Description

For sample adults, PASTASTP reports the time unit (day, week, month, or year) that corresponds with the frequency with which the respondent reported eating pasta. See the Comparability tab for more detailed information about which kinds of pasta are included in this variable. PASTASTP should be used in conjunction with PASTASNO, which reports the corresponding frequency stated by the respondent. For information about the portion size, see PASTASIZ.

PASTASTP is part of a series of variables initiated in 1987 related to food, food knowledge, and cancer. For related variables, please use the IPUMS NHIS search function and drop-down menus.

Comparability

Prior to 2000, respondents were asked about foods they usually ate in the past year. Beginning in 2000, this recall period was reduced to foods the respondent usually ate in the past month. The structure of the responses (recording number of times a food was consumed and the time unit associated with that frequency) makes it possible to compare response categories even with different recall periods.

Prior to 2000, PASTASTP only reports consumption of "spaghetti, lasagna, or pasta with tomato sauce". Beginning in 2000, the definition of pasta expands to include "spaghetti, noodles, macaroni and cheese, pasta salad, and any other kind of pasta". Also included in 2000 are tortellini, manicotti, rice noodles, and soba. Before 2000, macaroni and cheese is its own variable.

Changes in survey design (e.g., quarters in which the supplement was collected) may affect raw frequencies, but do not affect comparability of the variable. As always, data users should use the prescribed IHIS weights.

Universe

Availability

• 1987, 1992, 2000

Weights

• 1987, 1992, 2000 : SAMPWEIGHT