Home remains the anchor of American eating habits even as away-from-home dining continues to rebound, according to Circana’s 41st annual “Eating Patterns in America” report, released Aug. 19.
The research found that 86 percent of all food occasions are sourced from home, a level well above pre-pandemic norms. Americans consumed 17 more meals away from home compared with 2025, yet still 77 fewer than in 2019.
The report, which analyzes billions of eating and drinking occasions, examines the forces shaping how and where Americans eat, with this year’s findings spotlighting protein and convenience as two notable trends.
“Americans’ eating and drinking patterns continue to evolve as they balance nutrition, convenience, cost and connection,” said David Portalatin, SVP and food and foodservice industry advisor for Circana. “This year’s report spotlights protein and convenience as two important themes within a much broader set of shifts influencing how and where people eat and drink. While away-from-home occasions continue to rebound, home remains the foundation of America’s food culture.”
Protein continues to be a leading nutritional priority. Almost half of adults, 48 percent, are seeking more protein in their diets, up 7 points from last year and placing it second only to vegetables among items Americans want more of. Among GLP-1 users, 65 percent are seeking more protein. GLP-1s have become the second-most common diet type, used by 8.5 percent of adults, up from 4.8 percent last year, while 46 percent of adults report being on a diet overall.
The data also points to a nutrition gap. Adults consume almost double the recommended amount of protein each day but less than half the recommended amount of fiber. Foodservice is responding: 12 percent of commercial foodservice meals are now described as “high protein,” with those occasions growing 11 percent year over year.
Speed also shapes daily eating. Half of all meals now take less than five minutes to prepare, a share that has climbed since 2021, including 65 percent of breakfasts, 56 percent of lunches and 35 percent of dinners. As the return-to-office movement continues, half of Americans eat breakfast away from home before 9 a.m., and early breakfasts continue to grow.
At home, convenience remains a strong driver, with frozen dinners and entrees now accounting for close to 5 percent of in-home occasions, up from less than 1 percent in the 1980s. Snacking patterns are shifting too, with consumers snacking less between meals and more during or instead of a meal, up 11 occasions compared with last year.
Circana provides technology, AI and data to consumer packaged goods companies, durables manufacturers and retailers. The company’s predictive analytics and technology, powered by its Liquid Data platform, are designed to help clients measure market share, understand consumer behavior and accelerate their growth.