Everyday Dining - New American Habits (June 2025)
Key findings from a survey of 1,000 U.S. residents on American everyday dining habits and their sentiments on eating out versus cooking at home.
Objectives / Purpose
This study examines American consumer attitudes and behaviors regarding everyday dining in 2025.
Methodology (Topline Summary)
Sample Size: n=1,000. Geography: United States of America. Dates in Field: June 26–30, 2025. Audience: Adults 18+. Mode: Online Survey.
How Americans Are Really Eating
Food is more than a daily choice, it’s a reflection of how Americans cope with cost, time pressure, and emotional fatigue. According to our latest national study of 1,000 U.S. adults, everyday dining habits are shifting dramatically: people are cooking more often, but with less excitement and less energy than ever before.
How do you typically decide what to eat for each meal? (Select all that apply)
Meal decisions are often driven by routines, time constraints, and what’s already available at home, revealing how “what’s for dinner” is increasingly shaped by practicality over inspiration.
At any point in the week do you ever cook your meals? (Or have them cooked for you)
At any given point in the week, 94% of Americans indicate they are cooking (or having meals cooked for them), showing that home-prepared meals are the norm, not the exception.
On average, how often do you cook each of the following meals? (Or have them cooked for you)
Americans are cooking dinner most frequently compared to breakfast and lunch, and only 3% rarely or never cook dinner, reinforcing how dinner remains the anchor meal of the week.
Which days of the week are you more likely to cook/make breakfast? Select all that apply. (Or have breakfast cooked/made for you.)
Six in ten Americans are more likely to cook breakfast on the weekends than any other day, highlighting how weekday mornings tend to favor speed, convenience, or skipping entirely.
Which days of the week are you more likely to cook/make lunch? Select all that apply. (Or have lunch cooked/made for you)
Midweek routines show up strongly in lunch behavior, with 64% saying they are more likely to cook or bring their own lunch on Wednesdays than any other day.
Which days of the week are you more likely to cook/make dinner? Select all that apply. (Or have dinner cooked/made for you)
Dinner cooking peaks early in the week, with 70% saying they are more likely to cook dinner on Wednesdays, Tuesdays, and Mondays, suggesting a “reset” rhythm before the weekend.
What factors influence your decision to cook or eat home-cooked/made versus ordering takeout? (Select all that apply)
The top drivers of eating at home are practical: it costs less (57%), people make time (39%), personal preference (39%), convenience (39%), and ingredient control (37%).
When you cook at home, how often do you follow a recipe?
More Americans say they sometimes follow a recipe (43%), while 13% always use one and 21% rarely or never do, reflecting a flexible, low-effort approach to home cooking.
On a typical night, which type of meals are you more likely to cook (or eat if you aren't the one who cooks)? (Select all that apply)
Quick and easy meals dominate weeknights, with 62% saying this is what they are most likely to cook, reinforcing the role of time and energy limitations in meal choices.
When you cook your meals, how likely are you to do the following:
Cooking behavior is highly efficiency-driven: 82% use groceries already at home, 65% shop right before cooking, and many batch, repeat, supplement, or rely on delivery to make meals happen.
At any point in the week do you ever order takeout/delivery for your meals each week?
Takeout remains deeply embedded in weekly routines, with 72% ordering takeout or delivery at some point in the week, even as home cooking continues to rise.
How often do you order takeout/delivery for each of the following meals per week?
Nearly 40% of Americans order lunch and or dinner multiple times a week or every day, showing how convenience purchases are not occasional but recurring.
Which days of the week are you more likely to order takeout/delivery for breakfast? Select all that apply.
Saturday stands out as the top day Americans are more likely to order out for breakfast, aligning with weekend routines and “treat” behavior.
Which days of the week are you more likely to order takeout/delivery for lunch? Select all that apply.
Lunch ordering peaks on Fridays, with 44% saying this is the day they are most likely to order lunch takeout or delivery, hinting at end-of-week fatigue and time pressure.
Which days of the week are you more likely to order takeout/delivery for dinner? Select all that apply.
More than half of Americans point to Fridays and Saturdays as top takeout and delivery days, showing how weekends are the strongest “opt-out of cooking” window.
What factors influence your decision to order takeout/delivery versus cooking? (Select all that apply)
Convenience leads the takeout decision (51%), followed by personal preference (32%) and not having time (29%), underscoring that ordering is often a time and energy solution.
On a typical night, which type of meals are you more likely to order? (Select all that apply)
Ordering behavior tends to cluster around familiar, predictable options, supporting the broader pattern that food decisions increasingly prioritize reliability and low friction.
When you order delivery/takeout, how likely are you to do the following:
Most people keep ordering simple and repeatable: they tend to order from familiar restaurants, pick up and go, rely on fast food or chains, and mix local spots into the rotation.
On an average week, how many times to you dine-in at a restaurant?
Dining in remains common: 26% dine in once per week, while 20% dine in several times a week to every day, showing that restaurant dining is still a meaningful part of routine life.
A Return to Home Cooking, Out of Necessity
Americans now cook an average of 3.6 times per week, with 94% cooking dinner at home, the highest across all meals. The motivation, however, is practical, not passionate. According to respondents, the estimated savings from cooking rather than dining out exceed $24,000 per year.
In today’s economic climate, the kitchen has become a financial strategy, not a creative space.
Quick, Repetitive Meals Dominate
The study reveals widespread dinner fatigue:
- 62% say they usually cook “quick and easy” meals
- 43% repeat the same meals several times a week
- Only 13% follow recipes consistently
Cooking has shifted from recreation to obligation, squeezed between long work hours, childcare, and digital overload.
Why Americans Eat at Home
The top reasons adults choose home cooking include:
- “It costs less” (57%)
- They have or make time to cook (39%)
- Personal preference (39%)
- Convenience (39%)
- Control over ingredients (37%)
Food choices now reflect a desire for budget control, simplicity, and predictability.
The Takeout Paradox: Convenience vs. Guilt
Despite cooking more often, 72% of Americans still order takeout at least once per week, especially on Fridays and Saturdays. But this convenience has an emotional cost:
- 60% feel guilty after ordering takeout
- Most choose the same familiar restaurants
- 40% order lunch or dinner out multiple times per week
Food has become both comfort and conflict — a quick fix with lingering regret.
Frozen Food’s Big Comeback
Once dismissed as low-quality, frozen meals are now rising as a practical, affordable, and time-saving solution.
- 37% of Americans eat frozen meals weekly
- Highest among Millennials and Gen Z
In a culture of burnout, frozen meals are no longer “cheating”, they’re smart survival tools.
What These Trends Reveal About America
Every food choice now reflects a deeper emotional or economic reality:
- Rising costs drive practical, budget-centered decisions
- Burnout reduces creativity and culinary enthusiasm
- Guilt-based consumption shapes the psychology of eating
- Convenience culture blurs the line between cooking and takeout
- “Eating well” increasingly means eating simply
