Recession Affecting Workers’ Eating Habits: Survey
A new survey from WorkPlace Media, a Cleveland, Ohio-based marketing solutions firm that specializes in targeting people in the workplace, has found that the economic recession is having a definite impact on workers’ eating habits, and possibly their health. Overall, 31 percent of the 760 workers surveyed last month said they were making less money because of the economy, and 76 percent said they had cut down in some way on food and beverage consumption. Additionally, 34 percent said that cheaper fast food trumped health considerations during the recession, while 66 percent disagreed.
Other findings from the WorkPlace Media survey include the following:
--Changes in breakfast consumption:
37 percent said their breakfast habits had not changed
35 percent said they prepared breakfast at home more
23 percent said they lessened the amount of times they purchase breakfast out
10 percent discontinued purchasing breakfast out
9 percent said they rarely eat breakfast anymore
3 percent said they chose cheaper fast-food alternatives for breakfast
--Changes in lunch consumption:
40 percent said they lessened the number of times they purchase lunch out
39 percent said they prepared their lunch at home more
28 percent said their lunch spending habits had not changed
8 percent said they chose cheaper fast-food alternatives for lunch
7 percent discontinued purchasing lunch out
3 percent said they rarely eat lunch anymore
--Changes in dinner consumption:
48 percent said they lessened the number of times they purchase dinner out
42 percent said they prepared dinner at home more
23 percent said their dinner spending habits had not changed
7 percent said they chose cheaper fast-food alternatives for dinner
5 percent said they discontinued purchasing dinner out
2 percent said they rarely eat dinner anymore
--Changes in grocery store habits:
57 percent said they use more coupons
50 percent said they buy more generic products
31 percent said they save their trips for larger stockup trips
23 percent said they buy fewer items on stockup trips
17 percent said they shopped more during lunch or on the way home from work
“When it comes to how the recession has affected the daily routines of workers, fewer working consumers are purchasing breakfast, lunch and dinner out. Some have even resorted to skipping meals to save money,” said WorkPlace Media CEO Stephanie Molnar. “You can expect even more changes to these habits as the recession plays itself out -- and hopefully recedes. But staying in touch with these changing attitudes is utterly crucial for any company looking to stay in step with today’s working consumer.”
For more information and complimentary research and charts, visit www.workplacemedia.com and click on “Complimentary Research.”
Other findings from the WorkPlace Media survey include the following:
--Changes in breakfast consumption:
37 percent said their breakfast habits had not changed
35 percent said they prepared breakfast at home more
23 percent said they lessened the amount of times they purchase breakfast out
10 percent discontinued purchasing breakfast out
9 percent said they rarely eat breakfast anymore
3 percent said they chose cheaper fast-food alternatives for breakfast
--Changes in lunch consumption:
40 percent said they lessened the number of times they purchase lunch out
39 percent said they prepared their lunch at home more
28 percent said their lunch spending habits had not changed
8 percent said they chose cheaper fast-food alternatives for lunch
7 percent discontinued purchasing lunch out
3 percent said they rarely eat lunch anymore
--Changes in dinner consumption:
48 percent said they lessened the number of times they purchase dinner out
42 percent said they prepared dinner at home more
23 percent said their dinner spending habits had not changed
7 percent said they chose cheaper fast-food alternatives for dinner
5 percent said they discontinued purchasing dinner out
2 percent said they rarely eat dinner anymore
--Changes in grocery store habits:
57 percent said they use more coupons
50 percent said they buy more generic products
31 percent said they save their trips for larger stockup trips
23 percent said they buy fewer items on stockup trips
17 percent said they shopped more during lunch or on the way home from work
“When it comes to how the recession has affected the daily routines of workers, fewer working consumers are purchasing breakfast, lunch and dinner out. Some have even resorted to skipping meals to save money,” said WorkPlace Media CEO Stephanie Molnar. “You can expect even more changes to these habits as the recession plays itself out -- and hopefully recedes. But staying in touch with these changing attitudes is utterly crucial for any company looking to stay in step with today’s working consumer.”
For more information and complimentary research and charts, visit www.workplacemedia.com and click on “Complimentary Research.”