83.56

Secondary eating and drinking 

(maximum) 37,832 78.6 76.45 80.68 16,427 74.4 71.15 77.57 21,405 82.5 79.71 85.33

Total secondary eating and drinking 

(adjusted for overlap)—one-half 

minimum+maximum 37,832 77.7 75.57 79.80 16,427 73.5 70.30 76.69 21,405 81.6 78.81 84.45

Total time in all eating and drinking 

activities 152.0 150.1 153.8

Age 18 and older

Total time in primary eating 

and drinking 35,837 67.8 67.25 68.28 15,416 69.6 68.83 70.43 20,421 66.0 65.27 66.76

Total time in associated activities 35,837 7.4 7.11 7.73 15,416 8.0 7.46 8.52 20,421 6.9 6.52 7.26

Secondary eating 35,837 23.9 22.71 25.09 15,416 23.1 21.14 25.13 20,421 24.6 23.17 26.07

Secondary drinking 35,837 65.1 62.99 67.20 15,416 61.0 58.02 63.94 20,421 68.9 65.87 72.01

Range of total secondary 

eating plus drinking

Secondary eating and drinking 

(minimum) 35,837 78.8 76.61 81.03 15,416 74.5 71.24 77.73 20,421 82.9 79.89 85.84

Secondary eating and drinking 

(maximum) 35,837 80.6 78.39 82.80 15,416 76.2 72.96 79.50 20,421 84.7 81.70 87.63

Total secondary eating and drinking 

(adjusted for overlap)—one-half 

minimum+maximum 35,837 79.7 77.50 81.91 15,416 75.4 72.10 78.62 20,421 83.8 80.79 86.73

Total time in all eating and drinking 

activities 154.9 153.0 156.7

Note: A primary activity refers to an individual’s main activity. 

Primary eating & drinking includes Eating and drinking (110101 and 110199), Eating and drinking not elsewhere classifi ed (119999), and Eating and drinking as part 

of job (050202). Travel times not included except in associated activities. Associated activities are Waiting associated with eating & drinking (110281 and 110289) and 

Travel related to eating & drinking (191101 and 181199).Total secondary eating and secondary drinking time (adjusted for overlap) is one-half the sum of the total 

time assuming all overlap—secondary eating and secondary drinking occur at the same time—plus the total time assuming no overlap. Secondary Eating & Drinking 

minimum assumes all overlap of secondary eating & drinking if both occur during a primary activity. Secondary Eating & Drinking maximum assumes no overlap of 

secondary eating & drinking if both occur during a primary activity.

Source: 2006-08 Bureau of Labor Statistics American Time Use Survey and ERS Eating & Health Module data.
40

How Much Time Do Americans Spend on Food? / EIB-86

Economic Research Service/USDA

Appendix table 1b

Population engaged in eating and drinking activities and time spent on an average day over 2006-08, 

with cell sizes and confi dence intervals (CI)

Average share 

engaged in activity 

per day

(percent)

Average minutes per day, for

persons who engaged in the activity

(minutes)

Total population Men Women

Total Men Women

Cell 

size Total

90% 

CI min

90% 

CI max

Cell 

size Men

90% 

CI min

90% 

CI max

Cell 

size Women

90% 

CI min

90% 

CI max

Age 15 and older

Total time in primary eating 

and drinking 95.9 96.2 95.6 36,275 69.7 69.28 70.21 15,763 71.4 70.62 72.14 20,512 68.2 67.51 68.89

Total time in associated 

activities 25.6 27.3 24.1 9,940 28.9 27.88 29.88 4,666 29.1 27.49 30.66 5,274 28.7 27.48 29.86

Secondary eating 52.5 48.4 56.3 20,008 44.7 42.63 46.86 8,131 47.0 43.25 50.84 11,877 42.9 40.46 45.32

Secondary drinking 35.4 33.0 37.5 13,591 178.5 173.46 183.55 5,569 178.8 171.19 186.36 8,022 178.3 171.39 185.18

Range of total secondary 

eating plus drinking

Secondary eating and 

drinking (minimum) 53.9 49.9 57.7 20,547 142.5 138.85 146.11 8,352 145.6 139.55 151.56 12,195 140.0 135.30 144.66

Secondary eating and 

drinking (maximum) 53.9 49.9 57.7 20,547 145.7 142.12 149.34 8,352 149.0 142.97 155.03 12,195 143.1 138.42 147.73

Total secondary eating and 

drinking (adjusted for overlap)—one-half min+max 53.9 49.9 57.7 20,547 144.1 140.49 147.73 8,352 147.3 141.26 153.29 12,195 141.5 136.86 146.20

Total time in all eating and 

drinking activities 242.7 247.7 238.4 

Age 18 and older

Total time in primary eating 

and drinking 96.0 96.2 95.8 34,380 70.6 70.13 71.10 14,793 72.4 71.61 73.24 19,587 68.9 68.21 69.63

Total time in associated 

activities 25.7 27.5 24.0 9,403 28.9 27.89 29.88 4,400 29.1 27.46 30.75 5,003 28.7 27.51 29.80

Secondary eating 52.1 48.2 55.7 18,808 45.9 43.65 48.09 7,576 48.0 44.03 51.88 11,232 44.2 41.56 46.80

Secondary drinking 35.5 33.1 37.7 12,886 183.5 178.24 188.81 5,225 184.1 176.37 191.75 7,661 183.1 175.90 190.28

Range of total secondary 

eating plus drinking

Secondary eating and 

drinking (minimum) 53.6 49.7 57.2 19,326 147.1 143.30 150.92 7,784 149.9 143.84 155.90 11,542 144.9 139.92 149.82

Secondary eating and 

drinking (maximum) 53.6 49.7 57.2 19,326 150.4 146.64 154.21 7,784 153.4 147.33 159.44 11,542 148.0 143.11 152.94

Total secondary eating and 

drinking (adjusted for overlap)—one-half min+max 53.6 49.7 57.2 19,326 148.8 144.97 152.56 7,784 151.6 145.59 157.67 11,542 146.5 141.52 151.38

Total time in all eating and 

drinking activities 248.3 253.2 244.0

Note: A primary activity refers to an individual’s main activity. 

Primary eating & drinking includes Eating and drinking (110101 and 110199), Eating and drinking not elsewhere classifi ed (119999) and Eating and drinking as part of job 

(050202). Travel times not included except in associated activities. Associated activities are Waiting associated with eating & drinking (110281 and 110289) and Travel related 

to eating & drinking (181101 and 181199). Total secondary eating and secondary drinking time (adjusted for overlap) is one-half the sum of the total time assuming all overlap—secondary eating and secondary drinking occur at the same time—plus the total time assuming no overlap. Secondary Eating & Drinking minimum assumes all overlap 

of secondary eating & drinking if both occur during a primary activity. Secondary Eating & Drinking maximum assumes no overlap of secondary eating & drinking if both occur 

during a primary activity.

Source: 2006-08 Bureau of Labor Statistics American Time Use Survey and ERS Eating & Health Module data.
41

How Much Time Do Americans Spend on Food? / EIB-86

Economic Research Service/USDA

Appendix table 2

Time spent in eating and drinking activities and percent of civilian population engaged in each 

activity, on an average day over 2006-08 (minutes)

By age groups

Average minutes per day, 

population

Average percent 

engaged in activity

Average minutes per day 

for persons engaged 

in each activity

All 

Total time in primary eating and drinking 66.9 95.9 69.7

Secondary eating 23.5 52.5 44.7

Secondary drinking 63.1 35.4 178.5

Age groups

Age 15-17

Total time in primary eating and drinking 53.4 94.9 56.2

Secondary eating 16.9 57.9 29.2

Secondary drinking 32.6 33.6 97.0

Age 18-24

Total time in primary eating and drinking 60.1 94.3 63.7

Secondary eating 27.4 56.0 48.9

Secondary drinking 56.6 34.4 164.4

Age 25-64

Total time in primary eating and drinking 65.9 95.7 68.9

Secondary eating 24.6 53.7 45.8

Secondary drinking 72.5 37.7 192.3

Age 65+

Total time in primary eating and drinking 81.5 98.4 82.8

Secondary eating 18.2 42.2 43.0

Secondary drinking 39.1 26.4 147.9

Note: A primary activity refers to an individual’s main activity. 

