[seancoughlin]

Grocery spending versus restaurant/ deli spending stands out to me: 8.6% on Groceries vs. 5.7% on some version of eating out.

In a better scenario, groceries, being cheaper and generally healthier than food "eaten out" would make up a bigger percentage of total food spend.

That said, as a 20something single guy, I don't remember the last time I went to a grocery store and i think i manage my money pretty well.

I'd like to see these food spend #s (and the rest of these #s) broken down for income levels and other demographics

[timwiseman]

Groceries make up a smaller percentage partially because they are so much cheaper than eating out.

As for it being healthier, it all depends on your choices. If I am eating in, but having noodles and microwave pizza it will be much less healthy than getting a salad out. I have been on business trips where I ate every meal at a restauraunt for more than two weeks, but it was a relatively healthy diet.

[waterside81]

The implication of your comment is you eat out 3 (or more/less) times a day, 7 days a week? Out of curiosity, what kinds of foods are you buying? How much would you say you spend a week on food?

[cobrausn]

In my early 20s I was somewhat like the OP - I would eat out for pretty much every meal. The trick to it was only eating twice a day, or once if you could manage it. The end result was actually fairly inexpensive depending upon where you were eating.

Of course, that was back when my body could handle this kind of abuse.