Grazing The Day Away: Fast-Paced Lifestyles Have Americans Munching Around The Cloc (NAPSA)—Americans seem to be in a constant state of motion— always somewhere to go, something to do. Amid day planners packed with appointments and errands, the traditional meal times of breakfast, lunch and din- ner have been bumped from the schedule for many people. A recent study by Information Resources, a sales and marketing research company, found that 35 percent of Americans eat two or fewer traditional, sit-down meals a day, with an increasing number of people skipping meals altogether. The study also showed that more Americans have turned to “grazing”—eating snacks or small meals throughout the day, sometimes up to six times in 24 hours. TammyBailey, director of product marketing for Jack in the Box restaurants, said the chain has seen an increasein the percentage of sales transacted duringless traditional meal times, including mid-afternoon and late-night hours. “We are quickly becoming a society of grab-and-go eaters,” said Bailey. “We eat what we can, when we can. That could mean stopping for a bagel and coffee in the morning, ordering a salad to eat at your desk, or grabbing a protein barin the afternoon.” Why are Americansgrazing the day away? No time—With the demands of work, household duties, family and friends, cooking is often put on the back burner. * More sit-down time—Sitting for hours in front of computers, Pi a ; re = “4 Desktop dining has become a way oflife for many time-strapped workers. cable TV and high-tech video games creates an ideal environment for snacking. Mobile society—Americans love their cars, so much so that the dashboard has replaced the dinner table as a dining spot. Choices and convenience— Never before have there been so many grab-and-go food choices on the market—everything from smoothies to microwavable sandwiches. Somerestaurants cater to graz- ers by offering extended hours and a full menu, including breakfast items, at all times of day. At Jack in the Box, for example, cus- tomers can order breakfast sandwiches at 6 p.m. or burgers and shakes at 6 a.m. “Over the years, we’ve learned that our customersare looking for a lot of choices, not only in menu items, but also in dining times,” Bailey said.
