Average American spends over $2,500 a year eating out

This story version has been formatted as an on-air script for broadcast outlets. See the original research story here.

NEW RESEARCH SHOWS HOW THE ECONOMY IS AFFECTING PEOPLE’S SENTIMENTS TOWARD DINING OUT.

TWO IN THREE AMERICANS (67%) FEEL GUILTY WHEN EATING AT A RESTAURANT.

THAT’S ACCORDING TO A SURVEY OF 2,000 AMERICAN ADULTS WHICH REVEALED THAT TIGHTER BUDGETS HAVE MADE EATING OUT LESS ENJOYABLE THAN BEFORE, WITH ALMOST A QUARTER (23%) REPORTING THE SIMPLE ACT OF SPENDING MONEY ON A MEAL OUT IS STRESSFUL.

CONDUCTED BY ONEPOLL ON BEHALF OF THE HABIT BURGER, THE RESEARCH FOUND THAT AMERICANS ARE GETTING CREATIVE TO MAKE THE MOST OF THEIR MONEY WHEN CHOOSING OUTSIDE FOOD OPTIONS, FROM KIDS’ MENU HACKS TO CUSTOMIZATIONS AND ORDERING OFF OF SECRET MENUS.

IN FACT, THREE-FOURTHS OF AMERICANS BELIEVE ADULTS SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO ORDER FROM THE KIDS’ MENU (77%).

AND ALTHOUGH MOST THINK AGE SHOULDN’T STOP YOU FROM ENJOYING A KIDS’ MEAL, ONLY ONE IN FIVE HAVE HAD THE BRAVERY TO ORDER OFF THE KIDS’ MENU (21%).

Survey methodology:

This random double-opt-in survey of 2,000 general population Americans was commissioned by The Habit Burger between Feb. 20 and Feb. 25, 2024. It was conducted by market research company OnePoll, whose team members are members of the Market Research Society and have corporate membership to the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) and the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research (ESOMAR).