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The Global Insight

How often does Gen Z eat fast food?

Author

James Olson

Updated on April 13, 2026

Amongst who frequently (more than 5 times a month) eat fast food, Gen Z-ers and Millennials both prefer chicken and snacks as their go-to fast food items.

How often does Gen Z eat out?

If you're not already marketing to the Gen Z audience, start now. In 2018, Generation Z (anyone born in 1997 or later) made 14.6 billion restaurant visits, accounting for a full quarter of all foodservice traffic.

Which generation eats out most?

Millennials Eat Out More — and Spend More When They Do — Than Non-Millennials. Millennials — that is, people born between 1980 and 2000 — eat out more than non-millennials and also spend more money eating out.

Which age group eats the most fast food?

Quick Fast Food Industry Statistics

People ages 20-39 years old eat the most fast food on any given day. Men consume more fast food than women. 83% of American families eat at fast food restaurants at least once a week.

What Gen Z eats in a day?

Instead of a big breakfast or filling dinner, Gen Z prefers to eat short meals or frequent snacks throughout the day. They are a more health-focused generation as 54% indicated that they prefer healthy snacks. However, when asked to choose their favorite snacks, only 3% reported fruits, vegetables, or nuts.

What Happened When I Ate Nothing But "Healthy" Fast Food For A Week

Is Gen Z eating healthy?

A total of 72% of Gen Z said they see healthy eating as an integral part of their physical and mental health, with 71% making an effort to eat healthy food whilst at home.

Is Gen Z eating healthier?

Gen Z has shown a preference for healthy eating, including more organic and natural foods that are free of additives. This is largely because they are growing up during an age of health and wellness where consumers are paying more attention to the ingredients list compared to prior generations.

Does Gen Z like fast food?

Amongst who frequently (more than 5 times a month) eat fast food, Gen Z-ers and Millennials both prefer chicken and snacks as their go-to fast food items.

What generation eats more fast food?

Eating out, takeaways and fast food are common among Gen Z, with reported takeaway consumption the highest among those from lower income households. Across Gen Z, ability and willingness to cook is the lowest compared to other age-groups, however, these are trends that are likely to be influenced by life stage.

Who consume fast food the most?

The percentage of adults who consumed fast food decreased with age: 44.9% aged 20–39, 37.7% aged 40–59, and 24.1% aged 60 and over. A higher percentage of non-Hispanic black adults consumed fast food than non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic Asian, and Hispanic adults.

Are Gen Z foodies?

Since birth, Zers have been able to see what the world eats and as such, Gen Z considers themselves 'foodies. ' During COVID, with the world at their fingertips but nowhere to go, preparing foods from around the globe provided Gen Z a way to 'travel' without leaving home.

Can Gen Z cook?

Gen Z's interest in cooking has increased during this time, with 35% of Gen Z cooking from scratch in 2021, up 14 points from 2019. YPulse data also show that young people are more likely to cook from scratch than to use prepackaged options.

What is the healthiest generation?

There are three generations within that age span — Millennials, GenXers and Baby Boomers. Close to half — 45% — named their own generation as the healthiest. Second most named was their parents' generation — 32% — and last was the younger generation — 23%.

How much do Gen Z spend on food?

The Gen Z appetite

We know that Gen Zers love to eat. A UNiDAYS study of more than 1,800 students in the U.S. found that 78 percent spent the majority of their money outside of tuition and rent on food. The average Gen Z household spends about $760 on food each month, with about $550 going to groceries.

How much does Gen Z eat out?

A Look at Generational Food Spending

Generation Z is much more likely to spend their food money on meals away from home: 52.4% of their total food expenses go toward food eaten outside of the home, which amounts to an average of $2,772 per year.

What do Gen Z like to eat?

According to an American report, Gen Z wants to eat healthier, looking towards balanced foods and consuming less meat. However, this generation is still fond of sweet and salty snacks, as shown by their favorite brands. They are curious, open to new experiences and don't like staying still.

Do Gen Z like Mcdonalds?

When asked “What's the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of 'fast food'?”, “McDonald's” was the strongest word association for Generation Z. Our survey results suggest that McDonald's is not only the most popular burger brand (51%) but also a beloved choice for fried chicken (31%) and snacks (39%).

Is Gen Z more vegan?

Gen Z and Millennials are by far the most likely age groups to be vegan and vegetarian. 41% of Gen Z feel that climate change is the single most important issue facing the planet. 35% Of Generation Z Want To Be Meat-Free By 2021.

How many of Gen Z are vegan?

Data from finder.com shows 20% of gen Z are already eating meat-free, narrowly ahead of 19% of millennials. The news comes fresh off the back of Veganuary 2021, which proved to be the most popular ever.

How often do Millennials eat fast food?

Kicking off the report, we asked “How often do you consume fast food” and found that 26% of millennials opt to order their meals rather than cook, 2-4 times a week.

How do restaurants attract Gen Z?

Restaurant Marketing Strategies That Are Sure To Attract Gen Z To Your Restaurant Business

  1. Social Media Marketing.
  2. Influencer Marketing.
  3. Student-Friendly Events.
  4. Run Loyalty Programs.

How do restaurant owners get Generation Z to eat at their restaurants?

Keep an active social media presence

One of the main ways that Gen Z decides where to eat is through social media platforms like Instagram and Yelp.

Is Gen Z more fit?

It found that 84% of regular exercisers are working out a minimum of three times per week, with younger generations leading the way. Gen Z are the most active, with 87% of this demographic exercising three or more times per week, with Millennials trailing just behind them.

What is Gen Z work ethic?

The Kronos Inc survey shows the priorities Generation Z has when it comes to their work ethic. Generation Z's work ethic calls for: Flexibility, with 26% stating they'd work harder and remain loyal to a company longer if they had flexible schedules.

What snacks does Gen Z like?

Salty snacks like potato chips are by far the most popular snack that Generation Z consumes. Surprisingly, produce (fruits and veggies) comes in second, with the majority of Gen Z-ers (57.3%) choosing it regularly or occasionally as a snack.