U.S. eating behavior - statistics & facts

Consumers are looking to eat certain food products for several reasons. A variety of health reasons are among them. For example, U.S. consumers hope to increase their energy or reduce fatigue by consuming specific foods and beverages. Vegetables are the top answer when Americans are asked what food they seek out to improve their cardiovascular health. They give the same answer for weight loss and fatigue reduction. However, the food category Americans spend the most money on is confectionery, and they eat more dairy products and eggs than any other food category. The market revenue of confectionery in the United States is 191 billion U.S. dollars, ahead of meat at 165 billion dollars.

Healthy eating in the U.S.

U.S. consumers name a variety of qualities when asked what constitutes healthy food. That the food contains vegetables or fruits ranks fourth among the top five answers given at 28 percent. Fresh, low in sugar, and a good source of protein, are the three top answers at 37, 32, and 29 percent, respectively. Consumers that try to avoid or limit sugars commonly do so to avoid gaining weight. Preventing the emergence of or managing an existing health condition are other reasons given. Gen Z is especially aware of sugar in their food, and 29 percent of members of this generation try to avoid sugar. Approximately 36 percent of Gen Z also believe that meatless diets are healthier. Overall, five percent of U.S. consumers are vegetarians, and this number is likely to grow as a relatively large share of younger consumers follow a vegetarian diet.

How the cookie crumbles - snacking in the U.S.

Dairy products, cookies, ice cream, and other snacks are also a major part of the American diet. For 59 percent of U.S. consumers, cookies are their favorite snack, and half of American consumers buy them regularly. A third of the country indulges in snacking once a day, and only four percent never snacks. Hunger or thirst are the leading reasons for snacking, while the need for energy motivates 22 percent of Americans to snack. Among salty snacks, Lay’s is the brand of choice. When it comes to chocolate bars, Reese’s and Hershey’s are neck and neck in the consumer’s favor.

This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.

Per capita consumption of dairy products and eggs in the U.S.: 122.2kg per capita

Share of U.S. consumers who say they regularly eat fruit and vegetables: 65 %

Share of U.S. consumers buying less food & beverage products due to inflation: 29%

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Distribution of diets followed by consumers in the United States in 2023

Eating Behavior

Share of diet type followed by Americans 2023

Consumer spending in the quick service restaurant (QSR) sector in the United States from 2004 to 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Quick-Service & Casual Dining Restaurants

Consumer spending in the quick service restaurant sector in the U.S. 2004-2023

Eating Behavior

Share of vegans in the U.S. 2022, by age group

Overview

Premium Statistic Per capita consumption of food products in the U.S. in 2023, by type
Per capita consumption of food products in the U.S. in 2023, by type
Per capita consumption of food products in the United States in 2023, by type (in kilograms)
Premium Statistic Regularly consumed groceries in the U.S. 2023
Regularly consumed groceries in the U.S. 2023
Regularly consumed groceries in the U.S. as of December 2023
Premium Statistic Size of the food market in the United States in 2023, by segment
Size of the food market in the United States in 2023, by segment
Revenue of the food market in the United States in 2023, by food product group (in billion U.S. dollars)
Premium Statistic Average annual food at-home expenditure of U.S. households 2000-2022
Average annual food at-home expenditure of U.S. households 2000-2022
Average annual food at-home expenditure of United States households from 2000 to 2022 (in U.S. dollars)*
Premium Statistic Average U.S. food at home household expenditure 2022
Average U.S. food at home household expenditure 2022
Average food at home household expenditure in the United States in 2022, by age and category (in U.S. dollars)
Premium Statistic Consumer spending in the quick service restaurant sector in the U.S. 2004-2023
Consumer spending in the quick service restaurant sector in the U.S. 2004-2023
Consumer spending in the quick service restaurant (QSR) sector in the United States from 2004 to 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars)
Premium Statistic Impact of increased cost on food & beverage purchasing in the U.S. in 2022
Impact of increased cost on food & beverage purchasing in the U.S. in 2022
Impact of increased cost on food and beverage purchasing in the United States in 2022