Primary eating & drinking includes Eating and drinking (110101 and 110199), eating and drinking not elsewhere classifi ed (119999)

and eating and drinking as part of job (050202).

Travel times not included.

Source: 2006-08 Bureau of Labor Statistics American Time Use Survey and ERS Eating & Health Module data.
42

How Much Time Do Americans Spend on Food? / EIB-86

Economic Research Service/USDA

Appendix table 3

Time spent in eating and drinking activities and percent of civilian population engaged in each activity, 

on an average day over 2006-08 (minutes)

Age 15 and over Age 18 and over

By various subgroups

Average 

minutes per 

day, population

Average 

percent 

engaged in 

activity

Ave. minutes 

per day for persons engaged 

in each activity

Average 

minutes per 

day, population

Average 

percent 

engaged in 

activity

Ave. minutes 

per day for persons engaged 

in each activity

Region

Metro

Total time in primary eating and drinking 67.1 95.9 70.0 68.0 96.0 70.8

Secondary eating 23.8 53.3 44.7 24.3 53.0 45.8

Secondary drinking 60.9 35.6 171.1 63.0 35.7 176.3

Nonmetro

Total time in primary eating and drinking 65.9 95.8 68.8 66.8 95.9 69.7

Secondary eating 21.9 48.7 45.0 22.2 48.3 46.0

Secondary drinking 73.1 34.2 213.4 74.6 34.3 217.4

Northeast

Total time in primary eating and drinking 70.6 96.3 73.4 71.9 96.4 74.5

Secondary eating 21.0 52.8 39.8 21.2 52.2 40.6

Secondary drinking 53.3 35.2 151.1 53.6 35.1 152.7

Midwest

Total time in primary eating and drinking 65.9 95.8 68.8 66.8 95.9 69.6

Secondary eating 26.4 55.6 47.4 26.9 55.3 48.6

Secondary drinking 80.4 38.3 209.8 83.2 38.4 216.5

South

Total time in primary eating and drinking 64.7 95.4 67.8 65.5 95.5 68.6

Secondary eating 21.2 50.1 42.3 21.6 49.8 43.4

Secondary drinking 61.5 33.8 181.8 63.5 34.1 186.4

West

Total time in primary eating and drinking 68.5 96.5 71.0 69.3 96.4 71.8

Secondary eating 26.1 52.6 49.6 26.6 52.3 51.0

Secondary drinking 54.6 34.6 157.6 56.8 34.8 163.4

Constant grazers (4.5+ hours eating/drinking)

Total time in primary eating and drinking 75.1 93.1 80.6 75.4 93.1 81.0

Secondary eating 133.0 93.0 143.0 133.9 92.8 144.3

Secondary drinking 483.4 90.0 537.0 484.3 90.0 538.1

No primary eating/drinking

Total time in primary eating and drinking 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Secondary eating 50.7 81.7 62.1 52.1 81.9 63.6

Secondary drinking 137.6 62.3 220.8 142.9 62.8 227.5

Reported “All Day” secondary eating and/or “All Day” secondary drinking (Oct. 2006-Dec. 2008)

Total time in primary eating and drinking 57.1 92.9 61.4 57.3 93.0 61.6

Secondary eating 222.2 95.8 232.0 224.8 95.7 234.9

Secondary drinking 791.0 94.6 836.2 792.9 94.6 838.3

—continued
43

How Much Time Do Americans Spend on Food? / EIB-86

Economic Research Service/USDA

Appendix table 3

Time spent in eating and drinking activities and percent of civilian population engaged in each activity, 

on an average day over 2006-08 (minutes)

Age 15 and over Age 18 and over

By various subgroups

Average 

minutes per 

day, population

Average 

percent 

engaged in 

activity

Ave. minutes 

per day for persons engaged 

in each activity

Average 

minutes per 

day, population

Average 

percent 

engaged in 

activity

Ave. minutes 

per day for persons engaged 

in each activity

Employment status

Employed

Total time in primary eating and drinking 65.6 95.5 68.7 66.0 95.6 69.1

Secondary eating 24.4 54.9 44.4 24.5 54.7 44.8

Secondary drinking 70.9 38.0 186.3 71.9 38.2 188.3

Not employed

Total time in primary eating and drinking 69.3 96.6 71.7 71.4 96.7 73.8

Secondary eating 21.8 47.8 45.6 22.6 46.7 48.4

Secondary drinking 48.5 30.3 160.1 51.1 29.9 170.8

Income groups

Income >185% poverty threshold

Total time in primary eating and drinking 69.6 96.3 72.3 70.4 96.3 73.1

Secondary eating 24.6 56.9 43.3 25.0 56.5 44.2

Secondary drinking 68.8 39.1 175.8 71.0 39.3 180.5

Income < 185% poverty threshold

Total time in primary eating and drinking 61.2 95.2 64.3 61.5 95.2 64.6

Secondary eating 21.0 44.0 47.6 21.1 43.7 48.2

Secondary drinking 53.5 28.3 188.9 54.0 28.2 191.7

Income missing

Total time in primary eating and drinking 61.1 94.4 64.7 66.3 95.4 69.4

Secondary eating 21.8 39.3 55.5 25.3 35.8 70.7

Secondary drinking 39.6 23.1 171.4 42.8 21.1 202.8

SNAP/FSP participation

SNAP/FSP participant household

Total time in primary eating and drinking 53.5 92.6 57.8 54.4 92.8 58.6

Secondary eating 26.1 47.4 55.0 27.2 46.9 58.0

Secondary drinking 68.6 32.8 209.0 68.9 32.7 210.3

Non-SNAP/FSP but income eligible

Total time in primary eating and drinking 60.6 95.7 63.4 60.9 95.7 63.7

Secondary eating 19.2 41.5 46.3 18.9 41.0 46.1

Secondary drinking 42.1 25.4 165.9 42.1 25.1 167.4

Non-SNAP/FSP, income>130% poverty threshold

Total time in primary eating and drinking 69.4 96.4 72.1 70.1 96.4 72.8

Secondary eating 24.2 55.7 43.4 24.5 55.4 44.2

Secondary drinking 67.8 38.1 177.8 69.8 38.3 182.4

Note: A primary activity refers to an individual’s main activity. SNAP = Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; FSP = Food Stamp Program.

Primary eating & drinking includes Eating and drinking (110101 and 110199), Eating and drinking not elsewhere classifi ed (119999) and Eating and drinking as part of job 

(050202). Data refer to persons 15 years or older or 18 years or older. Metro areas are defi ned as GTMETSTA=1 and nonmetro areas are defi ned as GTMETSTA=2 and 

GTMETSTA=3. Constant grazers are defi ned as persons who have a total of 4.5 hours of eating/drinking among primary and secondary eating and drinking.

Source: 2006-08 Bureau of Labor Statistics American Time Use Survey and ERS Eating & Health Module data.

—continued
44

How Much Time Do Americans Spend on Food? / EIB-86

Economic Research Service/USDA

Appendix table 4

Time spent in eating and drinking activities on an average day over 

2006-08, by work shift and gender

Average minutes per day,

civilian population

Age 18 and older Total Men Women

Day shift

Primary eating and drinking 63.6 66.5 60.0

Secondary eating 24.0 20.8 28.1

Secondary drinking 73.1 62.7 86.2

Evening shift

Primary eating and drinking 50.4 52.3 48.3

Secondary eating 25.4 35.1 15.0

Secondary drinking 72.3 62.6 82.6

Night shift

Primary eating and drinking 49.6 51.9 46.3

Secondary eating 24.4 15.7 37.0

Secondary drinking 74.6 64.8 88.7

Note: A primary activity refers to an individual’s main activity. 

