Do you listen to music during dinner? How often do you eat on the road? Do you think that eating as a family is a good way of instilling good values in children? See how a cross-section of the country’s population answered these and other questions. The results might surprise you!
1. Which of the following best describes your cooking?
- Awful 2.8%
- Not so hot 8.5%
- Average 35.9%
- Above average 36.3%
- Great 16.5%
Over half the respondents feel they are skilled cooks. Residents of New York, New Jersey, Maryland and Illinois were most likely to rate their cooking "Great."
2. If someone opened your fridge, what would they find?
- Empty shelves 12.2%
- It's fully and freshly stocked 44.8%
- Lots of leftovers and some spoiled food 14.9%
- Lots of frozen and prepared meals 16.1%
- Other 12.0%
If you were to raid someone else's refrigerator, California, Pennsylvania, Kentucky and Missouri residents would eat the best.
3. If you could add 5 good years to your life by changing your eating habits forever, would you be willing to:
- Become a vegetarian 25.7%
- Give up desserts 42.5%
- Eat only organic foods 42.8%
- Make all your own meals 68.1%
- Get all your food and nutrition from a pill 27.2%
Of the respondents who consider themselves overweight, the most popular sacrifice was to make their own meals. 9 out of 10 Residents of Georgia would not become vegetarian even if it extended their lives.
4. Of the following choices, who do you feel is most to blame for childhood obesity?
- Parents 76.5%
- Kids 3.1%
- Food manufacturers 8.3%
- Fast-food restaurants 10.9%
- Schools 1.3%
5. Of the following choices, who do you feel is most to blame for adult obesity?
- Each Individual 85.5%
- Food manufacturers 6.6%
- Fast-food restaurants 7.9%
Respondents who consider themselves overweight are more likely to blame fast-food manufacturers and less likely to blame themselves than the average respondent.
6. How often do you drive and eat at the same time?
- Always 2.2%
- Sometimes 25.9%
- Rarely 46.4%
- Never 18.8%
- I don't drive 6.7%
Texas, New Jersey and Virginia drivers are the most likely to eat while driving.
7. Do you think eating while driving could be dangerous?
Of all states, Indiana drivers are the most fearful of eating while driving, while Michigan drivers are the most relaxed about it.
8. Of the following choices, which do you feel is most important for instilling good values in children?
- Going to religious services regularly 21.5%
- Eating dinner as a family regularly 66.6%
- Volunteering regularly 12.0%
- 54% of respondents who live with their families eat dinner at home five or more times per week (in 2005, 62% did).
9. When eating dinner, is it acceptable to:
- Watch TV 74.3%
- Read 41.2%
- Listen to an iPod 20.4%
- Use a computer or PDA 27.6%
- Talk on the cell phone 16.0%
- Smoke 7.0%
Residents of Georgia, Kentucky and Illinois are most likely to watch TV while eating, while residents of Ohio and Minnesota are most likely to smoke during dinner.
10. What part of preparing home-cooked meals is most important to you?
- Healthier than eating out 21.2%
- Cheaper than eating out 30.5%
- I love to cook 15.7%
- Brings my family together 17.8%
- Get to eat the foods we like 11.5%
- Less stressful than eating out 2.0%
- Get to enjoy our heritage 1.3%
About one out of four Washington and North Carolina residents cook simply because they love cooking.
Read more about the America's Kitchen survey at
USAWeekend.com.
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