Whether its a sweet ice cream treat, a cake or even a piece of candy, dessert comes in many forms. As the pandemic continues to leave many long-lasting ripple effects, American affinity for eating dessert may be another such instance. New polling from CivicScience of over 1,600 U.S. adults respondents who typically eat dessert reveals that as much as 27% say they’re eating dessert ‘more’ often now than they were before the pandemic. This compares to 19% who say they’re eating dessert ‘less’ often. A majority (55%) report they haven’t changed the amount of dessert they’ve been eating. But the sweet story doesn’t end there as demographics play a key role in who has become more likely to indulge and abstain.
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The biggest shift comes from Gen Z adults aged 18-29. Nearly half (48%) of those aged 18 to 29 say they’re eating dessert more frequently now than they were pre-pandemic. That number drops significantly with age—just 31% of millennials say the same, followed by 22% of those 45–54, and only 14% of adults 55 and older. In fact, older adults are more likely to say they’ve cut back, with nearly a quarter reporting a decline in dessert consumption.
Men and women show a more subtle divide. Men are a bit more likely to say they’re eating more dessert now (29%, compared to 25% of women), while women are notably more likely to say they’re eating less—22% versus 15% of men.
The data also suggest a downward trend in dessert consumption among higher-income adults. While around 27% to 29% of those earning under $100K report eating more dessert, that share falls to 22% among those earning $100K or more. This group is also more likely to say they’ve cut back, with 22% reporting a decrease.
Work routines may play a less obvious but still important role. Among employed adults, those working fully remote are the most likely to say they’re indulging more now (40%), compared to 30% of hybrid workers and 31% of those working fully in person. Interestingly, remote workers are also the most likely to report eating less dessert (16%), suggesting more fluctuation in habits at home.
Altogether, dessert consumption appears to be shifting most among younger adults and those with more flexible or home-based routines, while older and higher-income Americans are more likely to say they’ve scaled back. As pandemic-era behavior continues to shape daily habits, food brands and retailers may want to pay close attention to which consumers are reaching for something sweet more often—and which ones are walking away.
This article’s data comes solely from CivicScience’s database, which contains nearly 700,000 poll questions and 5 billion consumer insights.