Data refer to persons 18 years or older who engaged in paid work, unpaid work for a family business, or job search at least 60 minutes on their diary day.

Primary eating & drinking includes Eating and drinking (110101 and 110199), Eating and drinking not elsewhere classifi ed (119999) and Eating and drinking as part of job (050202).

Day shift workers are those who performed at least half of their paid work time between 8 am 

and 4 pm; evening shift workers are those who performed at least half of their paid work time 

between 4 pm and 12 am (midnight); and night shift workers are those who performed at least 

half of their paid work time between 4 am and 8 am and/or 12 am (midnight) and 4 am.

Source: 2006-08 Bureau of Labor Statistics American Time Use Survey and ERS Eating & 

Health Module data.
45

How Much Time Do Americans Spend on Food? / EIB-86

Economic Research Service/USDA

Appendix table 5

Time spent in various activities, on an average day over 2006-08 (minutes) by BMI group and employment 

status, age 20 and over, total population and by employment status 

Total population Underweight Normal weight Overweight Obese

Total population

Sleep 509.1 535.3 510.5 505.4 510.9

Grooming 39.4 43.4 41.5 38.3 38.1

Other personal care 5.9 2.7 5.2 6.2 6.5

Meal preparation/cleanup 33.0 38.0 36.1 30.7 32.0

Other household activities 78.9 76.7 83.3 79.0 73.4

Caring for household members 28.1 32.1 32.6 24.7 26.9

Caring for non-household members 9.2 9.7 8.4 9.8 9.3

Paid work 222.6 176.8 214.3 233.0 221.7

Education 11.0 32.8 15.1 8.5 8.0

Grocery shopping 6.2 7.9 6.7 5.5 6.4

Other purchases 24.1 28.8 24.5 24.1 23.4

Government and civic activities 0.5 0.6 0.4 0.4 0.7

Primary eating and drinking 68.5 65.8 71.0 68.8 65.1

Activities associated with eating 0.2 0.4 0.2 0.1 0.1

Watching TV 163.1 144.4 146.5 164.1 183.7

Using PC 21.0 15.7 20.2 19.7 24.1

Other socializing and leisure 94.1 105.5 94.0 94.6 92.9

Sports and exercise 16.1 11.6 18.3 17.2 12.2

Watching sports 1.8 0.3 1.6 2.3 1.5

Other sports activities 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1

Religious and volunteer activities 16.5 14.1 16.7 16.5 16.3

Phone calls and emails 6.3 7.2 7.0 5.7 6.2

Travel from place to place 73.6 75.6 73.3 75.4 71.6

Other activities not elsewhere classifi ed 10.7 14.5 12.7 9.9 8.9

Total 1,440.0 1,440.0 1,440.0 1,440.0 1,440.0

Secondary eating 23.9 20.7 27.9 22.9 20.6

Secondary drinking 66.3 76.2 66.8 62.2 70.4

Employed

Sleep 493.4 520.3 498.0 490.1 490.9

Grooming 41.1 47.6 43.4 39.9 39.8

Other personal care 3.6 2.1 2.9 4.5 3.3

Meal preparation/cleanup 25.9 31.0 28.7 24.2 24.6

Other household activities 65.1 52.6 67.6 65.1 62.5

Caring for household members 26.2 27.6 29.1 24.1 25.6

Caring for non-household members 7.2 7.6 6.6 7.7 7.2

Paid work 325.2 307.7 314.9 331.3 330.5

Education 9.9 32.6 13.7 8.1 6.5

Grocery shopping 5.4 7.4 6.0 4.8 5.4

Other purchases 21.9 33.7 22.6 21.7 20.8

Government and civic activities 0.3 0.4 0.3 0.4 0.3

Primary eating and drinking 66.8 63.2 69.2 66.6 64.1

Activities associated with eating 0.1 0.7 0.2 0.1 0.1

Watching TV 129.6 92.4 114.3 134.0 144.5

—continued
46

How Much Time Do Americans Spend on Food? / EIB-86

Economic Research Service/USDA

Appendix table 5

Time spent in various activities, on an average day over 2006-08 (minutes) by BMI group and employment 

status, age 20 and over, total population and by employment status 

Total population Underweight Normal weight Overweight Obese

Using PC 17.3 12.1 17.3 15.8 19.6

Other socializing and leisure 74.6 70.8 76.7 73.2 73.9

Sports and exercise 15.9 13.5 17.5 16.7 12.9

Watching sports 2.1 0.4 1.7 2.7 1.8

Other sports activities 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1

Religious and volunteer activities 14.0 10.9 13.9 13.5 15.0

Phone calls and emails 4.7 7.1 5.6 4.4 4.0

Travel from place to place 81.2 89.9 80.3 83.2 79.3

Other activities not elsewhere classifi ed 8.2 8.6 9.4 7.8 7.4

Total 1,440.0 1,440.0 1,440.0 1,440.0 1,440.0

Secondary eating 24.4 19.9 28.2 23.7 20.9

Secondary drinking 72.8 81.1 74.8 67.5 77.1

Not employed

Sleep 542.2 554.6 536.3 540.7 550.5

Grooming 35.8 38.1 37.5 34.7 34.9

Other personal care 10.7 3.5 10.0 10.0 12.9

Meal preparation/cleanup 47.8 46.9 51.2 45.4 46.4

Other household activities 107.9 107.7 115.5 111.0 94.7

Caring for household members 32.1 37.9 39.8 26.1 29.5

Caring for non-household members 13.4 12.4 12.2 14.6 13.5

Paid work 7.0 8.5 7.3 6.1 7.6

Education 13.4 33.1 17.9 9.6 11.0

Grocery shopping 7.9 8.5 8.2 7.0 8.4

Other purchases 28.8 22.4 28.6 29.6 28.5

Government and civic activities 0.8 1.0 0.5 0.6 1.4

Primary eating and drinking 72.1 69.2 74.8 73.8 67.2

Activities associated with eating 0.2 0.0 0.3 0.1 0.2

Watching TV 233.6 211.2 212.6 233.5 260.9

Using PC 28.9 20.2 26.1 29.0 32.8

Other socializing and leisure 135.1 150.3 129.5 143.9 130.2

Sports and exercise 16.5 9.1 19.9 18.3 10.7

Watching sports 1.2 0.3 1.4 1.4 0.8

Other sports activities 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Religious and volunteer activities 21.7 18.4 22.5 23.4 18.9

Phone calls and emails 9.5 7.4 9.7 8.6 10.6

Travel from place to place 57.6 57.4 58.8 57.5 56.5

Other activities not elsewhere classifi ed 15.7 22.1 19.3 15.0 11.9

Total 1,440.0 1,440.0 1,440.0 1,440.0 1,440.0

Secondary eating 22.9 21.9 27.3 20.9 20.0

Secondary drinking 52.6 69.9 50.3 50.1 57.2

Note: A primary activity refers to an individual’s main activity. Height and weight are self-reported. Those employed may or may not have engaged 

in paid work on their diary day. Sleep is 0101xx; Grooming is 0102xx; Other personal care is 0103xx and 0104xx and 019999; Meal preparation and 

cleanup is 0202xx; Other household activities are all 02xxxx activities except 0202xx and 020904; Caring for household members is 03xxxx; caring for 

nonhousehold members is 04xxxx; Paid work is all 05xxxx activities except 050202; education is 06xxxx; Grocery shopping is 070101; other purchases 

are all 07xxxx activities except 070101, 08xxxx, and 09xxxx; Government and civic activities are 10xxxx; Primary eating & drinking includes Eating and 

drinking (110101 and 110199), Eating and drinking not elsewhere classifi ed (119999), and Eating and drinking as part of job (050202). Activities associated with eating are 110281 and 110289; Watching TV is 120303 and 120304; PC time is 020904, 120307, and 120308, and 1501010; Other socializing 

and leisure is all 12xxxx activities except 120303 and 120304; Sports and exercise is 1301xxx; Watching sports is 1302xx; Other sports activities is 

1303xx; Religious and Volunteer activities is 14xxxx and 15xxxx; Telephone calls and emails is 1601xx and 169999; Travel from place to place is 18xxxx; 

and Other activities n.e.c. (not elsewhere classifi ed) is 50xxxx. Data refer to persons 20 years or older. Pregnant women not included in estimates. 

