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Time in Eating and Food Preparation among Single Adults

Author

Listed:
  • Senia, Mark C.
  • Jensen, Helen H.
  • Zhylyevskyy, Oleksandr

Abstract

We investigate factors affecting the duration of eating and food preparation among adults in single decision-maker households. Eating time is differentiated into primary and secondary eating time and further differentiated by location: at home vs. away from home. We construct a simple theoretical model, based on Becker's household production approach, to motivate empirical equations for eating and food preparation time. Empirical analysis is performed using data from the 2006–2008 Eating and Health (EH) Module of the American Time Use Survey (ATUS). Higher food-at-home prices are found to be associated with more time in food preparation and primary eating at home. Higher fast food prices are associated with more time in food preparation and less time in primary eating at home. We conclude that food prices influence home production and time allocation decisions. We also find that low-income adults spend more time in food preparation and primary eating at home and are less likely to eat away from home than those with more income. The presence of children in the household is associated with more time in food preparation and less time in primary eating away from home. Public policies attempting to effect an increase in food preparation among low-income, single adult households with children may need to account for limited opportunities such households can have to acquire and prepare healthier foods when additional time is required.

Suggested Citation

  • Senia, Mark C. & Jensen, Helen H. & Zhylyevskyy, Oleksandr, 2014. "Time in Eating and Food Preparation among Single Adults," Staff General Research Papers Archive 38658, Iowa State University, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:isu:genres:38658
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    Cited by:

    1. Juan Du & Takeshi Yagihashi, 2017. "Health capital investment and time spent on health-related activities," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 15(4), pages 1215-1248, December.
    2. Benjamin Scharadin & Edward C. Jaenicke, 2020. "Time spent on childcare and the household Healthy Eating Index," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 18(2), pages 357-386, June.
    3. Alfaro Hudak, Katelin M. & Valizadeh, Pourya & Racine, Elizabeth F. & Nayga, Rodolfo M., 2025. "The weight of responsibilities: How time spent in responsibilities is associated with time spent in food preparation," 2025 AAEA & WAEA Joint Annual Meeting, July 27-29, 2025, Denver, CO 360947, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    4. Senia, Mark C. & Dharmasena, Senarath, 2016. "Factors Affecting the Intake of Dietary Fiber in the United States Diet," 2016 Annual Meeting, February 6-9, 2016, San Antonio, Texas 229982, Southern Agricultural Economics Association.
    5. Alagsam, Fuad & Schieffer, Jack, 2016. "The Mindlessness and Mindfulness of Secondary Eating," 2016 Annual Meeting, July 31-August 2, Boston, Massachusetts 235644, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    6. George, Sarah & Salomo, Katja & Helbig, Marcel, 2025. "Spatial advantages of highly educated individuals in Germany: Is sustainable mobility an expression of privilege?," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 156, pages 1-11.
    7. Lotfali Agheli & Sara Emamgholipour, 2016. "Analyzing Fast Food Consumption among Iranian Urban Households," International Review of Management and Marketing, Econjournals, vol. 6(2), pages 205-212.
    8. Brandon J. Restrepo & Eliana Zeballos, 2020. "The effect of working from home on major time allocations with a focus on food-related activities," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 18(4), pages 1165-1187, December.
    9. Mark, Senia & Senarath, Dharmasena, 2016. "Ascertaining the Role of Socio-Economic-Demographic and Government Food Policy Related Factors on the Per Capita Intake of Dietary Fiber Derived from Consumption of Various Foods in the United States," 2016 Annual Meeting, July 31-August 2, Boston, Massachusetts 235757, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    10. Nancy Folbre & Marta Murray-Close & Jooyeoun Suh, 2018. "Equivalence scales for extended income in the U.S," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 16(2), pages 189-227, June.

    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • D13 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Household Production and Intrahouse Allocation
    • Q18 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Agricultural Policy; Food Policy; Animal Welfare Policy

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