Food and Nutrition in the U.S. 2021

Topics of the survey

• Personal Information
• Eating behavior
• Nutrition, diets, supplements
• Cooking behavior
• Food types
• Snacks
• Alternative & plant-based food
• Convenience food
• Purchases & Groceries
• Food categories
• Delivery
• Characteristics & demographics

• Method: Online survey
• Survey name: GCS Special: Food & Nutrition in the U.S.
• Region: United States
• Number of respondents: 1043
• Age of respondents: 18 years to 74 years old
• Type of respondents: US residential general population
• Survey time period: 6th to 15th December 2021

• Gender
• Age (basic)
• Annual household income (categorized)- United States

Personal Information

• Who is responsible for purchasing everyday goods for your household? (single)
• Who is responsible for cooking in your household? (single)
• How often do you do sports? (single)
• How satisfied are you personally with your health? (single)
• How satisfied are you personally with your eating habits? (single)
• How satisfied are you personally with your physical appearance? (single)
• How tall are you? (single)
• How tall are you? (single)
• How much do you weigh? (single)
• How much do you weigh? (single)
• How much do you weigh? (single)

• How often do you eat breakfast on weekdays (Mon-Fri)? (single)
• How often do you eat lunch on weekdays (Mon-Fri)? (single)
• How often do you eat dinner on weekdays (Mon-Fri)? (single)
• How often do you eat snacks during the day on weekdays (Mon-Fri)? (single)
• How often do you eat snacks during the night on weekdays (Mon-Fri)? (single)
• Who are you usually having your breakfast with on weekdays (Mon-Fri)? (multiple) (multiple)
• Who are you usually having your lunch with on weekdays (Mon-Fri)? (multiple) (multiple)
• Who are you usually having your dinner with on weekdays (Mon-Fri)? (multiple) (multiple)
• Which of the following is the most important meal to you on weekdays (Mon-Fri)? (single)
• How often do you eat breakfast on the weekend? (single)
• How often do you eat lunch on the weekend? (single)
• How often do you eat dinner on the weekend? (single)
• How often do you eat snacks during the day on the weekend? (single)
• How often do you eat snacks during the night on the weekend? (single)
• Who are you usually having your breakfast with on the weekend? (multiple)
• Who are you usually having your lunch with on the weekend? (multiple)
• Who are you usually having your dinner with on the weekend? (multiple)
• Which of the following is the most important meal to you at the weekend? (single)
• In which ways did your eating behavior change during the COVID-19 pandemic? (health aspects) (single)
• In which ways did your eating behavior change during the COVID-19 pandemic? (regularity) (single)
• In which ways did your eating behavior change during the COVID-19 pandemic? (self-cooked meals) (single)
• In which ways did your eating behavior change during the COVID-19 pandemic? (snacks) (single)
• Which of the following options do you prefer for the respective meals? (weekday - breakfast) (single)
• Which of the following options do you prefer for the respective meals? (weekday - lunch) (single)
• Which of the following options do you prefer for the respective meals? (weekday - dinner) (single)
• Which of the following options do you prefer for the respective meals? (weekend - breakfast) (single)
• Which of the following options do you prefer for the respective meals? (weekend - lunch) (single)
• Which of the following options do you prefer for the respective meals? (weekend - dinner) (single)
• What factors motivate your choice of where to eat or pick up food from? (multiple)

• Do you follow one or more of the following nutrition rules? (multiple)
• Are you trying to avoid any of the following ingredients? (multiple)
• Why do you follow a certain diet or avoid certain ingredients? (multiple)
• Do you have any food allergies or intolerances? (single)
• Would you like to change anything about your nutrition? (multiple)
• Which types of supplements do you personally take? (multiple)
• Do you personally take any food supplements like proteins, vitamins, or minerals on a regular basis? (single)
• Why do you take food supplements? (multiple)
• Which of the following supplements have you bought for your household in the past 3 months? (multiple)
• Which of the following supplement brands have you bought in the past 3 months? (multiple)

• The following statements are about your cooking behavior: Which of the following statements do you agree with? (multiple)
• For whom do you usually cook? (multiple)
• When preparing something to eat at home, what is important to you? (multiple)
• How many days a week do you prepare/cook meals at home? (single)
• Which of these kitchen appliances do you regularly use in your kitchen? (multiple)
• If you must choose between either, how would you describe the cooking in your household? (fresh vs. ready-made) (single)
• If you must choose between either, how would you describe the cooking in your household? (healthy vs. tasty) (single)
• If you must choose between either, how would you describe the cooking in your household? (hearty, savory vs. light food) (single)
• If you must choose between either, how would you describe the cooking in your household? (elaborate vs. quick) (single)
• If you must choose between either, how would you describe the cooking in your household? (traditional vs. modern) (single)

• Which of the following do you personally eat? (multiple)
• How often do you eat breakfast products (cereals, jams, peanut butter)? (single)
• How often do you eat chocolate, cookies, or ice cream? (single)
• How often do you eat ready-to-eat meals? (single)
• How often do you eat fruits & veggies? (single)
• How often do you meat products & sausages? (single)
• How often do you eat milk products (e.g., cheese, yoghurt)? (single)
• How often do you eat pasta or rice? (single)
• How often do you eat processed fish & seafood? (single)
• How often do you eat processed vegetables, fruit, or potatoes? (single)
• How often do you eat sauces & condiments (e.g., tomato ketchup)? (single)
• How often do you eat snack food (nuts, potato chips)? (single)

