A typical weeknight for an American family can be busy for both parents and children after a long day at work and school, as well as after-school sports practices, art classes, homework and more.
It’s no wonder that take-out is often the choice of many families – not to mention couples and individuals. The comfort, variety and price point are hard to beat.
The latest data paints a much clearer picture.
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To learn more about the habits of Americans when it comes to restaurants and takeout, the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts in Boulder, Colorado, analyzed consumer dining trends for 2024 by combining statistics from various sources. It found that fast food dominates consumption, with 60% of Americans preferring to eat at home.
“Americans are spending more than ever on food prepared away from home, with fast food clearly leading the way,” said chef Kirk T. Bachmann, president and manager of Escoffier’s Boulder campus.
Analysis from the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts in Colorado revealed that 60% of the food consumed by Americans is fast food. (Stock)
“Over the past few years, the data suggests a shift towards fast, easy and convenient meals – a clear sign of how people are adapting their eating habits to fit their busy lives,” he told Fox News Digital.
Emily Irwin, head of consulting and planning with Wells Fargo’s Planning Center of Excellence in Minneapolis, wasn’t connected to the study on fast food spending, but said it’s not surprising how reliant Americans are on it.
“Fast food is becoming a quick grab and go.”
“Given the pace that can consume our days and the enormous pressure on many families for cost and convenience, it’s no surprise that 60% of takeout is fast food,” Irvin told Fox News Digital. “Fast food can solve many of our ‘pinched’ times – time-crunched, money-crunched, cut-down-for-convenience.”
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Many families may face over-organization, he said, as they move from one job to another; sometimes those functions overlap and conflict.
“Fast food is becoming a quick grab and go,” he added. “We’re in the office a lot and may have less time to thoughtfully plan meals that day or week.”
More than half of all Americans prefer to take out a meal at a restaurant, the survey revealed. (Stock)
Fast food is so popular that there is an entire day dedicated to it. National Fast Food Day is celebrated on November 16 each year.
The most popular option
Although food is interesting, more than half of Americans choose to eat out, and 57% of consumers prefer it over sitting down at a restaurant, according to Escoffier’s analysis.
In addition, 76% of respondents said that eating at home is more enjoyable, while 75% value the convenience it provides. Reasons range from being able to watch TV while eating to skipping cooking.
When convenience is the goal, fast food is king.
While fast food dominates the take-out space, fine dining accounts for only 2% of take-out orders – indicating that if quality is the goal, fast food is king, research has suggested.
“Fast food is the most popular choice for delivery and take-out, with 60% [of people] choosing it every time,” Bachmann told Fox News Digital.
“The pleasure of eating at home was equally important for consumers,” he said. (Gerald Matzka/photo alliance via Getty Images)
“While we were not surprised to see convenience items top the list of reasons why people choose takeout, one thing that emerged from the data is that the joy of eating at home is equally important to consumers,” she said.
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“This seems to suggest that the common experience of sharing a meal at home is still important – even if someone else is doing the cooking.”
Salad, grilled chicken, burrito bowls and more
Lisa Moskovitz, author and registered dietitian at NY Nutrition Group in New York, said that not all foods are bad.
“Despite common beliefs about fast food, you can eat healthy even if you’re at a drive-thru window,” she said.
He added that “foods like salads, grilled chicken sandwiches and burrito bowls are a fraction of the price compared to sitting down in restaurants.”
There are ways to “significantly improve the quality of fast food,” says one nutritionist. One good idea: Choose a salad. (Stock)
No matter where you shop or what’s around you, there’s always a healthy menu option, noted Moskovitz.
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“Choosing grilled protein instead of fatty breads, sides of fresh apples, soups or salads instead of onion rings and french fries, and sticking to water or club soda for hydration can greatly improve the quality of your fast food meal,” she said. said.
Food delivery services are attracting young Americans
Food delivery services are increasing in demand, especially among young Americans, according to Escoffier’s data analysis.
Delivery apps like GrubHub and Uber Eats lead the market, with 51% of Americans frequently using third-party apps for delivery, the data showed.
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“Fast food has always been about convenience and with the proliferation of delivery services, it’s becoming easier than ever for people to enjoy their favorites without even leaving the house,” said Bachmann.
Many young Americans are turning to food delivery services and apps. (Stock)
But these delivery services come at a cost.
Irwin and Wells Fargo warned those who rely on food delivery services to consider the cost of service and tips.
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“It’s so easy to just click to order that many of us forget how often we do it,” Irwin said.
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