In the HECTOR project individual-based food consumption data collected in 15 European countries will be analysed in order to:
- evaluate the prevalence of out-of-home food consumption;
- identify out-of-home dietary patterns, including meals, foods, and nutrients;
- compare dietary intake within- and out-of-home, at national and regional levels, when possible;
- evaluate the effect of sociodemographic, lifestyle, and anthropometric determinants on food choices when eating out;
- compare the out-of-home dietary intake with national and international recommendations and estimate, through an innovative approach, optimal out-of-home dietary patterns.

The findings after the evaluation of both food supply and demand will be translated to a common strategic action plan for enhancing the quality and safety of out-of-home food choices of the European consumers. The action plan will be pilot tested in the SMEs of the Consortium to evaluate its effectiveness. Moreover, the project aims to exploit the use of data on out-of-home food expenditures, regularly collected through the national household budget surveys, so as to develop a methodological framework which could conceptually allow monitor out-of-home food choices in Europe.