Underweight is BMI<18.5, 18.5 ≤ BMI < 25.0 is Normal weight, 25.0 ≤ BMI < 30.0 is Overweight, 30.0 ≤ BMI is Obese. 

Source: 2006-08 Bureau of Labor Statistics American Time Use Survey and ERS Eating & Health Module data.

—continued
47

How Much Time Do Americans Spend on Food? / EIB-86

Economic Research Service/USDA

Appendix table 6

Time spent in various activities, on an average day over 2006-08 (minutes) by self-reported general health 

status and gender, age 20 and over

Total population Excellent Very good Good Fair Poor

Total population

Sleep 509.1 493.7 500.1 512.0 536.5 577.8

Grooming 39.4 41.0 40.8 39.0 37.1 33.2

Other personal care 5.9 4.3 3.5 4.7 9.6 31.0

Meal preparation/cleanup 33.0 31.0 32.1 34.4 40.4 34.3

Other household activities 78.9 78.0 79.0 80.2 84.6 60.7

Caring for household members 28.1 32.8 31.8 28.6 21.5 15.9

Caring for non-household members 9.2 8.4 9.0 9.2 9.9 10.6

Paid work 222.6 261.1 248.0 220.0 150.8 49.8

Education 11.0 16.3 10.7 11.1 6.9 1.6

Grocery shopping 6.2 5.9 6.3 6.5 6.0 4.9

Other purchases 24.1 25.3 24.5 23.6 22.5 27.6

Government and civic activities 0.5 0.3 0.3 0.6 0.5 1.1

Primary eating and drinking 68.5 70.8 70.6 67.0 64.1 61.0

Activities associated with eating 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1

Watching TV 163.1 121.5 141.3 170.4 215.7 291.6

Using PC 21.0 18.9 21.0 21.8 21.1 20.3

Other socializing and leisure 94.1 89.2 87.6 92.3 108.7 131.9

Sports and exercise 16.1 23.6 17.4 12.7 10.0 6.4

Watching sports 1.8 1.6 2.3 1.6 1.0 0.8

Other sports activities 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.0

Religious and volunteer activities 16.5 16.3 17.8 15.2 15.8 15.5

Phone calls and emails 6.3 5.9 6.2 6.5 6.5 7.6

Travel from place to place 73.6 82.1 79.2 72.1 58.4 45.3

Other activities not elsewhere classifi ed 10.7 11.8 10.2 10.0 11.9 10.8

Total 1,440.0 1,440.0 1,440.0 1,440.0 1,440.0 1,440.0

Secondary eating 23.9 25.4 24.6 23.9 21.5 19.8

Secondary drinking 66.3 61.9 70.2 66.8 63.5 56.2

Men

Sleep 505.8 488.5 494.7 509.3 537.4 573.8

Grooming 32.6 33.5 33.5 31.9 32.0 26.8

Other personal care 5.0 5.6 2.7 2.6 10.7 22.7

Meal preparation/cleanup 18.8 17.6 18.3 18.3 22.2 20.2

Other household activities 66.4 64.5 67.4 66.0 70.9 50.2

Caring for household members 18.4 19.1 21.0 18.0 12.3 12.5

Caring for non-household members 7.4 5.9 7.5 8.2 7.2 6.8

Paid work 266.0 310.9 297.2 264.8 186.0 58.8

Education 8.3 13.4 7.1 7.6 7.1 1.9

Grocery shopping 4.3 3.9 3.8 4.9 4.8 4.6

Other purchases 18.7 18.5 18.4 18.6 17.8 25.7

Government and civic activities 0.5 0.3 0.2 0.7 0.8 0.3

Primary eating and drinking 70.4 72.6 73.3 68.6 65.2 64.7

Activities associated with eating 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.1

Watching TV 178.0 134.7 154.9 186.5 230.0 347.8

—continued
48

How Much Time Do Americans Spend on Food? / EIB-86

Economic Research Service/USDA

Appendix table 6

Time spent in various activities, on an average day over 2006-08 (minutes) by self-reported general health 

status and gender, age 20 and over

Total population Excellent Very good Good Fair Poor

Using PC 23.4 21.6 23.8 25.0 23.3 19.3

Other socializing and leisure 89.0 85.3 81.0 88.8 106.1 120.1

Sports and exercise 21.0 28.4 23.1 17.8 14.5 8.3

Watching sports 2.1 1.6 2.4 2.1 1.6 1.7

Other sports activities 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0

Religious and volunteer activities 14.3 14.4 16.1 12.4 13.1 14.1

Phone calls and emails 3.1 3.1 3.4 2.8 3.0 3.6

Travel from place to place 76.6 84.2 81.7 75.5 63.2 47.3

Other activities not elsewhere classifi ed 9.7 12.0 8.3 9.5 10.7 8.7

Total 1,440.0 1,440.0 1,440.0 1,440.0 1,440.0 1,440.0

Secondary eating 23.3 26.0 24.0 20.9 22.2 23.3

Secondary drinking 62.7 59.8 62.7 65.8 56.6 61.8

Women

Sleep 512.4 498.8 505.2 514.6 535.7 581.3

Grooming 46.2 48.2 47.8 45.7 41.7 38.7

Other personal care 6.7 3.1 4.2 6.6 8.6 38.2

Meal preparation/cleanup 47.2 44.1 45.2 49.3 56.6 46.6

Other household activities 91.5 91.3 90.0 93.4 96.7 69.9

Caring for household members 37.9 46.0 41.9 38.3 29.7 18.8

Caring for non-household members 10.9 10.9 10.5 10.1 12.3 13.9

Paid work 179.3 212.5 201.5 178.4 119.6 42.1

Education 13.7 19.0 14.1 14.5 6.7 1.5

Grocery shopping 8.1 7.8 8.7 8.1 7.1 5.2

Other purchases 29.5 31.9 30.4 28.2 26.7 29.3

Government and civic activities 0.5 0.2 0.4 0.5 0.3 1.8

Primary eating and drinking 66.6 69.1 68.0 65.6 63.1 57.8

Activities associated with eating 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.0

Watching TV 148.3 108.6 128.5 155.5 203.2 242.9

Using PC 18.6 16.3 18.4 18.9 19.1 21.3

Other socializing and leisure 99.2 93.0 93.8 95.6 111.1 142.1

Sports and exercise 11.2 18.8 12.1 8.0 6.1 4.7

Watching sports 1.6 1.6 2.2 1.1 0.5 0.0

Other sports activities 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Religious and volunteer activities 18.7 18.0 19.4 17.9 18.1 16.8

Phone calls and emails 9.5 8.6 8.8 9.9 9.6 11.1

Travel from place to place 70.7 80.2 76.9 69.0 54.3 43.6

Other activities not elsewhere classifi ed 11.6 11.7 11.9 10.4 13.1 12.5

Total 1,440.0 1,440.0 1,440.0 1,440.0 1,440.0 1,440.0

Secondary eating 24.6 24.9 25.2 26.6 20.9 16.8

Secondary drinking 69.8 64.0 77.2 67.7 69.6 51.3

Note: A primary activity refers to an individual’s main activity. General health self-reported. Sleep is 0101xx; Grooming is 0102xx; Other personal care 

is 0103xx and 0104xx and 019999; Meal preparation and cleanup is 0202xx; Other household activities are all 02xxxx activities except 0202xx and 

020904; Caring for household members is 03xxxx; caring for nonhousehold members is 04xxxx; Paid work is all 05xxxx activities except 050202; education is 06xxxx; Grocery shopping is 070101; other purchases are all 07xxxx activities except 070101, 08xxxx, and 09xxxx; Government and civic activities are 10xxxx; Primary eating & drinking includes Eating and drinking (110101 and 110199), Eating and drinking not elsewhere classifi ed (119999), 

and Eating and drinking as part of job (050202). Activities associated with eating are 110281 and 110289; Watching TV is 120303 and 120304; PC time 

is 020904, 120307, and 120308, and 1501010; Other socializing and leisure is all 12xxxx activities except 120303 and 120304; Sports and exercise 

is 1301xxx; Watching sports is 1302xx; Other sports activities is 1303xx; Religious and Volunteer activities is 14xxxx and 15xxxx; Telephone calls and 

emails is 1601xx and 169999; Travel from place to place is 18xxxx; and Other activities n.e.c. (not elsewhere classifi ed) is 50xxxx. Data refer to persons 

20 years or older. 

