WASHINGTON, D.C. (RFD News) — Americans are spending more of their eating time at home, but time pressures still shape food choices, meal preparation, and health habits. USDA’s Economic Research Service says adults averaged 67.5 minutes daily eating as a primary activity and 16.4 minutes eating while multitasking.
The home share of primary eating and drinking rose from 64.6 percent in 2006–2008 to 74.4 percent in 2022–2023. Adults also purchased prepared, ready-to-eat food an average of 2.2 times weekly.
Single parents and adults ages 25 to 54 spent less time eating as a main activity and less time eating at home. Prepared-food purchases were more common among adults with higher obesity risk and poorer self-rated diets.
Nearly 90 percent of adults shared some grocery-shopping responsibility, but women were almost twice as likely as men to carry full responsibility. About one in five adults shopped online.
The report says time constraints can reduce home cooking and physical activity while increasing reliance on prepared foods. Policymakers may use the findings to support nutrition access, meal preparation, and healthier routines.
