How much time do Americans devote to eating?

According to 2006 ATUS and Module data, Americans age 15 and older spent 67 minutes on an average day in "primary" eating and drinking of beverages, that is eating/drinking as a self-reported main activity. In addition, Americans spent an average of 16 minutes eating and 42 minutes drinking beverages (except for plain water) as secondary activities, such as while working, watching television, or playing sports. An additional 7 minutes were spent in associated activities (such as travel time to a restaurant and waiting to order). Men and women spent about the same amount of time eating/drinking.

Four percent of the U.S. population reported spending no time in primary eating/drinking on an average day, but they did spend an average of 35 minutes in secondary eating and 107 minutes (1.8 hours) in secondary drinking. Another 8 percent of the population, referred to as "constant grazers," spent an unusually long time eating and drinking—4.5 hours or more each day. Most of this group's food consumption time was spent in secondary drinking or sipping of beverages.

About 22 percent of the population was engaged in some eating or drinking activity between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. Between noon and 1 p.m., 42 percent of Americans were engaged in eating and/or drinking activity. The evening peak was between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m., with 40 percent engaged in eating or drinking.

On an average day in 2006...

The top three places for primary eating and drinking were:
Own home or yard—67.2%
Workplace—12.9%
Restaurant or bar—11.2%

The top three places for secondary eating or drinking were:
Own home or yard—53.4%
Workplace—20.0%
Driving, walking, or biking—8.9%

The top five activities that accompanied secondary eating or drinking were:
Relaxing and leisure—29.2% (watching television and movies accounted
for about two-thirds of this category)
Paid working—19.5%
Socializing and communicating— 5.9%
Preparing, presenting, and cleaning up food and drink—5.2%
Housework—4.4%

The top five activities that accompanied secondary eating or drinking, by average time spent engaged in eating and drinking, were:
Attending or hosting social events—77.2 minutes
Paid working—70.3 minutes
Arts and entertainment (includes movies, excludes sporting
events)—68.5 minutes
Participating in sports, exercise, or recreation—54.0 minutes
Lawn, garden, and houseplant care—46.8 minutes

Source: ERS calculations using the Bureau of Labor Statistics American Time Use Survey and the ERS Eating & Health Module.

USDA.gov