Source: 2006-08 Bureau of Labor Statistics American Time Use Survey and ERS Eating & Health Module data. 

—continued
49

How Much Time Do Americans Spend on Food? / EIB-86

Economic Research Service/USDA

Appendix table 7

Average time spent in various activities on an average day over 2006-08 for adults age 19 and over 

in households with children or youth, by school/daycare meal obtainment

Grocery 

shopping over 

population

Grocery shopping—

those who engaged in 

grocery shopping

Food 

prep/

cleanup

HouseworkChildcarePaid 

work Sleep

Average minutes per day spent in selected activities

Obtain school/daycare meals

Persons in households with 

members under age 19 6.2 43.8 39.6 113.0 66.0 260.6 503.5

Households with children 5 

years and under 6.3 44.5 41.5 111.3 97.7 257.5 505.2

Households with children 6-11 6.5 44.3 43.8 121.7 76.2 251.0 503.7

Households with children 12-18 6.3 43.1 39.7 116.8 47.4 256.5 504.4

Persons in households with 

members under age 19

Income <130% poverty threshold 7.4 45.5 54.0 138.7 77.5 176.9 532.0

130% < income < 185% poverty threshold 6.1 51.0 41.5 118.3 61.7 266.9 509.5

185% poverty threshold < income 5.9 41.1 33.7 101.5 63.3 295.2 488.8

Persons in households with 

members under age 19 

Obtain SNAP/Food Stamps 6.8 48.7 54.7 133.3 89.6 152.1 537.2

Do not obtain SNAP/Food Stamps 6.1 42.9 37.5 110.0 62.9 276.2 498.9

Persons in households with 

members under age 19

One adult in household 6.3 43.8 43.9 115.8 76.9 243.2 514.6

More than one adult in household 6.2 43.8 39.1 112.7 64.8 262.6 502.3

Persons in households with 

members under age 19

One child 5.3 43.0 33.2 100.6 42.2 271.0 507.3

2-3 children 6.7 43.9 41.1 116.9 75.2 261.0 502.0

4 or more children 6.7 45.8 54.6 135.9 97.9 216.9 499.2

—continued
50

How Much Time Do Americans Spend on Food? / EIB-86

Economic Research Service/USDA

Appendix table 7

Average time spent in various activities on an average day over 2006-08 for adults age 19 and over 

in households with children or youth, by school/daycare meal obtainment

Grocery 

shopping over 

population

Grocery shopping—

those who engaged in 

grocery shopping

Food 

prep/

cleanup

HouseworkChildcarePaid 

work Sleep

Do not obtain school/daycare meals Average minutes per day spent in selected activities

Persons in households with 

Members under age 19 6.6 47.2 38.7 112.5 75.0 238.2 506.0

Households with children 5 years 

and under 6.6 48.7 42.1 110.9 117.8 222.6 513.9

Households with children 6-11 5.9 43.6 43.4 126.3 77.8 232.6 503.6

Households with children 12-18 6.7 46.2 37.3 115.1 34.8 252.4 497.4

Persons in households with 

Members under age 19

Income <130% poverty threshold 6.0 53.1 46.7 118.6 71.3 177.4 546.6

130% < income < 185% poverty threshold 6.9 58.6 36.2 105.0 72.5 255.0 522.4

185% poverty threshold < income 6.6 43.7 36.6 111.6 76.9 254.1 491.0

Persons in households with 

members under age 19 

Obtain Food Stamps 6.9 53.7 127.1 97.2 139.0 561.8

Do not obtain Food Stamps 6.6 46.3 37.5 111.4 73.2 246.7 501.1

Persons in households with 

Members under age 19

One adult in household 7.3 43.6 36.4 105.8 64.0 218.3 522.0

More than one adult in household 6.6 47.5 38.9 113.0 75.8 239.6 504.8

Persons in households with 

Members under age 19

One child 6.9 48.2 34.4 106.0 60.2 240.9 508.7

2-3 children 6.4 45.7 40.5 114.7 85.6 238.7 503.3

4 or more children 6.2 52.1 63.8 153.9 114.5 207.3 504.3

Note: Grocery shopping is 070101.

Food preparation is 0202xx.

Housework is all 02xx activities (including food preparation).

Childcare is 0301xx, 0302xx, 0303xx, 0401xx, 0402xx, and 0403xx.

Paid Work includes all of 05xxxx except 050202.

Sleeping includes 010101 and 010102.

Related travel times are not included in any of the activities.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics American Time Use Survey and ERS Eating & Health Module.

—continued
51

How Much Time Do Americans Spend on Food? / EIB-86

Economic Research Service/USDA

Appendix table 8

Average time spent in various activities on an average day over 2006-08 for adults age 19 and over 

(usual/not usual grocery shopper/meal preparer) in households with children or youth, 

by school/daycare meal obtainment

Average minutes per day spent in selected activities

Grocery 

shopping 

Grocery 

shopping—

those who 

shopped 

Food prep/

cleanup Housework Childcare Paid work Sleep

usual 

shopper

not 

usual 

shopperusual 

shopper

usual 

food 

preparer

not 

usual 

food 

preparer

usual 

food 

preparer

not 

usual 

food 

preparer

usual 

food 

preparer

not 

usual 

food 

preparer

usual 

food 

preparer

not 

usual 

food 

preparer

usual 

food 

preparer

not 

usual 

food 

preparer

Obtain school/daycare meals

Persons in households with 

members under age 19 8.2 2.3 44.9 54.1 12.5 138.1 66.2 80.3 39.3 222.7 331.6 504.6 501.5

Households with children 5 years 

and under 8.1 2.3 47.6 54.8 14.1 135.1 62.5 115.1 61.9 213.2 348.6 509.7 496.0

Households with children 6-11 8.5 2.3 45.0 59.0 13.3 146.8 71.6 91.6 45.3 211.8 329.2 505.3 500.5

Households with children 12-18 8.2 2.7 43.0 56.8 10.8 146.8 66.1 60.3 25.3 222.1 314.9 501.6 509.0

Persons in households with 

Members under age 19

Income <130% poverty threshold 8.5 3.4 46.4 69.3 11.5 163.1 71.2 90.7 41.1 143.1 270.5 530.7 535.6

130% < income < 185% poverty 

threshold 7.4 3.0 51.8 56.0 12.1 146.4 61.2 77.8 29.0 221.7 358.5 510.5 507.5

185% poverty threshold < income 8.2 1.9 42.5 46.5 13.1 123.8 65.2 76.8 41.4 261.7 349.8 490.0 486.7

Persons in households with 

Members under age 19 

Obtain SNAP/Food Stamps 7.9 2.7 50.0 67.2 14.7 153.3 68.9 102.1 49.2 120.7 253.7 533.3 549.6

Do not obtain SNAP/Food Stamps 8.1 2.3 43.9 51.9 12.3 135.3 65.8 76.9 38.3 240.1 339.4 499.9 497.0

Persons in households with 

members under age 19

One adult in household 6.4 -- 43.9 44.9 -- 118.8 -- 77.6 -- 242.9 -- 512.6 --

More than one adult in Household 8.5 2.3 45.0 55.7 12.5 141.4 66.5 80.7 39.0 219.2 332.5 503.2 500.8

