Ready for dinner?
It’s a simple question though new research suggests that meals differ greatly depending on where Americans live.
Most households eat their evening meal in between 5:07 p.m. and 8:19 p.m., according to data from the American Time Use Survey conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics between 2018 and 2022.
The three-hour range peaks at 6:19 p.m., when most people sit down to eat. But it’s a different story from state to state.
Pennsylvania residents usually start their dinner early at 5:37 p.m., the data showed. Those in Washington, D.C., on the other hand, don’t stop until nearly 90 minutes later at 7:10 p.m.
Meal lengths also vary from state to state, with some less populous states like Vermont and Wyoming having significantly shorter meal times than states like Kentucky, Indiana, and Arizona.
There seemed to be no geographical connection between the times when Americans went to dinner
Data shows that most Americans choose to eat dinner around 6:20 p.m., but the time frame is huge and varies significantly from state to state
States that dine earlier around 6 p.m. include Maine, Wyoming, Vermont, North Dakota, New Hampshire, Alaska, New Mexico, Oregon, and Kentucky.
Other states where peak dinner hours begin at or after 7 p.m. include Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Texas — all clustered in the South.
The average eating time of New Yorkers is 6:41 p.m., with a range of 5:11 p.m. to 8:29 p.m.
Data from the American Time Use Survey is used to understand exactly how Americans spend their days, what they do and who they spend their time with.
It is, according to the agency, “the only federal survey that provides data on the full range of non-market activities, from child care to volunteer work.”
There seemed to be no specific reasoning behind a correlation between geographic location and eating times.
The generally demanding work schedules and commutes of NYC and DC residents may – to some extent – explain the relatively later peak dinner times in these states.
DC, being a smaller location and with less variation in work schedules, also has a smaller range for meals than most states.
While it may be tempting to correlate average dinner times with daylight hours in those states, there doesn’t seem to be a clear pattern.
Unlike dinner, Americans’ lunch times on the map are around the same time every day — between noon and 1 p.m.
Unlike other countries, lunch in the US is generally not an extended meal period, making dinner the largest and longest meal.
A Cleveland Clinic registered dietitian said that from a health point of view there is no ideal time to eat in the evening, but that the meal should be eaten at least three hours before bedtime
In Mediterranean countries, dinner is a relaxed ritual that begins with light snacks and low-alcohol drinks before the sun goes down, and heavier courses later in the evening
American dinners are also early compared to many cultures and countries around the world.
It is well known that people in France and Spain tend to eat late. In big cities like Paris, it is not uncommon to eat at a formal restaurant at 9:30 or 10:00 pm.
In South Africathe structure of three meals a day is rigid and dinner is usually served between 8 and 10 pm.
In Mediterranean countries, dinner is a relaxed ritual that begins with light snacks and low-alcohol cocktails while the sun is still up, and transitions into heavier courses around 8:30 pm to 9:00 pm.
According to the Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Human Nutrition, from a health standpoint, there’s no ideal time to eat your last meal of the day.
‘The clock doesn’t determine how our bodies use or store food. There is no research to indicate that it is healthier to have an early dinner compared to a later evening dinner. clinic registered dietitian Kayla Kopp.
“Whether you’re trying to gain weight or lose weight, it really matters how many calories you consume, not necessarily the timing of those calories.”
It’s best to “try to eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner on a consistent, regular basis every day without skipping meals.”
So a fixed mealtime is wise, it turns out.