LIVE INDEX • UPDATED MARCH 15, 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
32%
Eat Out
30%
Takeout
38%
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 13Mar 15

Sentiment Over Time

How positive each category's discussions have been

Eat Out
Takeout
Eat at Home
0255075100Jan 13Mar 15

Category Breakdown

Detailed metrics for each dining behavior

Eat Out

Restaurant dining, going out to eat

32%
Share of Voice
42
Sentiment
declining
Positive Themes
Culinary discovery and explorationSocial experience and convenienceQuality dining establishments and chef culture

Takeout & Delivery

Food delivery apps, ordering in

30%
Share of Voice
62
Sentiment
growing
Positive Themes
Convenience and accessibilityIndustry growth and innovationQuality service guarantees

Eat at Home

Cooking, meal prep, homemade meals

38%
Share of Voice
78
Sentiment
growing
Positive Themes
Easy and accessible recipesTime efficiency and convenienceHealth and wholesome meals

Key Insights

1

Home cooking dominates with 78% sentiment despite requiring more effort, indicating consumers prioritize health, cost savings, and control over convenience - creating opportunities for meal kit services, cooking apps, and kitchen appliance brands to bridge the skills gap

2

The dramatic sentiment gap between eating out (42%) and delivery (62%) reveals that while consumers want restaurant food, they prefer it at home - suggesting restaurants should optimize for delivery experience and delivery apps should focus on maintaining food quality during transport

3

Cost emerges as the universal pain point across all categories, but manifests differently: delivery fees frustrate convenience-seekers, restaurant prices deter diners, while home cooking's budget-friendliness drives its popularity - indicating price transparency and value positioning are critical competitive factors

Despite having the smallest share of voice, home cooking leads in sentiment due to health and cost benefits, while delivery services are disrupting traditional dining by offering restaurant quality with home convenience. The data suggests a fundamental shift toward value-conscious, health-focused dining behaviors where convenience must be balanced with affordability.

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.