Persons in households with 

Members under age 19

One child 6.9 1.9 43.9 45.0 12.0 122.3 61.7 50.5 27.2 247.0 314.2 507.3 507.4

2-3 children 8.9 2.5 45.5 56.0 13.1 141.8 70.2 91.3 44.8 218.0 341.8 503.7 498.7

4 or more children 8.1 3.2 43.6 75.0 10.6 172.6 56.8 119.2 52.1 162.7 333.4 500.4 496.5

—continued
52

How Much Time Do Americans Spend on Food? / EIB-86

Economic Research Service/USDA

Appendix table 8

Average time spent in various activities on an average day over 2006-08 for adults age 19 and over 

(usual/not usual grocery shopper/meal preparer) in households with children or youth, 

by school/daycare meal obtainment

Average minutes per day spent in selected activities

Grocery 

shopping 

Grocery 

shopping—

those who 

shopped 

Food prep/

cleanup Housework Childcare Paid work Sleep

usual 

shopper

not 

usual 

shopperusual 

shopper

usual 

food 

preparer

not 

usual 

food 

preparer

usual 

food 

preparer

not 

usual 

food 

preparer

usual 

food 

preparer

not 

usual 

food 

preparer

usual 

food 

preparer

not 

usual 

food 

preparer

usual 

food 

preparer

not 

usual 

food 

preparer

Do not obtain school/daycare 

meals

Persons in households with 

members under age 19 8.6 3.0 47.4 52.5 15.4 138.8 67.8 92.3 45.5 193.4 314.3 508.9 500.8

Households with children 5 years 

and under 8.3 3.2 49.0 55.4 17.9 134.8 67.5 141.7 74.7 167.2 322.9 519.1 504.7

Households with children 6-11 7.9 2.1 45.6 58.9 15.8 154.2 76.4 94.0 49.1 185.4 316.8 505.6 500.2

Households with children 12-18 9.1 2.8 46.6 51.3 16.1 144.2 71.0 42.6 23.0 215.4 308.6 500.7 492.5

Persons in households with 

Members under age 19

Income <130% poverty threshold 6.9 3.5 51.0 54.9 27.3 134.0 82.3 79.2 52.5 158.0 223.3 546.4 547.1

130%<income<185% poverty 

threshold 8.0 4.7 53.0 54.6 7.6 140.7 49.5 97.6 33.5 181.8 368.7 528.7 512.6

185% poverty threshold < income 9.0 2.6 44.9 50.3 14.5 137.8 69.2 95.2 47.3 209.0 326.9 494.3 485.7

Persons in households with 

Members under age 19 

Obtain SNAP/Food Stamps 7.9 -- -- 53.6 -- 131.4 -- 104.3 -- 138.7 -- 560.5 --

Do not obtain SNAP/Food Stamps 8.7 3.0 46.7 52.4 13.2 139.5 65.3 91.1 43.8 199.0 325.0 503.7 496.8

Persons in households with 

Members under age 19

One adult in household 7.5 -- 43.7 37.0 -- 107.0 -- 65.0 -- 217.3 -- 523.5 --

More than one adult in household 8.8 3.0 47.9 54.3 15.3 142.5 67.6 95.5 45.4 190.6 315.1 507.3 500.9

Persons in households with 

Members under age 19

One child 8.9 3.2 48.3 46.0 14.2 130.0 64.5 76.1 32.8 208.4 297.2 508.2 509.6

2-3 children 8.3 3.0 45.6 56.3 13.4 142.9 66.3 104.7 53.1 184.4 331.7 509.3 493.1

4 or more children 9.0 0.7 -- 80.0 41.3 188.0 106.9 134.2 87.3 130.0 313.8 513.0 492.3

-- = suppressed due to small cell size (base is less than 1.2 million)

Note: “Usual shopper” includes those who answered question on whether they usually grocery shopped for the household with “Yes” or “Split 

equally.”

“Usual food preparer” includes those who answered question on whether they usually did food preparation for the household with “Yes” or “Split 

equally.”

Grocery shopping is 070101.

Food preparation is 0202xx.

Housework is all 02xx activities (including food preparation).

Childcare is 0301xx, 0302xx, 0303xx, 0401xx, 0402xx, and 0403xx.

Paid Work includes all of 05xxxx except 050202.

Sleeping includes 010101 and 010102.

Related travel times are not included in any of the activities.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics American Time Use Survey and ERS Eating & Health Module.

—continued
53

How Much Time Do Americans Spend on Food? / EIB-86

Economic Research Service/USDA

Appendix table 9a

Average time spent in various activities on an average day over 2006-08 for adults age 19 and over 

(employed only) in households with children or youth, by school/daycare meal obtainment

Average minutes per day spent in selected activities

Employed only

Grocery 

shopping 

Grocery 

shopping—

those who 

shopped

Food prep/

cleanup Housework Childcare Paid work Sleep

usual 

shopper

not 

usual 

shopperusual 

shopper

usual 

food 

preparer

not 

usual 

food 

preparer

usual 

food 

preparer

not 

usual 

food 

preparer

usual 

food 

preparer

not 

usual 

food 

preparer

usual 

food 

preparer

not 

usual 

food 

preparer

usual 

food 

preparer

not 

usual 

food 

preparer

Obtain school/daycare meals

Persons in households with 

members under age 19 7.3 2.1 43.0 43.8 11.5 113.3 62.7 68.3 37.7 301.8 372.3 494.1 490.9

Households with children 5 years 

and under 7.6 2.0 46.2 41.4 13.0 105.5 59.2 98.1 58.2 295.6 385.7 497.5 487.6

Households with children 6-11 7.2 2.1 42.4 45.9 12.5 118.8 67.5 75.3 43.3 297.0 364.4 495.6 492.2

Households with children 12-18 7.2 2.3 41.0 45.8 9.1 122.0 61.9 49.4 22.8 304.8 363.3 490.3 497.2

Persons in households with 

Members under age 19

income <130% poverty threshold 7.5 3.7 43.2 54.8 8.3 126.0 60.9 68.0 35.5 266.5 360.3 509.2 519.5

130%<income<185% poverty 

threshold 5.9 3.2 44.8 47.8 11.6 121.5 60.9 68.5 26.2 294.2 384.0 506.5 500.9

185% poverty threshold<income 7.6 1.7 42.7 39.8 12.5 107.9 63.8 68.8 41.0 312.8 374.9 487.4 480.3

Persons in households with 

Members under age 19 

Obtain Food Stamps 6.9 3.6 -- 50.8 10.9 111.2 59.1 81.3 35.9 247.3 369.2 510.0 521.3

Do not obtain Food Stamps 7.3 2.0 42.5 43.1 11.6 113.5 62.7 67.0 37.8 307.3 372.5 492.5 489.0

Persons in households with 

Members under age 19

One adult in household 5.9 -- 42.8 38.0 -- 104.2 -- 68.9 -- 316.5 -- 497.0 --

More than one adult in household 7.5 2.1 43.0 44.8 11.5 114.9 62.8 68.3 37.5 299.1 372.2 493.6 490.8

Persons in households with 

Members under age 19

One child 6.2 1.9 42.3 39.4 11.3 104.7 57.9 47.4 28.1 316.4 362.6 500.0 493.5

2-3 children 8.1 2.3 43.8 45.6 12.0 116.8 67.2 77.9 42.0 295.6 376.0 492.7 489.5

4 or more children 6.3 0.7 -- 50.4 9.1 127.1 48.7 94.4 46.9 278.6 386.9 476.1 489.8

—continued
54

How Much Time Do Americans Spend on Food? / EIB-86

Economic Research Service/USDA

Appendix table 9a

Average time spent in various activities on an average day over 2006-08 for adults age 19 and over 

(employed only) in households with children or youth, by school/daycare meal obtainment

