It is analyzed that the dinner time was concentrated, and the number of people eating at 5 p.m. in particular increased.
Yahoo News surveyed 1,690 adults in the U.S. through YouGov, a pollster, on Saturday, and 34 percent said they have dinner at 6 p.m. Twenty-one percent of the respondents had dinner at 5 p.m., while 23 percent chose 7 p.m.
On the other hand, only 14 percent of respondents had dinner after 8 p.m. Only 6 percent said they would have dinner before 4 p.m. In the U.S. restaurant reservation application “Open Table” meal data, a trend showing that dinner at early hours is gaining popularity was also detected.
According to the time slot for reservations for dinner using the app, 5 p.m. increased by 11 percent year-on-year. Reservations for 6 p.m. increased by 8 percent and those for 7 p.m. increased by 6 percent. For reservations for 8 p.m., the time slot for dinner was also counted as 6 p.m.
The U.S. review app “Yelp” data also showed a trend of advancing dinner time. 60% of the reservations for Yelp restaurants this year were made between 4 p.m. and 6:59 p.m. This is a 51% increase compared to 2018.
Conversely, the proportion of dinners booked between 8 p.m. and 8:59 p.m. shrank from 14% in 2018 to 10% this year.
According to a survey of 1,500 U.S. consumers by market research firm Pure Spectrum, 53 percent of Gen. Z and 51 percent of millennials are interested in making reservations for early dinner. The figure was higher than that of Generation X and baby boomers, who accounted for only 37 percent.
The preference for early dinner is interpreted as a result of the perception that it is better for health. Eating late at night can increase weight and calorie intake.
One person also cited the fact that daily life has changed due to the spread of remote and hybrid work, allowing them to eat dinner early. “Whether customers come directly from the office, book a table that is traditionally difficult to book during a quiet time, or choose to eat early for health and well-being, the data shows a clear pattern,” OpenTable said. “Bookings for dinner at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. are increasing.”
A ballerina and certified nutritionist said in an interview, “Eating early gives you more time to digest before going to bed, helping to keep blood sugar stable, reduce appetite late at night, and improve sleep quality.”
SALLY LEE
US ASIA JOURNAL
