More eating out in the offing

Americans will be spending more time -- and money -- in restaurants over the next 15 years. That's the prediction of Predicasts Inc., a Cleveland-based research firm. Predicasts expects that in 1995 away-from-home meals will account for 55 percent of total food expenditures in the United States, and that the food service industry will do $400 billion of business that year.

In 1979, away-from-home meals made up 44 percent of total food expenditures, and the food service industry recorded $115 billion of business. A leap to $400 billion would require an 8.2 increase for the industry for eac h year from 1979 to 1995.