To go along with a story of mine in Thursday's paper, I thought I'd share info from a new survey released today from WorkPlace Media. The survey of 760 American workers outlines some of the changes workers are making when it comes to their coffee, their meals and trips to the market. Overall, 31% of workers surveyed reported making less money due to the recession, and 76% reported making some sort of cuts to their food and beverage consumption.  Furthermore, when it comes to health, 34% said that cheaper fast food trumped health concerns during the recession--BUT GET THIS (HANK, YOU READING?)--while 66% disagreed with that statement.
 
Additional findings from the survey:
  
When asked how the recession had affected their breakfast consumption:
37% said their breakfast habits had not changed
35% said they prepared breakfast at home more
23% said they lessened the amount of times they purchase breakfast out
10% discontinued purchasing breakfast out
9% said they rarely eat breakfast anymore
3% said they chose cheaper fast food alternatives for breakfast

When asked how the recession had affected their lunch consumption:
40% said they lessened the number of times they purchase lunch out
39% said they prepared their lunch at home more
28% said their lunch spending habits had not changed
8% said they chose cheaper fast food alternatives for lunch
7% discontinued purchasing lunch out
3% said they rarely eat lunch anymore
 
When asked how the recession had affected their dinner consumption:
48% said they lessened the number of times they purchase dinner out
42% said they prepared dinner at home more
23% said their dinner spending habits had not changed
7% said they chose cheaper fast food alternatives for lunch
5% said they discontinued purchasing dinner out
2% said they rarely eat dinner anymore
 
So dinner out is the big loser. No surprise there. The most expensive meal, the one us working stiffs have the most discretion with.