The idea of having three main meals a day is ingrained into the minds of most Americans, but that does not mean it is how we actually eat. Surveys conducted over recent years, such as a recent study by the Culinary Visions Panel, show that an increasing number of consumers rely on snacking throughout the day to recharge and get their fill.
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Restaurant Business Online's (RBO) recent article about snacking highlights the specifics of our snacking habits, noting that almost all adults snack at some point during the day. Consumers report they are most likely to snack in the late afternoon, midmorning and after dinner (ice cream anyone?).
The survey notes that most consumers partake in healthier snacks in the morning, such as yogurt and granola. Over the course of the day, the snacks get less and less healthy, with salty options, candies and pastries being the most popular after dinner. This snacking trend also falls in line with what othes in the industry have observed about the rise of small plates in restaurants. A recent survey by
Technomic shows that 33% of consumers order appetizers or small plates as a main meal, while 38% of all consumers order appetizers with almost every meal.
What does this all mean for restaurants and bars? It means you should beef up your small plates menu! Get creative with appetizers and snack items, and put as much effort into them as your entrées. With this trend going year over year, it is a safe bet to say that putting extra time into developing the small items on your menu can mean big returns.
Source:
Restaurant Business Online
Tablebases.com
