Pantry or Takeout? What’s for Dinner? Why the Takeout Trend is Winning the Mealtime Battle

 

From busy weeknights to lazy Sundays, the modern consumer is shifting away from the stocked pantry and toward the convenience of takeout. Time pressures, missing ingredients, and diverse family preferences are driving a nationwide mealtime migration according to Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.

Here’s what the data reveals—and why takeout isn’t just a convenience, it’s a lifestyle.

 

The Pantry Problem: Time, Waste, and Missing Ingredients

Cooking from the pantry sounds ideal—until it’s 5:15 PM and you realize you’re out of garlic, your chicken’s still frozen, and your teen refuses to eat what you planned. According to NielsenIQ, 63% of meals in U.S. households are still prepped at home, but that number is trending down year over year as convenience and flexibility beat planning.

Key Stats:

·       $1,500/year: The average value of unused groceries wasted per household (ReFED).

·       69%: Shoppers who abandon cooking plans due to missing ingredients (Instacart).

·       41 minutes: Average grocery shopping trip, not including prep or cooking (FMI).

 

Takeout: The Customizable, Time-Saving Hero

Takeout offers speed, predictability, and family peace. In fact, time is now a more important purchase driver than price in the food space (Technomic). With menu customization and order tracking, takeout is today’s dinner safety net.

Consumer Benefits of Takeout:

·       No ingredient shopping.

·       Everyone gets what they like.

·       Meal ready in 30–40 minutes.

·       No dishes.

And now, where takeout is sourced is just as important as what’s being ordered.

 

Where America Gets Takeout (2024):

Source	% of Takeout Orders	Notes
Restaurants	60%	Full-service and QSRs dominate dinner.
Grocery/Deli	20%	Increasingly popular for lunch & dinner, especially with hot bar meals.
Convenience Stores (C-stores)	15%	Surging with breakfast and snack buyers.
Third-Party Ghost Kitchens & Meal Kits	5%	Growing via delivery-only brands and virtual restaurants.

 

Time of Day: Takeout by the Clock

Breakfast: 6 AM – 10 AM

Busy mornings call for convenience.

·       Top buyers: Gen Z, Millennials, blue-collar shift workers.

·       Avg. check: $5–$9 (coffee + handheld item).

·       Where from: Coffee chains (Starbucks, Dunkin’), C-stores (Wawa, Sheetz), grocery delis.

·       Growth trend: 21% YoY increase in breakfast sandwich and coffee takeout (Technomic).

Lunch: 11 AM – 2 PM

The domain of quick-service and fast-casual.

·       Top buyers: Office workers, hybrid employees, college students.

·       Avg. check: $10–$14.

·       Where from: Fast-casual chains (Chipotle, Panera), grocery hot bars, C-stores (7-Eleven, Casey’s), and food trucks.

·       Notable trend: 54% of lunch takeout is pre-ordered online (NPD Group).

Dinner: 4 PM – 8 PM

The takeout main event.

·       Top buyers: Families with kids, working couples.

·       Avg. check: $18–$32.

·       Where from: Local restaurants, pizza chains, grocery meal kits, and full-service restaurants via DoorDash/Uber Eats.

·       Why takeout wins: 61% of Americans don’t know what’s for dinner at 4 PM (Hartman Group).

Snacks: All Day, Peaks at 3 PM & 9 PM

The spontaneous indulgence.

·       Top buyers: Gen Z and Millennials.

·       Avg. check: $3–$7.

·       Where from: C-stores, delivery apps (for desserts, boba, or fries), grocery grab-and-go.

·       Surging category: 31% YoY growth in snack-focused takeout items (fries, chicken bites, smoothies).

 

Takeout Trends That Win the Table

Takeout’s domination isn’t just about avoiding dishes—it’s about satisfying diverse cravings, saving time, and reducing the mental load of meal planning. With multiple channels now competing to serve the same consumer, brand flexibility and product mix are essential.

Who’s Leading the Takeout Revolution:

1.       Grocery Deli Departments – Offering full meals, family bundles, and customization.

2.       Convenience Stores – Upgraded food programs, breakfast dominance, 24/7 access.

3.       Quick-Service Restaurants (QSRs) – Speed and app-based loyalty.

4.       Third-Party Delivery Platforms – Aggregating all of the above with user-friendly interfaces.

 

Final Bite: Convenience Is King

Today’s consumer doesn’t ask “What’s for dinner?”—they ask “Where can I get what I want, fast, and without cooking?” With time scarcity and flavor variety ruling the day, takeout has emerged as the modern pantry. It offers choice, speed, and comfort—and that’s a recipe the pantry just can’t match.

Success Leaves Clues—Are You Ready to Find Yours?

One key insight that continues to drive success is this: "The consumer is dynamic, not static." This principle is the foundation of our work at Foodservice Solutions®, where Steven Johnson, the Grocerant Guru®, has been helping brands stay relevant in an ever-evolving market.

Want to strengthen your brand’s connection with today’s consumers? Let’s talk. Call 253-759-7869 for more information.

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