Eating out

There are many studies that indicate eating out causes weight gain. Portions are larger and fat content is higher and most people drink more. USDA data show that over the past 30 years, the food that Americans eat away from home (e.g., in restaurants and fast food chains) has grown substantially. In 1977 people obtained approximately 18% of their daily calories from food away from home, but the percentage jumped to 34% by 2012. Public health experts said that they were alarmed by the continuing rise in obesity among adults and by the fact that efforts to educate people about the health risks of a poor diet do not seem to be working. As people trade home cooking for restaurant cooking they are consuming less food and thus farmers are throwing out food. Farmers are destroying their own crops after the coronavirus ravaged the food market. To add to the confusion many people feel they are eating too much while they are stuck in their homes when in fact total caloric intake is less.