Pennsylvania Eats Dinner Earlier Than Other States in the United States
According to research data from FlowingData.com Pennsylvania eats dinner earlier than other states. Around the world, people eat dinner at all different hours. In Italy, dinner isn’t really starting until 8:30 pm for most. While in Spain and Portugal, dinner doesn’t happen until 9 pm or later. In the United States, people might consider that a late-night snack! Those times just don’t work for the average American dinner time, but it seems things differ in all 50 states.
Over at Flowing Data, they took results from a survey that ran from 2018 through 2022 to reach their findings. The average time they found was 6:19 pm for Americans to begin eating dinner. Pennsylvanians begin the list with the earliest average dinner time, being 5:37 pm. Texas and Mississippi have the latest start times for their dinners, both average 7:02 pm start times.
Why are we eating so early in Pennsylvania? Is 5:37 pm even that early? I prefer between 5:30p & 6:30p for at-home meals, but if I’m going to go out to dinner I like it to be after 7 pm. It feels more like a night out if it’s post-7 pm. I say that while currently trying to have dinner ready by 5 pm or just after because of the 6-year-old, 3-year-old, and 9-month-old in my house. Dinner on the table by 5 pm or 5:15 pm gives the boys enough time to tell me they don’t like what I made four or five times, then still play outside after begrudgingly eating a few bites. It’s also right around the time the 9-month-old gets hungry and a bit whiny. It’s all about the kids! What about the parents? Who cares!
Here are my two best guesses for why Pennsylvania eats dinner earliest:
- Our state is full of elderly people who are getting to bed shortly after dinner.
- Our state is full of young families pumping out kids that need to eat early before they lose their minds.
Either way, we’re first, and if I’ve learned anything from a documentary I once watched, “If you ain’t first, you’re last!”
You can check out the full rundown and chart here.
Whip Up Deliciousness In A Flash: 7 Cheap Meals On The Fly
Spaghetti
Cook up some spaghetti noodles and top them with a simple tomato sauce made from canned tomatoes, garlic, onions, and herbs. Add grated cheese if desired. Another option is to prepare spaghetti squash noodles and pair them with a flavorful pesto sauce made from basil or spinach, as an alternative to traditional spaghetti with tomato sauce. Cook the spaghetti squash and scrape out the noodle-like strands. Then, toss them with a homemade pesto sauce consisting of fresh herbs, garlic, nuts, olive oil, and Parmesan cheese.
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Vegetable Stir-Fry
Serve it over rice or noodles for a delicious budget-friendly meal. Simply stir-fry a mix of bell peppers, carrots, broccoli, and onions with soy sauce and a touch of honey or brown sugar.
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Bean Burritos
Bean burritos are a fantastic and budget-friendly option for a quick meal. Just fill tortillas with canned beans like black beans or pinto beans, rice, cheese, salsa, and any other desired toppings. Roll them up and heat them in the oven or on a stovetop skillet for a delicious treat. The best part is that tortillas, beans, rice, cheese, and salsa can be used for multiple meals, making it both convenient and economical.
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Nachos
Remember those extra ingredients from the bean burritos? Well, take the beans, rice, cheese, and salsa and make a nacho. Just grab a bag of tortilla chips and spread them on a baking sheet. Sprinkle on shredded cheese, canned beans, sliced jalapeños, diced tomatoes, and chopped green onions. Pop them in the oven until the cheese melts and the nachos are heated through. Top with sour cream, salsa, or guacamole if you like.
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Baked Potatoes With Toppings:
This meal is super easy to put together when you’re in a time and budget crunch. Bake some potatoes and top them with your favorite ingredients like sour cream, grated cheese, bacon bits, chives, or any other toppings you love.
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Fancy Grilled Cheese
Start with your favorite bread slices and spread butter on one side. On the other side, spread a thin layer of mayo. Sprinkle shredded cheese on the mayo side and add any extras like caramelized onions, spinach, peppers, bacon, or your other favorite toppings. Sandwich it all together and grill it up until the cheese is melted and the bread is golden.
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Flatbread
Many grocery stores offer affordable and delicious pre-made flatbreads that you can use. Just look for brands that fit in your budget. You typically can find these in the bread or bakery section of the store, or even the freezer section. Get creative with your toppings to transform your store-bought flatbread into a delicious and affordable meal! Whether it’s sautéed mushrooms, colorful peppers, or a variety of cheeses, the choice is yours. You can also experiment with different sauces like tomato sauce, white sauce, or even a drizzle of olive oil to enhance the flavors.
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