Restaurant prices are changing the math of everyday meals, and Americans are finding more reasons to make dinner at home.
1. The Savings Are Hard to Ignore
FMI’s 2026 research found 67% of consumers are eating at home more often, with 76% of those consumers citing budget constraints as a reason.
2. Home Cooking Is Getting Easier
Americans aren’t necessarily going back to complicated recipes. FMI reports that 37% of dinners are now made completely from scratch, while convenience products still help shorten preparation time.
3. Lunch Is Moving Back Home
Workday lunches are another major shift. FMI found that 68% of lunches eaten away from home actually originate from home or grocery-store food, showing how much Americans are assembling meals themselves even when they aren’t technically eating at home.
4. Restaurant-Style Food Is Coming Home
Staying home doesn’t necessarily mean giving up restaurant favorites. FMI found 87% of consumers are interested in recipes and tips for making restaurant-style food at home, turning tacos, burgers and international dishes into kitchen projects.
5. Families Are Making Meals More Social
The dinner table is still surprisingly resilient. FMI says 36% of Americans eat dinner at home with others every day, while another 44% have a shared meal at home at least several times a week.
6. The Grocery Store Is Becoming the Restaurant
Americans are increasingly treating grocery shopping as a way to recreate dining-out experiences. Prepared foods, sauces, meal kits and premium ingredients let households build restaurant-style meals without paying restaurant prices.
