Over the past three decades, a more hectic lifestyle for many people has left less time and energy for home-prepared meals. Virtually all of the menus of these firms prominently feature french fries. About 80 percent of frozen products were french fries, with the balance consumed in other forms such as hash browns, tater tots, and home fries. Among crops, only wheat flour exceeds potatoes, pound for pound, in the American diet. Although tablestock consumption has been relatively flat since then, it may rise as the U.S. population grows older.
Surveys show that diets shift toward fresh produce as people age.
The leveling of fresh potato consumption may be due partly to the wide-spread adoption of microwave ovens in preparing baked potatoes. In addition, the introduction of potato bars, and menu items featuring baked potatoes at chain restaurants, may have helped to stabilize demand. Working against tablestock consumption have been the twin trends of lower red meat consumption and increased rice consumption. Also, the rising popularity of rice has increased competition for tablestock potatoes. Increased consumption of chicken and the pairing of rice dishes with chicken has likely helped to boost rice use.