Time to eat

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Release date: March 23, 2018
Infographic: Time to eat
Description: Time to eat

In 2015, Canadians spent an average of 91 minutes a day eating.

Average of minutes/day
Region Minutes per day
Atlantic provinces 91
British Columbia 91
Ontario 84
Prairies 84
Quebec 105

On average, Canadians ate twice a day. Each meal took 44 min.

Who do Canadians eat with?

  • 30% of Canadians ate all of their daily meals alone
  • Among people who had a partner, 30% hadn't eaten any meals with their partner
  • Distribution of respondents who ate with their children under 15 years of age
    • 34% — 0 meals
    • 39% — 1 meal
    • 19% — 2 meals
    • 8% — 3 meals or more

"Distracted eating" means eating while doing another activity.

Close to 6 in 10 Canadians sometimes ate while doing another activity.

The 5 most mentioned activities:

  • 53% — using technology
  • 33% — watching TV
  • 19% — preparing meals
  • 15% — listening to the radio or reading
  • 14% — working or studying

10% of Canadians reported eating only while doing something else.

Source: General Social Survey — Time Use, 2015.

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