Unit Social Settings. Lesson Meet New People (speaking)

Lesson 5. Trends in Dining (reading)

Presentation:

Lifestyles

Trends Away From Home-Cooked Meals

Lifestyles all over the world have changed considerably in recent years. One type of change is in the various ways people have meals nowadays, in contrast to the ways they used to have them. In the United States, we see a distinct pattern: more and more people are eating food that has not been prepared in their own homes. Besides dining at traditional restaurants, people are eating at fast food outlets, bringing home take-out food, having complete meals as they drive in their cars, and even eating on the street.

Why is there a trend away home-cooked meals? Today, the adults in most U.S. families work outside the home. Like working people everywhere, they often do not have enough time or energy to prepare meals themselves. And, in contrast to earlier times when grandparents were close by and able to share cooking chores, many garndparents often live far away now, in Florida or in California, or in a distant retirement community.

Who eats out the most? 98% of U.S. residents eat at a restaurant or eat take-out food at least once a month. Of these, the largest demographic groups are:

• 
  Housholds headed by 40-49 year olds.
  
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  College graduates.
  
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  People living in the Northeast.
  
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  People whose income is $75, 000 per year or more.
  

What do they eat? Younger people, who eat in fast-food places, like hamburgers, french fries, fried chicken and pizza. As they mature, people look for more balanced and varied meals. Dishes from other countries are now very popular, even people who haven’t travelled in Japan or in Mexico know foods like sushi and burritos. As for fish – senior citizens order more of it than any other age group.

Business people have wisely recognized this trend. That is why there are all kinds of eating places besides restaurants. People can eat at a kiosk at the mall, at a cart on the street, at a sandwich shop in their office building, or even while they are grocery shopping for food to prepare at home!

Activity:

Multiple Choice.

1. 
   What type of lifestyle change do we see in the U.S.? A) More and more Americans are eating take-out food and going to restaurants. B) Most people in the U.S. prepare meals in their own homes. C) All U.S. residents still have meals the way they used to.
   
2. 
   Why is there a trend away from home-cooked meals in the U.S.? A) Families don’t want to eat meals prepared at home. B) Grandparents don’t have the energy to cook. C) Working people don’t have time or energy to prepare meals.
   
3. 
   Which group is most likely to eat out? A) people who earn $65, 000 per year or less. B) college graduates. C) those living in the Southeast.
   
4. 
   What do younger people like to eat? A) This group prefers fast food. B) Younger people like balanced and varied meals. C) They order more fish than any other age group.
   
5. 
   Where can Americans eat nowadays? A) Americans don’t have time to eat at restaurants. B) They eat at restaurants, kiosks, street carts and grocery stores. C) Most business people prefer dishes from other countries.
   

Vocabulary: