Survey: Snacks Increasingly Replacing Traditional Meals

U.S. consumers are using snacks as a replacement for traditional meals amid growing financial pressures, according to Datassential’s Table Stakes Tracker report.

Seventy-five percent of consumers said they snacked in place of a standard  breakfast, lunch, or dinner occasion at least once in December. Snacking outside of traditional mealtimes is even more widespread, with 87% of consumers reporting doing so in December.

Many consumers also are periodically straying away from traditional meal patterns. Seventy-one percent of consumers said they skipped at least one standard meal in December, and around one in three did so once or multiple times per week. Late-night eating is also prevalent, with 59% reporting they ate a full meal late at night at least once during the month.

These behaviors were reported across the consumer base, though they are more common among younger age groups, particularly Gen Z and Millennials, according to demographic breakouts in the report.

Separate Datassential research shows similar generational differences in snacking frequency over time. More than 40% of Gen Z and over a third of Millennials said they were snacking more frequently in 2025 compared to a year ago, according to Datassential’s 2025 Little Treat Culture report.

Restaurants continue to make snacks available across dayparts. Sixty percent of operators said they offered AM snacking in December, 72% reported offering PM snacking, and late-night service was available at 51% of operations, according to the Table Stakes Tracker. And a greater proportion of operators said AM and PM snacking sales were higher in December than those that reported sales declines. 

The report finds that more consumers are opting for snacks in place of traditional meals amid pressing concerns such as the rising cost of living. The prevailing perception among consumers is that foodservice prices were higher in December across restaurant segments, from quick-service to fine dining.