According to a survey conducted by IELKA (the Research Institute for Retail Consumer Goods), the economic crisis has brought about a change in the dietary patterns of the Greeks, who are ordering out less and eating at home more.

The survey, based on a sample of 2000 consumers from all over Greece, profiles the dietary patterns of Greeks today in terms of their food and beverage consumption patterns, the frequency of their consumption per week and their habits and outlook concerning their diet.

The study reveals that over 75% of meals are home-cooked, while 95% of respondents eat home-cooked food as their main meal three times per week.  Conversely, only 1% eat their main meal from food not prepared at home on a daily basis, and 82% never or rarely order out or eat takeout.  The same pattern has been observed with respect to dining out, a weekly habit for circa 60% of the sample, while 37% never or rarely eat out.

Findings confirm a trend toward eating at home more and eating less takeout food over the course of the past five years.  Over 80% of respondents reported to prefer home-cooked food over takeout.   Based on the findings of the study, there are two reasons for this change: less disposable income per household, causing consumers to cook their meals at home — a cheaper solution –as well as taxation and a change in VAT rates, which has affected both categories. Despite the fact that consumers have less disposable income and thus less ability to eat out, IELKA observes that the long-term benefits of home-cooked meals mean better health for all, and a general shift towards the Mediterranean diet.