Snacking

Premium Statistic Snacks regularly purchased by U.S. consumers 2021
Snacks regularly purchased by U.S. consumers 2021
What type(s) of snack foods do you purchase regularly?
Premium Statistic Most popular kind of snacks in the U.S. 2021
Most popular kind of snacks in the U.S. 2021
Most popular kind of snacks in the United States in 2021
Premium Statistic Frequency of snacking among consumers in the U.S. in 2023
Frequency of snacking among consumers in the U.S. in 2023
Frequency of snacking among consumers in the United States in 2023
Premium Statistic Reasons for snacking among consumers in the U.S. in 2023
Reasons for snacking among consumers in the U.S. in 2023
Reasons for snacking among consumers in the United States in 2023
Premium Statistic Most popular brands of chips or crisps in the U.S. 2021
Most popular brands of chips or crisps in the U.S. 2021
Most popular brands of salty snacks in the United States in 2021
Premium Statistic Most popular brands of chocolate bars in the U.S. 2021
Most popular brands of chocolate bars in the U.S. 2021
Most popular brands of chocolate bars in the United States in 2021
Premium Statistic Preferred times of the day to eat snacks in the U.S. 2021
Preferred times of the day to eat snacks in the U.S. 2021
Preferred times of the day to eat snacks in the United States in 2021

Healthy eating

Premium Statistic Consumers' definitions of healthy food in the U.S. in 2023
Consumers' definitions of healthy food in the U.S. in 2023
Consumers' definitions of healthy food in the United States in 2023
Premium Statistic Benefits consumers seek from food and beverages in the U.S. in 2023
Benefits consumers seek from food and beverages in the U.S. in 2023
Benefits consumers seek from food and beverages in the United States in 2023
Premium Statistic Motivations for following a diet/eating pattern in the U.S. in 2023
Motivations for following a diet/eating pattern in the U.S. in 2023
Motivations for following a diet or an eating pattern in the United States in 2023
Premium Statistic Reasons for limiting or avoiding sugars in the United States in 2022
Reasons for limiting or avoiding sugars in the United States in 2022
Reasons for limiting or avoiding sugars in the United States in 2022
Premium Statistic Benefits sought from consuming food and beverages in the U.S. in 2023, by generation
Benefits sought from consuming food and beverages in the U.S. in 2023, by generation
Main benefits sought from consuming food and beverages in the United States in 2023, by generation
Premium Statistic Share of U.S. consumers avoiding sugar 2022, by generation
Share of U.S. consumers avoiding sugar 2022, by generation
Share of consumers avoiding sugar in the U.S. in 2022, by generation
Premium Statistic Foods and nutrients consumed to improve energy or reduce fatigue in the U.S. in 2022
Foods and nutrients consumed to improve energy or reduce fatigue in the U.S. in 2022
Foods and nutrients consumed to improve energy or reduce fatigue in the United States in 2022
Premium Statistic Foods and nutrients consumed for weight loss/management in the U.S. in 2022
Foods and nutrients consumed for weight loss/management in the U.S. in 2022
Foods and nutrients consumed for weight loss/management in the United States in 2022

Out-of-home and take-away market

Basic Statistic Most well-known restaurant chains in the United States 2023
Most well-known restaurant chains in the United States 2023
Leading restaurant chains ranked by brand awareness in the United States in 2023
Premium Statistic Frequency of eating out at a restaurant in the U.S. 2022
Frequency of eating out at a restaurant in the U.S. 2022
Frequency of eating out at a restaurant in the United States as of January 2022
Premium Statistic Frequency of eating out at a restaurant in the U.S. 2022, by age
Frequency of eating out at a restaurant in the U.S. 2022, by age
Frequency of eating out at a restaurant in the United States as of January 2022, by age group
Premium Statistic Market share of the leading online food delivery companies U.S. 2024
Market share of the leading online food delivery companies U.S. 2024
Market share of leading online meal delivery companies in the United States as of January 2024
Premium Statistic Top factors U.S. consumers consider when choosing a restaurant for online orders 2022
Top factors U.S. consumers consider when choosing a restaurant for online orders 2022
Leading reasons consumers select one restaurant over another when ordering food online in the United States in 2022
Premium Statistic Most downloaded food delivery apps U.S. 2023
Most downloaded food delivery apps U.S. 2023
Number of downloads of leading online food delivery and takeout apps in the United States in 2023 (in millions)

