Kids Eat Out

The fact that kids eat away from home now more than ever is a reflection of our increasingly busy lifestyle. The U.S. Department of Agriculture nationwide survey, What We Eat In America, shows that kids are eating out more, and frequently they're eating at fast-food restaurants. This study provides important information for nutritionists, teachers and parents alike on how to foster good eating habits in kids.

Many Children Eat Outside the Home

In the mid-1990s nearly one-half of the nation's three- to five-year-olds consumed some food or drink provided outside the home compared to one-third in the late 1970s. In fact, food eaten away from home now contributes an average of 20 percent of total calories for preschoolers. Roughly two-thirds of school-aged children (six through 19) consumed food and drink provided away from home, up from 55 percent in the late 1970s. On average, outside food contributes about one-quarter of total calories for 6- to 11-year-olds, increasing to one-third of total calories for 12- to 19-year-olds. But one in three school-aged youth gets more than 40 percent of their calories from outside sources.

Where are Kids Eating Out?

The three- to five-year-olds most often eat at someone else's house, followed by fast-food restaurants, and then day care. Grade school-aged children most often eat at the school cafeteria, followed by someone else's house, then fast-food restaurants. By the teen years, however, fast-food restaurants were the most frequent source of outside food for boys and a close second to the school cafeteria for girls. The fact that kids eat at fast-food restaurants so frequently makes it clear that choosing a healthful diet is just as important when eating out as it is at home. While fast-foods typically provide plenty of calories, they are often short on key nutrients such as Vitamin A, C and calcium. The good news is that kids can enjoy fast-foods and still consume a healthful diet by making smarter fast-food choices. They can also be encouraged to make up for missing nutrients and balance high-fat selections at other meals and snacks throughout the day.

See "Fast Food Activities" (located under Prek-6 Activities on this website) for relevant teaching methods and resources.