In the u. s., about what percentage of all food expenditures is now accounted for by meals eaten out?

Eating away from home is playing an increasing large role in the diet and the household budgets of American families. Back in 1970 approximately 26 percent of all food spending was on food away from home; by 2012, that amount had risen to 43 percent. The increase can be attributed to a greater percentage of women employed outside the home, more two-earner households with the resulting higher incomes, as well as more affordable and convenient fast food outlets. The downfall of this statistic is the contribution all that fast food makes to higher levels of obesity and lower dietary nutritional quality.