Average minutes per day spent in selected activities

Employed only

Grocery 

shopping 

Grocery 

shopping—

those who 

shopped

Food prep/

cleanup Housework Childcare Paid work Sleep

usual 

shopper

not 

usual 

shopperusual 

shopper

usual 

food 

preparer

not 

usual 

food 

preparer

usual 

food 

preparer

not 

usual 

food 

preparer

usual 

food 

preparer

not 

usual 

food 

preparer

usual 

food 

preparer

not 

usual 

food 

preparer

usual 

food 

preparer

not 

usual 

food 

preparer

Do not obtain school/daycare meals

Persons in households with 

Members under age 19 7.8 2.7 44.4 43.5 14.6 117.9 66.6 72.2 46.6 280.2 356.9 495.3 485.8

Households with children 5 years 

and under 7.4 2.8 45.4 43.6 16.5 106.6 64.8 117.3 74.6 270.1 354.3 500.2 494.0

Households with children 6-11 7.1 1.9 41.7 45.2 14.4 126.7 74.1 73.9 48.9 268.5 354.6 497.1 485.6

Households with children 12-18 8.2 2.7 45.2 44.5 16.4 127.1 70.9 31.5 24.7 292.4 360.2 490.5 474.8

Persons in households with 

Members under age 19

Income <130% poverty threshold 4.7 2.4 -- 39.8 26.4 97.2 79.8 58.8 52.7 302.9 293.0 513.1 519.5

130%<income<185% poverty 

threshold 7.7 5.2 -- 43.6 8.5 120.5 48.7 64.6 36.3 262.7 430.5 523.8 498.8

185% poverty threshold <income 8.4 2.4 42.9 43.8 13.8 120.5 68.7 75.6 48.2 279.4 355.7 487.0 475.0

Persons in households with 

members under age 19 

Obtain Food Stamps 5.0 -- -- 36.4 -- 88.6 -- 80.1 -- 309.3 -- 521.4 --

Do not obtain Food Stamps 8.0 2.6 44.1 44.0 12.7 119.7 64.0 71.7 44.2 278.4 363.7 493.7 484.6

Persons in households with 

members under age 19

One adult in household 6.9 -- 42.1 30.5 -- 93.1 -- 49.2 -- 303.6 -- 500.3 --

More than one adult in household 7.9 2.8 44.7 45.1 14.5 120.9 66.4 75.0 46.6 277.3 357.1 494.7 485.8

Persons in households with 

members under age 19

One child 7.7 3.2 43.9 40.2 13.2 114.4 64.6 63.5 33.2 287.9 348.4 496.4 490.7

2-3 children 8.1 2.5 45.0 46.2 12.4 119.7 63.1 79.6 54.0 273.0 367.3 494.4 481.3

4 or more children 5.9 -- -- 56.3 42.9 146.7 109.2 102.4 89.3 260.0 338.0 492.2 485.3

Note: -- = suppressed due to small cell size (base is less than 1.2 million).

Employed persons may or may not have engaged in paid work on their diary day.

“Usual shopper” includes those who answered question on whether they usually grocery shopped for the household with “Yes” or “Split equally.”

“Usual preparer” includes those who answered question on whether they usually did food preparation for the household with “Yes” or “Split 

equally.”

Grocery shopping is 070101.

Food preparation is 0202xx.

Housework is all 02xx activities (including food preparation).

Childcare is 0301xx, 0302xx, 0303xx, 0401xx, 0402xx, and 0403xx.

Paid Work includes all of 05xxxx except 050202.

Sleeping includes 010101 and 010102.

Related travel times are not included in any of the activities.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics American Time Use Survey and ERS Eating & Health Module.

—continued
55

How Much Time Do Americans Spend on Food? / EIB-86

Economic Research Service/USDA

Appendix table 9b

Average time spent in various activities on an average day over 2006-08 for adults age 19 and over 

(not employed only) in households with children or youth, by school/daycare meal obtainment

Average minutes per day spent in selected activities

Not employed only

Grocery 

shopping 

Grocery 

shopping—

those who 

shopped

Food prep/

cleanup Housework Childcare Paid work Sleep

usual 

shopper

not 

usual 

shopperusual 

shopper

usual 

food 

preparer

not 

usual 

food 

preparer

usual 

food 

preparer

not 

usual 

food 

preparer

usual 

food 

preparer

not 

usual 

food 

preparer

usual 

food 

preparer

not 

usual 

food 

preparer

usual 

food 

preparer

not 

usual 

food 

preparer

Obtain school/daycare meals 

Persons in households with 

members under age 19 10.9 3.6 49.3 82.0 20.1 205.2 93.4 112.5 51.2 8.4 21.6 533.1 582.4

Households with children 5 years 

and under 9.3 4.0 51.0 87.9 23.7 208.3 90.7 157.0 93.3 9.4 31.9 539.6 568.0

Households with children 6-11 11.7 3.8 50.1 90.7 20.2 213.9 107.4 130.9 61.8 6.9 25.8 528.8 572.0

Households with children 12-18 11.2 4.4 47.2 85.3 21.5 211.0 91.7 88.8 40.8 7.2 18.6 531.0 581.1

Persons in households with 

Members under age 19

Income <130% poverty threshold 9.8 2.7 50.0 85.1 20.4 203.6 100.2 115.4 56.9 8.7 20.0 554.1 580.7

130%<income<185% poverty 

threshold 12.4 -- -- 80.1 17.7 219.9 65.0 105.2 62.6 8.2 55.9 522.4 585.4

185% poverty threshold <income 11.8 4.0 42.1 79.5 20.6 202.5 83.5 116.6 46.5 8.3 13.7 503.2 571.9

Persons in households with 

Members under age 19 

Obtain Food Stamps 8.8 -- 50.9 82.0 -- 191.6 -- 121.0 -- 5.4 -- 554.6 --

Do not obtain Food Stamps 11.4 4.4 47.7 82.4 19.0 210.1 94.9 110.9 43.4 9.7 20.0 525.3 573.9

Persons in households with 

Members under age 19

One adult in household 7.9 -- -- 66.3 -- 163.9 -- 104.6 -- 14.3 -- 561.1 --

More than one adult in household 11.4 3.7 49.6 84.4 19.9 211.6 95.4 113.8 51.4 7.5 22.3 528.8 578.6

Persons in households with 

Members under age 19

One child 9.6 1.7 48.9 64.3 16.3 182.2 85.7 60.9 21.6 10.1 15.0 531.9 592.9

2-3 children 11.5 3.4 49.4 84.2 23.6 209.4 98.0 127.7 70.3 7.8 26.5 533.7 583.0

4 or more children 10.8 -- -- 108.0 -- 233.7 -- 152.4 -- 7.4 -- 533.0 --

—continued
56

How Much Time Do Americans Spend on Food? / EIB-86

Economic Research Service/USDA

Appendix table 9b

Average time spent in various activities on an average day over 2006-08 for adults age 19 and over 

(not employed only) in households with children or youth, by school/daycare meal obtainment

Average minutes per day spent in selected activities

Not employed only

Grocery 

shopping 

Grocery 

shopping—

those who 

shopped

Food prep/

cleanup Housework Childcare Paid work Sleep

usual 

shopper

not 

usual 

shopperusual 

shopper

usual 

food 

preparer

not 

usual 

food 

preparer

usual 

food 

preparer

not 

usual 

food 

preparer

usual 

food 

preparer

not 

usual 

food 

preparer

usual 

food 

preparer

not 

usual 

food 

preparer

usual 

food 

preparer

not 

usual 

food 

preparer

Do not obtain school/daycare meals

Persons in households with 

Members under age 19 10.7 4.3 53.8 71.8 20.5 183.8 76.0 135.6 37.4 6.4 25.8 538.3 602.9

Households with children 5 years 

and under 9.9 6.0 54.7 73.9 31.4 179.1 92.7 179.9 74.8 5.6 35.6 548.7 602.4

Households with children 6-11 9.6 -- 53.8 87.7 -- 212.0 -- 136.0 -- 11.0 -- 523.3 --

