Americans now spend more on dining out than on groceries, by a wide margin.
According to the USDA Economic Research Service, food-away-from-home spending hit 58.9 percent of total food expenditures in 2024, a historic high. Translated into dollars, U.S. consumers spent $1.52 trillion at restaurants, fast-food outlets, and other food service establishments, up from $1.45 trillion a year earlier. Grocery spending grew at a much slower pace.
The shift has been a long time coming. According to a study published in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, time spent on cooking in American homes dropped nearly 40 percent between 1965 and 1995, then leveled off. By 2008, just over half of Americans reported cooking at home.
What changed? According to the same study, more women in the workforce, longer commutes, the rise of fast food, and the explosion of delivery apps have all pulled meals out of the kitchen. Stress is a factor too, parents often use takeout as a reward after a hard day.
The cost adds up fast. According to a 2025 analysis by Top Nutrition Coaching, the average home-cooked meal runs about $4.23 per person, while a meal at an inexpensive restaurant averages $16.28, a 285 percent markup. Money Under 30 estimates that skipping just one restaurant meal a week saves about $500 a year. Delivery apps make the gap wider.
The health cost is real too. According to Healthline, the average fast-food order contains 1,100 to 1,200 calories, and meals from independent restaurants average 1,327 calories, roughly a full day's worth for many adults.
There is a social loss as well. According to research cited by Well+Good, families who eat together regularly have healthier diets and stronger relationships.