Out of Home Food Intake and Behaviours Among Adults Living in Scotland, 2025

Household grocery shopping accounted for the vast majority of energy and macronutrient intake, contributing nearly 80% across energy, carbohydrates, protein, and fat (Table 11). OOH (total across all outlet types) contributed to 21% of energy and about 20-22% of most macronutrients. Fast food/takeaway outlets, cafés, coffee or sandwich shops were the largest OOH contributors (about 13-14% across energy and macronutrients), followed by sit-down restaurants or pubs (about 4%). 

Whilst food “on the go” from supermarkets, convenience and corner shops were the most frequently reported OOH outlets visited (see Chapter 4), they contributed a smaller share (about 3%) to calories and macronutrients than Fast food/takeaway outlets, cafés, coffee or sandwich shops (about 13-14%), and sit-down restaurants or pubs (about 4%) (Table 11). The likely reason for this is that most items in this category are reported as lunch or snack items (50% and 30% of items respectively). Of items reported as lunch, 17% (79 items) were sandwiches, 19% (86 items) were soft drinks, and 9% (41 items) were crisps and savoury snacks. Of items reported as snacks, 16% (43 items) were soft drinks, 13% (35 items) were chocolate confectionery, 12% (34 items) were tea, coffee, and water, and 9% (25 items) were crisps and savoury snacks.

Table 11. Mean percentage of energy and macronutrients sourced from household grocery shopping versus out of home outlets among adults 16+ years living in Scotland, 2025 (n=1,012). 

Likewise, for saturated fat, fibre, free sugars, and salt, a majority came from household grocery shopping rather than OOH outlets (Table 12). 

Table 12. Mean percentage of saturated fat, fibre, free sugars, and salt sourced from household grocery shopping versus out of home outlets among adults 16+ years living in Scotland, 2025 (n=1,012).

* Salt values do not take account of salt added during cooking and salt added at the table by participants.

When the 22 participants who did not consume OOH food or drink in the previous week were excluded, results were consistent, e.g., household grocery shopping accounted for 78.1% of calories when these participants were excluded versus 78.5% when they were included (Annexe 6).

High OOH consumers obtained nearly 30% of their energy intake from OOH sources, compared to 19% among moderate and 13% among low consumers (Table 13). Similar trends across high versus moderate and low OOH consumers were observed for all other nutrients. 

Table 13. Mean percentage of energy and nutrients sourced from out of home outlets by high, moderate, and low levels of out of home consumption, among adults 16+ years living in Scotland, 2025 (n=1,012).

1 Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test

High OOH consumers had the highest mean energy intake (1747 kcals), compared with moderate (1591 kcals) and low (1513 kcals) OOH consumers (Table 14). This was consistent after adjustment for sex. After adjusting for sex, compared with high OOH consumers, moderate consumers consumed 129 fewer calories per day on average (p<0.001) and low consumers consumed 191 fewer calories per day on average (p<0.001).

A similar pattern was observed for carbohydrates, protein, fat, saturated fat, free sugars, and salt, with intakes highest in high OOH consumers and lowest in low OOH consumers. After adjusting for sex and energy intake, results were attenuated for differences in carbohydrates, protein, fat, and saturated fat. However, even after adjustment for sex and energy intake, fibre intakes remained significantly higher and free sugar intakes significantly lower in low and medium OOH consumers versus high OOH consumers. Likewise, salt intakes were significantly lower in low OOH consumers versus high OOH consumers after adjustment for sex and energy intake.

Table 14. Mean (SD) total energy and nutrient intakes by high, moderate, and low levels of out of home consumption among adults 16+ years living in Scotland, 2025 (n=1,012).

1 Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test

Table 15 presents the percentage contribution of each main food group to (a) overall total energy intake (all sources) and (b) OOH total energy intake (OOH sources only). 

Food groups contributing 4% or more to overall energy intake included:

• Pasta, rice and other miscellaneous cereals including pizza (9.8%)
• Sandwiches (7.7%)
• Chicken and turkey dishes (6.6%)
• White bread (6.1%)
• Beef, veal and dishes (4.1%)

Together, these five food groups accounted for 34% of total energy intake. 

The pattern for OOH energy intake differed, with food groups contributing 4% or more to OOH energy intake including:

• Sandwiches including rolls and wraps (13.6%)
• Pasta, rice and other miscellaneous cereals including pizza (10.6%)
• Chips, fried and roast potatoes and potato products (7.3%)
• Chicken and turkey dishes (7.0%)
• Buns, cakes, pastries and fruit pies (5.1%)
• Other milk and cream including milky coffees (5.1%)
• Meat pies and pastries including sausage rolls (4.2%)
• White bread (4.2%)

Together, these eight food groups accounted for 57% of OOH energy intake. A breakdown of top 5 foods contributing to each of these food groups is provided in Annexe 7.

Generally, ‘Sandwiches including rolls and wraps’, ‘Chips, fried and roast potatoes and potato products’, ‘Meat pies and pastries including sausage rolls’, and ‘Other milk and cream including milky coffees’ were more important contributors to OOH energy intake than overall energy intake from all sources (difference >2 percentage points). In contrast, ‘High fibre breakfast cereals’ and ‘Fruit’ were more important contributors to overall energy intake from all sources than OOH energy intake (difference >2 percentage points). 

Table 15. Mean percentage of energy from food groups, from overall intake and out of home (OOH) outlets, among adults 16+ years living in Scotland, 2025 (n=1,012). Food groups highlighted in blue are those that are more important contributors to OOH energy intake than overall energy intake from all sources (difference >2 percentage points). Food groups highlighted in green are those that are more important contributors to overall energy intake from all sources than OOH energy intake (difference >2 percentage points). 

Food groups contributing <0.1% of energy not shown, including: Low fat spread, Liver, products and dishes, Commercial toddlers foods and drinks, and Yogurt, fromage frais and other dairy desserts DF.