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Who’s dining first? A look at America’s earliest and latest dinner times

The influence of culture, work, and tradition on when we dine

Who’s dining first? A look at America’s earliest and latest dinner times
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StarsInsider
14/11/2025 13:00 ‧ 12 hours ago | StarsInsider

LIFESTYLE

Food

Mealtimes are surprisingly flexible, and history shows they’ve changed a lot over the centuries. When we eat, how much we eat, and what counts as “dinner” is shaped by culture, work routines, social class, and personal preference.

These factors create fascinating variations, both between countries and within them. In the US, for instance, the average dinner time can differ by more than 90 minutes from state to state, according to the American Time Use Survey, revealing just how diverse our dining habits really are.

Curious where your state falls? Click through the gallery to see the dinner-time differences across the country and the reasons behind them.

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