Households with children 12-18 11.8 3.3 49.8 69.6 14.5 190.2 71.6 72.5 13.5 7.3 21.3 528.1 591.0

Persons in households with 

Members under age 19

Income <130% poverty threshold 9.5 -- -- 70.5 -- 171.6 -- 100.1 -- 9.6 -- 580.6 --

130%<income<185% poverty 

threshold 9.0 -- -- 78.9 -- 185.4 -- 170.4 -- 3.5 -- 539.5 --

185% poverty threshold <income 10.7 4.3 50.9 68.9 22.4 187.8 74.9 151.8 38.4 5.9 24.2 515.4 597.7

Persons in households with 

Members under age 19 

Obtain Food Stamps 10.4 -- -- 67.0 -- 164.7 -- 123.1 -- 5.9 -- 590.9 --

Do not obtain Food Stamps 10.7 5.1 52.8 72.7 17.8 187.5 75.6 138.0 40.6 6.5 24.5 528.1 591.9

Persons in households with 

Members under age 19

One adult in household 8.8 -- -- 52.6 -- 140.4 -- 102.8 -- 10.0 -- 579.3 --

More than one adult in household 10.9 4.3 54.6 73.8 20.9 188.4 76.4 139.1 37.9 6.1 26.4 533.9 604.8

Persons in households with 

Members under age 19

One child 12.6 3.1 58.6 61.1 19.3 170.2 64.1 108.3 30.7 3.5 26.0 538.6 609.8

2-3 children 8.7 6.4 46.8 76.2 22.2 188.7 93.9 154.3 45.6 8.8 27.7 539.0 594.0

4 or more children -- -- -- 102.5 -- 227.1 -- 164.3 -- 7.1 -- 532.6 --

Note: -- = suppressed due to small cell size (base is less than 1.2 million)

“Usual shopper” includes those who answered question on whether they usually grocery shopped for the household with “Yes” or “Split equally.”

“Usual food preparer” includes those who answered question on whether they usually did food preparation for the household with “Yes” or “Split 

equally.”

Grocery shopping is 070101.

Food preparation is 0202xx.

Housework is all 02xx activities (including food preparation).

Childcare is 0301xx, 0302xx, 0303xx, 0401xx, 0402xx, and 0403xx.

Paid Work includes all of 05xxxx except 050202.

Sleeping includes 010101 and 010102.

Related travel times are not included in any of the activities.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics American Time Use Survey and ERS Eating & Health Module.

—continued
57

How Much Time Do Americans Spend on Food? / EIB-86

Economic Research Service/USDA

Appendix table 10

Average time spent in selected activities on an average day over 2006-08, Body Mass Index (BMI), and general health, for teenagers (age 15-18) by household characteristics and school meal obtainment

Food 

prep/

cleanup

HouseworkChildcarePaid 

work Sleep

EducationScreentimeExercise 

& sports BMI

General 

health

Obtain school meals 6.1 29.5 5.8 39.4 547.2 284.1 163.1 43.2 23.7 2.2

Income < 185% poverty threshold 6.7 32.7 4.2 36.3 563.6 232.3 197.2 40.2 25.2 2.4

Income ≤ 185% poverty threshold 6.2 28.1 5.5 45.0 544.0 296.7 152.5 41.1 23.0 2.2

Household obtaining SNAP1/

Food Stamps -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Household not obtaining SNAP/

Food Stamps 5.9 29.2 5.7 40.6 545.3 288.9 159.1 42.7 23.7 2.2

Employed 3.8 27.0 6.7 114.7 533.8 254.8 134.5 29.3 23.5 2.2

Not Employed 7.3 30.7 5.3 3.0 553.7 298.3 177.0 50.0 23.7 2.2

Household with 1 adult with children 9.9 30.9 5.3 27.2 547.2 266.4 170.4 38.0 24.6 2.3

Household with 2 or more 

adults with children 5.5 29.2 5.8 41.6 547.2 287.2 161.8 44.2 23.5 2.2

Do not obtain school meals 6.0 34.7 11.2 46.6 560.3 206.6 192.3 46.0 23.3 2.2

Income < 185% poverty threshold -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Income ≤ 185% poverty threshold 6.2 34.8 6.1 48.2 559.8 208.0 192.3 43.2 22.8 2.1

Household obtaining SNAP/

Food Stamps -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Household not obtaining SNAP/

Food Stamps 5.8 33.1 8.9 46.5 566.8 203.7 192.2 45.4 23.3 2.2

Employed 6.5 36.6 4.9 138.6 542.4 150.0 158.6 48.1 23.3 1.9

Not employed 5.8 33.9 13.7 10.7 567.3 228.6 205.4 45.2 23.3 2.3

Household with 1 adult with children 7.2 37.5 20.5 53.9 576.9 172.4 186.1 25.9 23.0 2.3

Household with 2 or more

adults with children 5.7 34.2 9.3 45.1 555.8 214.5 192.7 50.4 23.4 2.1

1 SNAP = Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. 

Note: -- = suppressed due to small cell size (base is less than 1.2 million). General health average score: 1 = excellent, 5 = poor.

Food preparation is 0202xx.

Housework is all 02xx activities (including food preparation).

Childcare is 0301xx, 0302xx, 0303xx, 0401xx, 0402xx, and 0403xx.

Paid Work includes all of 05xxxx except 050202.

Sleeping includes 010101 and 010102.

Education includes all 06xxxx.

Screentime is 020904+120303+120304+120307+120308+150101.

Exercise and sports includes 1301xx .

Related travel times are not included in any of the activities.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics American Time Use Survey and ERS Eating & Health Module.
58

How Much Time Do Americans Spend on Food? / EIB-86

Economic Research Service/USDA

Appendix—Technical information on calculation of 

estimates

All estimates presented in this report were calculated using the American 

Time Use Survey (ATUS) data and the Eating & Health Module (EH 

Module) data for 2006-08. The ATUS Respondent, Activity, Activity 

Summary, Roster, Who, and ATUS-Current Population Survey fi les were 

used, and the EH Module Respondent, Activity, Child, and Replicate 

Weights fi les were used. The dataset used contains 37,832 respondents, with 

a total of 753,604 activities.

All calculations were done using SAS 9.2. Estimation procedures outlined in 

the ATUS User’s Guide (U.S. DOL BLS, 2010) and the EH Module User’s 

Guide (Hamrick, 2010) were followed. In particular, the methodology 

used for calculating total time in secondary eating and drinking adjusting 

for overlap is presented in the EH Module User’s Guide (p. 9). Averages 

were calculated as the mean. Standard errors were calculated according to 

Section 7.5 of the ATUS User’s Guide. The EH Module Replicate Weights 

were used, either by directly programming the balanced repeated replication 

method or by using the PROC SURVEY procedures in SAS. A 90-percent 

level of confi dence was used to determine whether estimates were statistically different. All differences between estimates discussed in the text are 

statistically different. 

The ERS standard of suppressing estimates for cells with unweighted counts 

fewer than 80 was followed. Eighty observations, when weighted by the 

Eating & Health Module fi nal weights, represents 1.2 million Americans 

age 15 or older. Estimates with cell sizes of fewer than 80 observations were 

considered too small to provide a reliable estimate. Bureau of Labor Statistics 

determined the threshold of 80 observations for estimates made with the 

Eating & Health Module data, which corresponds to the Bureau of Labor 

Statistics standard used in 2006 of a minimum of 1.2 million-person base for 

publishing estimates using the American Time Use Survey data.

Estimates for eating and drinking activities in the Eating Behavior sections 

are presented for those age 15 years old and over, as these estimates include 

the entire survey population. Estimates in the Health section are for age 20 

and older, as the adult Body Mass Index applies to those age 20 and older. 

Estimates in the Meal Preparation and Grocery Shopping are either for adults 

(age 18 and older), for adults beyond high school age (age 19 and older), or 

for teenagers in school (age 15-18 and in school). Age 19 and older is used 

for the meals obtained at school analysis, as individuals age 18 can still be in 

high school and so can obtain meals at school.