Eating Trends: Mealtimes and Snacking

This Eating Trends report provides a compact overview of continuity and changes in U.S. adult mealtime and snacking patterns between 2008 and 2018, with a focus on corresponding demographics. This data-heavy, topline report draws on behavioural and psychographic questions from the Simmons Market Research national consumer survey series, identifying as “prime” demographics those groups disproportionately likely to somewhat agree (“agree a little”) or strongly agree (“agree a lot”) with given statements about eating behaviours.

Trended data and current key demographics are provided for the following topics: mealtime patterns and “eating later” trends; the relative priority on breakfast vs. lunch or dinner; patterns for sit-down, family-style meals for households of two or more persons; the prevalence of eating several, smaller meals throughout the day; snacking behavior; perception of snack foods as unhealthy; sweet vs. salty snacking patterns; and healthier snacking vs. enjoying treats as indulgences.

1. Scope and Methodology of Report

2. Introduction

3. Meal Behavior Trends

4. Mealtimes Skew Later

Table 1 - Weekly Aggregate of Eating Times
Table 2 - Eating Times on Mondays, 2008
Table 3 - Eating Times on Fridays, 2008
Table 4 - Eating Times on Saturdays, 2008 E
Table 5 - Eating Times on Sundays, 2008
Table 6 - Eating -Later Demographics Based on Weekly Aggregate Eating Times, 2018 (indexes)
Table 7 - Meals: Selected Attitudes and Behaviors, 2008
Relative Priority on Breakfast, Lunch, or Dinner
Figure 1 - Prime Adult Demographics for Agreeing that Breakfast Is Most Important Meal, 2018 (indexes) Prime Adult Demographics for Agreeing that Breakfast Is Most Important Meal, 2018 (indexes)
Figure 2 - Prime Adult Demographics for Agreeing that Lunch Is Most Important Meal, 2018 (indexes)
Figure 3 - Prime Adult Demographics for Agreeing that Dinner Is Most Important Meal, 2018 (indexes) demographics for Agreeing that Dinner Is Most Important Meal, 2018 (indexes)
Table 8 - Demographics Most and Least Likely to Sit Down for a Meal Together at Home, 2018 (indexes)
The Several Smaller Meals Option The Several Smaller Meals Option
Figure 4 - Prime Demographics for Eating Several Small Meals Throughout the Day, 2018 (indexes)

5. Snacking Behavior Trends Snacking Behavior Trends

Snacking Between Meals Snacking Between Meals
Table 9 - Snacking: Selected Attitudes & Behaviors, 2008 Snacking: Selected Attitudes & Behaviors, 2008
Figure 5 - Prime Demographics for Often Snacking Between Meals, 2018 (indexes)
Snacking as Junk Food Snacking as Junk Food
Figure 6 - Prime Demographics for Considering Most Snack Foods Unhealthy, 2018 (indexes) demographics for Considering Most Snack Foods Unhealthy, 2018 (indexes)
Snacking and Sweets Snacking and Sweets Snacking and Sweets
Figure 7 - Prime Demographics for Frequently Eating Sweets, 2018 (indexes)
The Salty Snackers
Figure 8 - Prime Demographics for Favoring Salted Snacks, 2018 (indexes)
Figure 9 - Prime Demographics for Usually Snacking on Healthy Foods, 2018 (indexes)
Figure 10 - Prime Demographics for Liking to Treat Oneself Foods that Aren’t Good You, 2018 (indexes)