America Counts: Stories Behind the Numbers

Family dinners have long been considered a healthy tradition and new U.S. Census Bureau data show that Hispanic and immigrant parents are more likely than their non-Hispanic and native-born counterparts to follow the cherished ritual.

As the nation celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month, we show trends in parental involvement among Hispanic families.

Frequent family meals have been linked with many positive youth outcomes including healthy weight, improved school-performance and fewer risky behaviors (like alcohol or tobacco consumption), in addition to improved family functioning.

Overall, U.S. parents have been highly engaged with children for decades. According to Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) data, more than four in five children ate dinner with their parent at least five days a week from 1998 to 2021. In fact, the proportion of parents who frequently had dinner with their children increased to 85% in 2020, most likely due to COVID-19 pandemic-related shutdowns and quarantines.

Continue reading to learn more about:

• Hispanic families and shared dinners

• Immigrant families and dinnertime

• Hispanic immigrant families

• SIPP topics

• Why use 2018-2021 SIPP?

• About the SIPP

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About America Counts

America Counts features stories on various topics including: 

• Families, Housing, Employment, Business, Education, Economy 
• Emergency Management, Health, Population, Income and Poverty

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