Gen Z Drives AFH Dining

Gen Z remains the most restaurant-reliant generation in the U.S., sourcing a larger share of meals away from home than any other age group, according to Datassential’s Elevate: Pantry Priorities & Plate Disruptors report.

The study found that 36% of Gen Z meals are sourced away from home, compared with 31% for Millennials, 26% for Gen X, and 18% for Boomers. Conversely, Gen Z sources 64% of meals from home, the lowest share among generations surveyed. 

The findings come as away-from-home dining continues to gain modest momentum overall. Consumers now source 28% of meals away from home, while 72% are sourced at home. Although at-home eating remains dominant, away-from-home sourcing has been trending upward at breakfast and lunch, while at-home dinner preparation has declined since January 2025.

The report suggests Gen Z’s reliance on foodservice extends beyond routine meal sourcing. Younger consumers are also more likely to abandon home meal plans when pantry gaps emerge. While consumers generally report having enough food at home to prepare seven breakfasts, six lunches, and seven dinners without grocery shopping, 26% say they run out of a key ingredient and choose to go out or order in weekly or more often. That figure rises to 43% among Gen Z, compared with just 8% among Boomers.

Foodservice also appears well-positioned to capitalize on Gen Z’s appetite for novelty. Across all dayparts, cravings for “something new or different” are the leading reason consumers deviate from home cooking plans, and the report notes that these disruptions skew heavily toward younger generations.