• What kind of snacks do you eat regularly? (multiple) / Snack types
• At what time of the day do you typically eat snacks (either on weekdays or at the weekend)? (multiple) / Snack consumption by time period
• Which of the following snacks do you purchase for your household on a regular basis? (multiple) / Snack purchases
• Which of these brands of salty snacks have you bought during the past 3 months? (multiple) / Chips/crisps purchases by brand
• Which of these brands of chocolate have you bought during the past 3 months? (multiple) / Chocolate purchases by brand
• Which of these brands of ice cream have you bought during the past 3 months? (multiple) / Ice cream purchases by brand

• Which of the following statements about plant-based nutrition do you agree with? (multiple)
• Which attitudes about Plant-based diets do you agree with? Plant-based diets are… (single)
• Which of the following plant-based alternatives to animal-based products have you consumed in the past 3 months? (multiple)
• What are reasons for you to turn to plant-based products? (multiple)
• What do you see as reasons not to consume plant-based products? (multiple)
• What kind of non-dairy milk alternative have you consumed in the past 3 months? (multiple)
• From which of the following brands have you purchased non-dairy milk alternatives in the past 3 months? (multiple)
• When it comes to replacing meat / meat products plant-based, which base do you prefer? (multiple)
• From which of the following brands have you purchased plant-based meat / meat product alternatives in the past 3 months? (multiple)
• Would you consider eating cultured meat if it were available on the market? (single)
• Would you consider eating insects? (single)

• Which of the following convenience food products do you personally eat on a regular basis? (multiple)
• What do you think are good reasons for convenience food products? (multiple)
• And what are reasons against convenience food products? (multiple)
• Do you prefer to prepare self-made meals, or do you prefer to prepare convenience food products / ready-made meals? (single)
• Do you prefer to consume self-made meals, or do you prefer to consume convenience food products / ready-made meals? (single)
• Which of the following convenience food products have you purchased for your household in the past 3 months? (multiple)
• Which of the following brands of frozen convenience food have you purchased for your household in the past 3 months? (multiple)

• Which of these statements about your food purchases do you agree with? (multiple)
• Out of the following, which are the most important aspects when choosing your food? (multiple)
• In which of these stores do you regularly buy your food? (multiple)
• How often do you do your grocery shopping? (single)
• On which day(s) do you usually do your grocery shopping? (multiple)
• In which of these stores have you bought during the past 3 months? (multiple)
• In which of these food categories do you buy organic products? (multiple)
• Do you rather buy organic or conventional food products? (single)
• Which of these organic food brands have you bought in the past 3 months? (multiple)
• Which of these food categories do you buy partly or exclusively as a private label? (multiple)
• How would you rate private labels compared to conventional brands, based on the following criteria? Private labels are … than conventional brands. (multiple) / Availability
• How would you rate private labels compared to conventional brands, based on the following criteria? Private labels are … than conventional brands. (multiple) / Exclusivity
• How would you rate private labels compared to conventional brands, based on the following criteria? Private labels are … than conventional brands. (multiple) / Price
• How would you rate private labels compared to conventional brands, based on the following criteria? Private labels are … than conventional brands. (multiple) / Quality
• How would you rate private labels compared to conventional brands, based on the following criteria? Private labels are … than conventional brands. (multiple) / Taste
• How would you rate private labels compared to conventional brands, based on the following criteria? Private labels are … than conventional brands. (multiple) / Trust in the brand/shop
• How would you rate private labels compared to conventional brands, based on the following criteria? Private labels are … than conventional brands. (multiple) / Sustainability

• Which of the following food categories do you purchase for your household on a regular basis? (multiple)
• For which of these products is a low price of particular importance to you? (multiple)
• For which of these food categories do you buy premium or quality products? (multiple)
• Which of these brands of cereal have you bought in the past 4 weeks? (multiple)
• Which of these brands of yogurt have you bought in the past 4 weeks? (multiple)

• Which of the following statements about food/grocery deliveries do you agree with? (multiple)
• Which of the following delivery services have you used in the past 12 months? (multiple)
• Thinking of the past 12 months, how often did you have food from restaurants delivered to your home? (single)
• How often did you have meal kits delivered to your home in the past 12 months? (single)
• Which of the following meal-kit providers did you use in the past 12 months? (multiple)
• How often did you have groceries delivered to your home in the past 12 months? (single)
• How often did you have beverages delivered to your home in the past 12 months? (single)
• What are reasons for you to order grocery and beverages online and have them delivered instead of shopping offline? (multiple)
• Which of the following grocery and beverage delivery services did you use in the past 12 month? (multiple)

• What is your gender? (single)
• How old are you? (single)
• How old are you? (single)
• How old are you? (single)
• What is your marital status? (single)
• Do you consider yourself part of the LGBTQ+ community? (single)
• What is your gender identity? (single)
• Which of the following best describes you? (single)
• Which race / ethnicity best describes you? (single)
• Where do you currently live? (single)
• Recode based on "Region/state - United Kingdom" (single)
• Recode based on "Employment status (detailed)" (single)
• Which of the following categories best describes your current employment status? (single)
• What is the highest level of education you have completed? (single)
• How much total combined money do all members of your household earn annually? (single)
• Recode based on "Annual household income - United Kingdom" (single)
• How many people – including yourself and all children – permanently live in your household? (single)
• How many children and teenagers below 14 years of age permanently live in your household, no matter if they are your natural children or not? (single)
• Typology based on "Household size" and "Children under 14 years of age in household" (single)
• Who do you currently live with? (multiple)
• Recoded based on: "Household members" and "Household size" (single)
• How big is the town you live in? (single)
• In what type of community do you live? (single)
• What is your current living situation (main residence)? (single)