Module Questions
American Time Use Survey
Eating as a secondary activity
Because many Americans eat while engaged in other activities,
such as driving or watching television, information is needed on
eating as both a primary and secondary activity. This question
records when and during which activities the respondent was eating
or drinking beverages.
Question
We're interested in finding out more
about how people fit meals and snacks into their schedules.
Yesterday, you reported eating or drinking between [fill times
from respondent's time diary]. Were there any other times you
were eating yesterday--for example while you were doing something
else? About how long would you say you were eating while you were
[fill activity]? Not including plain water, were there any
other times yesterday when you were drinking any beverages? About
how long would you say you were drinking while you were [fill
activity]?
Grocery shopping and meal preparation
Question
I'd like to ask a couple of
questions about food preparation. Are you the person who usually
does the grocery shopping in your household? Are you the person who
usually prepares the meals in your household?
Food Stamp Program participation
This information will allow analysis of the time use patterns of
food stamp recipients versus others, and in particular, low-income
persons who are not participating in the program.
Question
In the past 30 days, did you or
anyone in your household get food stamp benefits?
Breakfast and lunch obtained at school
Question
Please think back over the past week
starting last Monday up to today, Monday. In the past week, did
[Fill names of children in the household under age 18] eat
a BREAKFAST that was prepared and served at a school, a paid day
care or Head Start Center, or a summer day program? This question
refers to ONLY BREAKFASTS prepared at the school or center-not
meals brought from home.
What about LUNCH? In the past week,
did [Fill names of children in the household under age 18]
eat a LUNCH that was prepared and served at a school, a paid day
care or Head Start Center, or a summer day program? This question
refers to ONLY LUNCHES prepared at the school or center-not meals
brought from home.
Height, weight, and general health
From this self-reported information, Body Mass Index (BMI) can
be calculated, and time use patterns, such as activity levels and
eating patterns can be analyzed by BMI levels.
Question
I'm going to switch topics and ask
you a few final questions about your physical health that might
affect how you use your time. In general, would you say that your
health is Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, or Poor? How tall are
you without shoes? How much do you weigh without shoes?
Household income
This question asks if total household income before taxes was
above or below a certain amount. The ATUS Computer Assisted
Telephone Interviewing software automatically calculates whether
the income level is more or less than 185 and 130 percent of the
poverty threshold based on the respondent's household composition.
These income thresholds--185 percent and 130 percent--determine
income eligibility for food assistance programs.
Question
Last month, was your total household
income before taxes more or less than [fill 185 percent of
poverty threshold] per month?
If answer was LESS:
Was it more or less than [fill 130 percent of poverty
threshold] per month?
A pdf version 
of the
Eating and Health Module questionnaire is available from BLS.