Americans Eating Less? Probably Not

Alcohol isn't the only thing Americans are spending less on. According to BusinessWeek, American food expenditures have dropped by an inflation-adjusted 55.7 percent--or $56 billion. Although the BusinessWeek blogger who posted that stat speculates that "fat Americans" are simply eating less, my guess--judging from my own life and those of my friends--is that people are buying cheaper, in many cases crappier food, and eating out less. Much as I'd like to think people were no longer eating "too much food," I'm inclined to believe they're really eschewing restaurants, especially high-end restaurants, and eating more convenience foods, fast food, and conventionally grown produce.