Breakfast, lunch, and dinner expenditures away from home in the United States

This study investigates the differentiated effects of economic and socio-demographic variables on food away from home (FAFH) expenditures by type of meal among different types of households in the United States. Using data from the 2008 and 2009 Consumer Expenditure Surveys, the systems of expenditures on breakfast, lunch, and dinner are estimated with a multivariate sample selection procedure. Statistical significance of error correlations among equations justifies estimation of the sample selection systems. Income, work hours, race, education, geographic region, and household composition are important determinants of FAFH expenditures. Income contributes to FAFH expenditures of all meal types implying that the future of FAFH industry is tied to macroeconomic conditions. More education is associated with increased expenditures for FAFH lunch and dinner. Effects of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are negligible.