Most Latinos Still Have Family Meals

How often do you sit for a family dinner?

Conventional wisdom says that as a society we do it less and less; the fast-food joints (and taquerias if you live in San Antonio) at every other corner seem to confirm that fact. But a study done by the American Dietetic Association Foundation says we’re not as bad at the family meal thing as we thought.

According to the study most Latino kids say that  “their families eat at fast-food or sit-down restaurants less than once a week or never.” That’s encouraging, home-made rice and beans is always better than the super-sized deluxe whatever.

Apparently the economy has something to do with it:

“These statistics are a surprise to a lot of people, because the perception is that Americans eat out a lot,” said registered dietitian Katie Brown, national education director for the ADA Foundation. She attributed the trend, in part, to parents trimming spending.

Latinos are the most family-meal cost conscious of all. The kids that say their families eat fast food only once a week are

• 51% Caucasians
• 56% African American
• 63% Latino

There is a down side to the study (isn’t there always?).

Breakfast is sometimes missed by 42% of white children and Hispanic children, and 59% of black children. Previous studies have linked missed breakfasts to lower test scores, poor attention to tasks and increased school absenteeism.

And here’s something that seems like it never changes:

• 50% of kids reported snacking after school
• 24% to 26% reported snacking in the evening after dinner
• 23% to 30% of kids said they often or always ate snacks while watching TV