Food Acquisition and Daily Life for U.S. Families with 4- to 8-Year-Old Children during COVID-19: Findings from a Nationally Representative Survey

Abstract

Evidence of short-term impacts of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on family life is emerging. Continued research can shed light on potential longer-term impacts. An online survey of U.S. parents with 4- to 8-year-old children (n = 1000) was administered in October 2020. The survey examined parent-reported impacts of COVID-19 on lifestyle (e.g., work, child-care, grocery shopping), as well as current family food acquisition and eating behaviors (e.g., cooking, restaurant use). Descriptive statistics were calculated, incorporating sampling weights based on sociodemographics. In terms of COVID-19 impacts, parents reported increases in working from home, decreased work hours, and increased child care and instruction, with most children attending school or receiving care at home. Parents reported increased home cooking and online grocery shopping; only 33% reported increased take-out or delivery from restaurants. About half of parents reported that their child dined at restaurants, 62% reported getting take-out, and 57% reported delivery from restaurants at least 2–3 times per month. About half viewed dining at restaurants as safe, while take-out and delivery were seen as safe by around three-quarters. Approximately two-thirds reported recent food insecurity. These nationally-representative results illustrate possible longer-lasting shifts in family life, with the potential to impact health and well-being. Sociodemographic differences and research and policy implications are discussed.

COVID-19 and the National Lockdown: How Food Choice and Dietary Habits Changed for Families in the United Kingdom

“…Parents felt it was not as safe or as pleasant to eat out due to the restrictions in place. This corresponds to findings from a US survey (administered in October 2020) of families ( 61 ) reporting that takeaway was perceived as safer (than eating in restaurants), and increased during COVID-19. Takeaway food has been found to be excessive in portion size, energy, macronutrients, and salt ( 66 ).…”

A Study on Dining-Out Trends Using Big Data: Focusing on Changes since COVID-19

“…As a result, the number of restaurants that purchased local food based on a perspective of sustainability had increased [14]. Another study by Ferrante et al [15] also found changes in the lifestyles of most people as well as in their behaviors regarding acquiring or eating food since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings showed an increase in not only home cooking and online grocery shopping but also in takeout and delivery.…”

Quarantots, quarankids, and quaranteens: how research can contribute to mitigating the deleterious impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on health behaviours and social inequalities while achieving sustainable change

“…Snacking appears to have increased among Canadian families, but in some cases, healthier behaviours, such as home cooking, also increased (Carroll et al, 2020 ). A majority of US parents reported doing more home cooking during the pandemic and only a third reported take-out/delivery food consumption, but an alarming two thirds reported food insecurity (Ferrante et al, 2021 ). Increases in food insecurity were associated with greater parental concerns about obesity and about one third of families increased their consumption of high-calorie snack foods, sweets/desserts, and fruits in the home (Adams et al, 2020 ).…”

“…L’apport en collations semble avoir augmenté; par contre, certaines habitudes alimentaires plus saines, telle la cuisine maison, ont pris le dessus chez certains (Carroll et al, 2020 ). Aux É-U, la plupart des parents déclarent cuisiner plus souvent pendant la pandémie et seuls un tiers disent consommer des plats à emporter/livraison (Ferrante et al, 2021 ). Par contre, et voici le facteur inquiétant, deux tiers signalent une insécurité alimentaire.…”