U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

American Time Use Survey

Eating and Drinking

Eating and drinking includes time spent eating and drinking (except when done as part of a work or volunteer activity), whether alone, with others, at home, at a place of purchase, or somewhere else. For a more detailed description of this activity category, see the ATUS 2011 Technical Note.

Tables on this page:

Other sources of ATUS data

Eating and drinking on weekdays and weekend days in 2011

Time spent eating and drinking (1) and percent of the civilian population eating and drinking, averages per day on weekdays and weekends, 2011 annual averages
Activity	Average hours per day, civilian population		Average percent engaged in the activity per day		Average hours per day for persons who engaged in the activity
Activity	Weekdays	Weekends and holidays (2)	Weekdays	Weekends and holidays (2)	Weekdays	Weekends and holidays (2)
Total, eating and drinking	1.19	1.37	96.2	95.3	1.23	1.43
Eating and drinking	1.09	1.21	96.2	95.3	1.13	1.27
Travel related to eating and drinking	.10	.15	21.4	26.8	.46	.57

Footnotes:
(1) All estimates refer to eating and drinking done as a main (primary) activity. Other activities done simultaneously are not included.
(2) Holidays are New Year's Day, Easter, Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. In 2011, data were not collected about Christmas Day.
NOTE: Data refer to persons 15 years and over.

These and other detailed activity estimates are also available in:

Table A-2: Time spent in detailed primary activities, and percent of the civilian population engaging in each detailed primary activity category, averages per day by sex on weekdays and weekends, 2011 annual averages (PDF)

For a further description of ATUS data and methodology, see the ATUS 2011 Technical Note.

Eating and drinking done by men and women in 2011

Time spent eating and drinking (1) and percent of the civilian population eating and drinking, averages per day by sex, 2011 annual averages
Activity	Average hours per day, civilian population			Average percent engaged in the activity per day			Average hours per day for persons who engaged in the activity
Activity	Total	Men	Women	Total	Men	Women	Total	Men	Women
Total, eating and drinking	1.24	1.27	1.21	95.9	96.5	95.3	1.29	1.32	1.27
Eating and drinking	1.12	1.15	1.09	95.9	96.5	95.3	1.17	1.19	1.15
Travel related to eating and drinking	.11	.12	.11	23.0	24.8	21.3	.50	.47	.52

Footnotes:
(1) All estimates refer to eating and drinking done as a main (primary) activity. Other activities done simultaneously are not included.
NOTE: Data refer to persons 15 years and over.

These and other detailed activity estimates are also available in:

Table A-1. Time spent in detailed primary activities and percent of the civilian population engaging in each detailed primary activity category, averages per day by sex, 2011 annual averages (PDF)

For a further description of ATUS data and methodology, see the ATUS 2011 Technical Note.

Other sources of ATUS data

ATUS news releases

ATUS tables

ATUS charts

ATUS papers and publications

Last Modified Date: June 22, 2012