LIVE INDEX • UPDATED MAY 17, 2026

Dining Behavior Index

Are people eating out, ordering in, or cooking at home? Track how dining preferences are shifting based on online conversation analysis.

Current Share of Voice
0%
Eat Out
100%
Takeout
0%
Eat at Home

Historical Trends

Track how dining behavior has shifted over time

Share of Voice Over Time

How dining behavior discussions have shifted

Eat Out
Takeout
Eat at Home
0%25%50%75%100%Jan 13May 17

Sentiment Over Time

How positive each category's discussions have been

Eat Out
Takeout
Eat at Home
0255075100Jan 13May 17

Category Breakdown

Detailed metrics for each dining behavior

Eat Out

Restaurant dining, going out to eat

0%
Share of Voice
72
Sentiment
stable
Positive Themes
Cultural exploration and diverse cuisine experiencesCelebration of local dining scenes and culinary cultureExclusive dining experiences and discovery opportunities

Takeout & Delivery

Food delivery apps, ordering in

100%
Share of Voice
65
Sentiment
stable
Positive Themes
Convenience and speed of delivery servicesHot food delivery and smooth ordering experienceWide variety of restaurant options available

Eat at Home

Cooking, meal prep, homemade meals

0%
Share of Voice
82
Sentiment
growing
Positive Themes
Simple and quick meal preparationFamily-friendly recipes and togethernessHealth and wellness benefits

Key Insights

1

Despite having 100% share of voice, takeout & delivery has the lowest sentiment at 65, revealing a consumer paradox where convenience drives behavior but doesn't guarantee satisfaction, indicating over-reliance concerns and quality issues are dampening the experience despite widespread adoption.

2

Eat at home commands the highest sentiment at 82 with zero share of voice, suggesting strong underlying consumer desire for home cooking driven by health, cost, and family benefits, but lacks visible advocacy or viral content creation - representing a massive opportunity for cooking brands to amplify this positive sentiment.

3

The 17-point sentiment gap between eat at home (82) and takeout/delivery (65) signals a growing consumer awareness that convenience comes at the cost of health, budget, and quality, creating opportunities for hybrid solutions like meal kits, ghost kitchens focused on delivery optimization, and restaurants offering 'cook-at-home' experiences.

Current dining behavior shows consumers are heavily using delivery services despite growing dissatisfaction, while harboring strong positive feelings toward home cooking that isn't translating to online conversation. This sentiment-behavior disconnect suggests the market is ripe for solutions that bridge convenience with the health, cost, and quality benefits of home dining.

Why This Matters

Economic Indicator

Dining out is discretionary spending. When restaurant discussion increases, it often signals consumer confidence. When home cooking trends up, it may indicate economic caution or health consciousness.

Industry Impact

Restaurant chains, delivery apps like DoorDash and UberEats, grocery stores, and meal kit companies all compete for the same consumer decision: "What's for dinner?" This index shows where that attention is going.

Methodology

The Dining Behavior Index uses a two-part analysis:

1. Share of Voice (Content Volume)

We measure the total amount of web content indexed by Google for each category. This includes articles, blog posts, recipes, reviews, and discussions.

2. Sentiment Analysis

We analyze content by theme to determine sentiment (0-100 scale), identify positive themes, and surface concerns.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often is the index updated?

The Dining Behavior Index is updated weekly, capturing the latest web content and sentiment trends.

Why does home cooking have higher sentiment?

Content about home cooking often emphasizes health benefits, cost savings, and family bonding. Restaurant content includes more mixed reviews and price complaints.

Can I track specific restaurant brands?

Yes! Flogent's suite of brand intelligence tools can track any restaurant chain, food delivery service, or grocery brand.

Flogent Insights

Track sentiment for restaurant chains, delivery apps, grocery brands, and custom topics.