🍔 Money Trivia: Where do America's food dollars go?

A little money trivia - something fun, maybe surprising, and hopefully something that gets you thinking.

Here's your question:

In 2025, what percentage of America's food spending went toward eating out, takeout, delivery, and other food prepared away from home?

• A. 25%

• B. 38%

• C. 56%

• D. 72%

Got your answer? Keep scrolling!

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The answer is C - 56%! 🍔

According to the USDA, 56.3% of U.S. food dollars went toward food away from home.

But here's what I found even more interesting...

Let's go back in time!

• 1985: Approximately 36%

• 2005: Approximately 50%

• 2025: 56%

I would have thought the increase over the last 20 years would have been greater, especially with all the conveniences available today!

Then I started thinking about my own spending habits.

We definitely eat out more than we did growing up and into the 90's.

We eat at restaurants less often than we used to, but we pick up takeout more frequently (replacing going out- dollars shifted). And while I appreciate the convenience of food delivery services, I personally don't want to pay the additional delivery costs. No way. If I don't go and get it, I don't order it. I value other things more.

So perhaps it's not just how much we're eating out that's changed, but HOW we're purchasing our meals.

And remember, these numbers reflect dollars spent, not the number of meals purchased.

A little food for thought:

Just because something has become common doesn't mean it fits our budget.

Eating out might be something you value and intentionally plan for. Or it might be something that's quietly become a habit.

The question isn't how your spending compares to everyone else's.

It's whether your spending fits YOUR priorities AND what you can afford.

Something to chew on! 😂

In your corner,

Liz

Source: USDA Economic Research Service. Historical percentages are rounded, and the 1985 estimate is from an older statistical series.