Many of us have spent a great deal of our lives dining out whether we do so for special occasions, a cheap or quick meal through fast food, to try something new, or any other reason. There are plenty of benefits to eating at a local restaurant, from benefitting local businesses to reducing your stress level to connecting with friends and family. Eating out has a lot of forms as well; you can choose just about any style of food if you have enough restaurants nearby.
With all that said it’s no big surprise that some form of eating out is a large portion of the majority of people’s lives, especially in the United States where fast food restaurants are practically everywhere. Since this is the case, here are some fun facts about dining out you may not know.
Higher Spent Than Groceries?
In 2016, some statistics and research came to the conclusion that as a whole Americans spent approximately $2.3 billion more on any form of restaurants over buying groceries. This was not only a massive number, but the first time in the country’s history that the spending on dining out was larger than what was spent on cooking at home aka grocery purchases.
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Vacationing for Food
One study found that 85% of people surveyed would or already have planned themselves an entire trip or vacation just for one specific restaurant or food experience. That’s pretty interesting, considering vacations are usually thought to be for relaxation or other experiences like nature, hikes, and more.
Millennial Studies
A great deal of research surrounding the spending on eating out has been focused on the generation referred to as millennials (approximately born in the 1980s through late 90s). In fact, the average millennial spends over $2,000 on eating out each year and approximately 28% of their income.
Car Meals
Going back to the topic of American eating again, some past findings included that an estimated 20% of American meals are eaten in their vehicle. That’s probably more along the lines of things like fast food, which we typically take with us rather than sit inside for, rather than restaurant eating out occasions.
It can be pretty useful to learn more about something you can or do partake in a lot, which is why this list of some fun facts about eating out can help enrich your knowledge or give you some nice food for thought on the topic. Some of us may think of dining out as something more like fast food, but in actuality, there are tons of options out there especially including small owned restaurants, varied cultural dining options, and much more. These tidbits apply to any form of eating outside of the home. And maybe they can be unique to consider the next time you decide to go somewhere for a meal by yourself, with friends and family, or just pick up something from your favorite fast food place or restaurant.