Diets

Premium Statistic Diets and nutrition in the U.S. 2023
Diets and nutrition in the U.S. 2023
Diets and nutrition in the U.S. as of December 2023
Premium Statistic Share of diet type followed by Americans 2023
Share of diet type followed by Americans 2023
Distribution of diets followed by consumers in the United States in 2023
Premium Statistic Consumers following diets or eating patterns in the U.S. 2021-2022, by age
Consumers following diets or eating patterns in the U.S. 2021-2022, by age
Share of respondents following diets or eating patterns in the United States in 2021 and 2022, by age
Premium Statistic Nutrients consumers try to consume in the U.S. in 2023
Nutrients consumers try to consume in the U.S. in 2023
Nutrients consumers try to consume in the United States in 2023
Premium Statistic Share of vegetarians in the United States in 2022, by age
Share of vegetarians in the United States in 2022, by age
Do you consider yourself to be a vegetarian?
Premium Statistic Share of vegans in the U.S. 2022, by age group
Share of vegans in the U.S. 2022, by age group
Do you follow vegan nutrition rules?
Premium Statistic Share of gluten-free consumers in the United States 2022, by generation
Share of gluten-free consumers in the United States 2022, by generation
Do you follow gluten-free nutrition rules?
Premium Statistic Gen Z diet and eating habits in the U.S. 2022
Gen Z diet and eating habits in the U.S. 2022
Generation Z consumers following a diet or eating pattern in the U.S. in 2022

Consumer behavior

Premium Statistic Cooking frequency in North America 2019-2021
Cooking frequency in North America 2019-2021
Number of meals cooked per week in the United States, Canada, and Mexico from 2019 to 2021
Premium Statistic Attitudes towards food in the U.S. 2023
Attitudes towards food in the U.S. 2023
Attitudes towards food in the U.S. as of December 2023
Premium Statistic Purchase criteria for food in the U.S. 2023
Purchase criteria for food in the U.S. 2023
Purchase criteria for food in the U.S. as of December 2023
Premium Statistic Important criteria for home-prepared meals in the United States 2021, by generation
Important criteria for home-prepared meals in the United States 2021, by generation
When preparing something to eat at home, what is important to you?
Premium Statistic Cooking frequency in the United States 2021, by generation
Cooking frequency in the United States 2021, by generation
Cooking frequency in the United States in 2021, by generation
Premium Statistic Most commonly bought food products based on labels in the U.S. in 2023
Most commonly bought food products based on labels in the U.S. in 2023
Share of consumers who buy food or beverages on a regular basis based on labels in the United States in 2023, by label
Premium Statistic Consumers reasons for purchasing food products labelled as "natural" in 2022
Consumers reasons for purchasing food products labelled as "natural" in 2022
Consumers reasons for purchasing food products labelled as "natural" in the United States in 2022
Premium Statistic Consumer that increased their consumption of protein in the U.S. in 2023, by type
Consumer that increased their consumption of protein in the U.S. in 2023, by type
Share of consumer that increased their consumption of protein during last year in the United States in 2023, by protein source type

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Key figures

The most important key figures provide you with a compact summary of the topic of "Eating behavior in the U.S." and take you straight to the corresponding statistics.

Share of consumers that try to consume protein
67%
Detailed statistics
Nutrients consumers try to consume in the U.S. in 2023
Share of vegetarians among 18 to 19-year-olds
7%
Detailed statistics
Share of vegetarians in the United States in 2022, by age
Share of vegans among 18 to 19-year-olds
7%
Detailed statistics
Share of vegans in the U.S. 2022, by age group

Leading health benefit consumers seek from eating food and beverages in the U.S:
More energy/less fatigue
Detailed statistics
Benefits consumers seek from food and beverages in the U.S. in 2023
Share of consumers who try to eat less or avoid sugar to prevent future health conditions
35%
Detailed statistics
Reasons for limiting or avoiding sugars in the United States in 2022
Share of consumers that eat vegetables to gain more energy from food
51%
Detailed statistics
Foods and nutrients consumed to improve energy or reduce fatigue in the U.S. in 2022