Quick Facts
On an average day in 2016...
On an average day in 2016, Americans age 15 and older spent 63.6 minutes in eating and drinking as a primary or main activity, and 17.2 minutes eating as a secondary activity—that is, while doing something else such as watching television, driving, preparing meals, or working. On an average day, men spent more time engaged in primary eating and drinking (64.4 minutes) than women (62.9 minutes); however, a higher proportion of women reported engaging in secondary eating (56.4 percent) than men (50.8 percent).
The top 3 places for primary eating and drinking were:
| Own home or yard: | 70.1 percent |
|---|---|
| Workplace: | 10.9 percent |
| Restaurant or bar: | 10.8 percent |
The top 3 places for secondary eating were:
| Own home or yard: | 52.8 percent |
|---|---|
| Workplace: | 22.4 percent |
| Driving a vehicle: | 6.7 percent |
The top 5 activities that accompanied secondary eating for the total population were:
| Watching television and movies: | 22.7 percent |
|---|---|
| Work, main job: | 22.6 percent |
| Socializing and communicating with others: | 4.9 percent |
| Food and drink preparation: | 4.6 percent |
| Reading for personal interest: | 2.6 percent |
For men, the top 5 activities that accompanied secondary eating were:
| Watching television and movies: | 24.8 percent |
|---|---|
| Work, main job: | 25.3 percent |
| Socializing and communicating with others: | 5.2 percent |
| Playing games: | 3.4 percent |
| Relaxing, thinking: | 2.9 percent |
For women, the top 5 activities that accompanied secondary eating were:
| Work, main job: | 21.2 percent |
|---|---|
| Watching television and movies: | 20.9 percent |
| Food and drink preparation: | 6.4 percent |
| Socializing and communicating with others: | 4.5 percent |
| Washing, dressing and grooming oneself: | 3.1 percent |
Note: Data are for individuals, age 15 and older. Percentages are based on number of primary eating and/or drinking occurrences or secondary eating occurrences.
Source: USDA, Economic Research Service, using Bureau of Labor Statistics' 2016 American Time Use Survey and Eating and Health Module data.