Nutrition And You: Trends 2008
This survey presents a picture of U.S. consumers’ attitudes, knowledge, and beliefs about food and nutrition over the last two decades. The survey notes a decrease among 23-41% of respondents regarding consumption of beef, port, and dairy products, compared with 48-56% of respondents saying they have increased consumption of whole grains, vegetables, and fruits.
People’s overall attitudes toward maintaining a healthy diet and getting regular exercise are categorized by:
- I’m already doing it (43%)
- I know I should (38%)
- Don’t bother me (19%)
The “don’t bother me” category has dropped substantially from 2002 to 2008, while the “I know I should” has remained constant, and the “I’m already doing it” has increased steadily.
Diet and nutrition are “very important” to 67% of respondents, while exercise and physical activity are “very important” to 61% of those surveyed. Women are more likely than men to say both are very important, while younger adults are less likely than older people to consider diet “very important.” Exercise is seen as important by all age groups. Diet and nutrition are also likely to be seen as very important to those with a college education or higher.
According to the 2008 survey, more than 70% of adults don’t do more to achieve a balanced diet because they are satisfied with the way they eat (79%) and/or they don’t want to give up their favorite foods (73%).
Respondents were asked about consumption of whole grains, vegetables, fruits, fish, chicken, dairy, pork and beef. Asked if they had decreased their consumption of any of these foods, 23% said they had cut back on dairy foods, 33% had cut back on pork, and 41% had decreased their consumption of beef. However, most people reported that their consumption of these foods stayed the same in the past five years; dairy (62%), pork (54%), and beef (49%).