Since so many companies (and farmers) depend on consumer food habits and choices the information contained in the latest NPD Group’s, 20th Annual Eating Patterns in America report should be a must read. There’s some very interesting information in it. Some of it what you would expect and some of it surprising.
For example:
The number of meals eaten in a restaurant annually has decreased from 93 meals per person in 1985, to 80 meals per person today. However, the number of meals purchased at a restaurant and eaten in the car has increased from 19 meals per person in 1985, to 32 meals per person today. Ninety-two percent of take-out lunches come from fast food restaurants today, and 92 percent of individuals consume some form of “ready-to-eat” foods in the home on a daily basis. Americans are more likely to take out from a restaurant than to eat there. Whether traffic is the driving force, or simply impatience, we cannot wait to get home to eat our meals.
We use our stovetops less (down 18% from 1985), and our microwave ovens more (doubled from 10% in 1985 to 20% today).
The usage of fresh products in our main meals at home has decreased today, as compared to 1985. Back then, 56 percent of inhome main meals included a fresh product. Today, 46 percent of in-home main meals include a fresh product.
NPD FoodWorld’s Harry Balzer has an interesting viewpoint you might want to read too.