Where Americans Get Their Food

Americans get their food from a wide variety of places, according to the USDA's Economic Research Service. During an average week, most of us get food from large grocery stores and restaurants. More than one-third of us acquire food at the homes of friends or family. Overall, households average 11 separate "food acquisition events" per week.

These findings come from the government's National Household Food Acquisition and Purchase Survey (FoodAPS), which collected data over a seven-day reporting period in 2012-13. The survey categorizes food acquisition events into nine venues. USDA researchers examined how often households acquire food from each venue...

• Large grocery stores: 87 percent of households acquire food from large grocery stores during an average week. Those who visit large grocery stores make 2.8 trips to the store, spending an average of $45 at each visit (including nonfood items).
• Restaurants: 85 percent of households acquire food from restaurants during an average week. Those who get food from restaurants do so 5.4 times a week (twice as often as going to a large grocery store) and spend $25 per visit (including tips). 
• Convenience stores: 42 percent of households acquire food from convenience stores, dollar stores, pharmacies, etc. during an average week. Those who do average 2.2 visits a week and spend $5 per visit. 
• Family and friends: 37 percent of households acquire food from family or friends during an average week. Those who acquire food from this source do so an average of 2.7 times a week. Almost all of this food (95 percent) is free.
• Work: 22 percent of households acquire food at work during an average week, and those who do average 3.5 events a week. Seventy percent of this food is free.
• Small specialty food stores: 18 percent of households acquire food from small and specialty food stores during an average week, visiting 1.4 times.
• Schools: 14 percent of households acquire food at school or day care during an average week, doing so an average of 6.3 times a week.
• Own production: 6 percent of households acquire food from their own or other's hunting, fishing, or gardening during an average week. Those who acquire food through their own or other's production do so 1.9 times a week.
• Food banks/Meals on Wheels: 1 percent of households acquire food from food banks or Meals on Wheels during an average week. Those who obtain food from this source do so 1.7 times a week.

Source: USDA, Economic Research Service, Where Households Get Food in a Typical Week: Findings from USDA's FoodAPS