"Eating Out" news and stories

Despite the current economic downturn, the vast majority of Americans are still spending their money eating out. A recent article from USA Today explains that between 2007 and 2008 there was no change in the amount of people purchasing meals outside of the home. According to NPD Group, a marketing research firm, Americans bought 1% more meals at a restaurant in November of 2008 than November 2007.

As NPD vice president Harry Balzar states: "There hasn't been a recession in eating. We may postpone a car purchase or a new coat, but we won't postpone eating." The survey USA Today refers to deals with all kinds of eating out, whether it's at a three-star Michelin restaurant or McDonald's. I'd be curious to know how certain categories of restaurants are holding up through this economic decline. The article does point out that people are trying to save money and time, and, as a result, they are turning to "inexpensive takeout options."

Check out the poll below to let us know if your eating habits have changed.

In this article, a poll says that "43% of respondents are eating out less, 39% are choosing less expensive restaurants, and 35% are packing their own lunch for work, compared to six months ago."

Also, "Consumers are also spending less on vacations, hobbies, and entertainment. About 28% of respondents are attending more free activities and 26% have cut back on attending concerts, plays, and shows. Over 28% of respondents have reduced the number of vacations they take, and an equal amount have taken less expensive, closer to home vacations. Consumers are increasing "at home" occasions. Across all demographic groups, people are spending more time at home, with a 27% increase in home entertaining. In addition, 27% of respondents are watching more TV, and 25% spending more time on the Internet."

I know I am eating out less than six months ago. But for me it isn't really the economy. It's that I moved from an area with tons of great places to eat out, to an area that... sucks! I always make sure I can budget in some good meals. They are my treat to myself for hard work. I don't tend to eat out at the real high end places, but look for great quality hidden gems and ethnic eateries. So, because the restaurant scene is so mediocre in my area, I cook and entertain more than I did six months ago. I have become more conscious of my food spending. i look for deals when it comes to meat, poultry, and seafood. When the local market has some really nice looking rib-eyes, strip steaks, bonelss chicken thighs, or seafood on sale, I buy a few and vaccum seal and freeze the extras. Just lately lobsters have gone done in price because of panics in the market, so I am actually treating myself to them more often. just last week I got four lobsters for $15 and they were dinner for myself and lunch for two for two days.

What about you? Are you eating out less? What food/entertainment changes, if any, have you made?

A study that was done by the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) last week said that people who ate the healthiest foods were the most likely to eat at home. The study found that 71% of shoppers "believe the food they eat at home is healthier than meals consumed out" but it also found that 68% prepared dinner from scratch on a daily basis, showing a bias in their sample for people who already prefer to eat and cook at home.

This doesn't mean that eating at home is necessarily any healthier than eating out. As with all things food-related, this issue boils down to choices and in the case of eating out vs. eating in, the two biggest ones are what we eat and how we prepare it. The people in the survey are probably correct in thinking that the food that they prepared at home is healthier. They have complete control over what goes into each of the dishes they serve and what the portion sizes are. Many people will choose healthier preparations at home, using nonstick cookware and not keeping a squeeze bottle full of oil next to the stove (a pro-kitchen item that caused problems on a calorie-sensitive Top Chef episode), reaching for it more often than salt or pepper.

So is eating at home better for your health? Not necessarily, but it can be healthier than many restaurant or prepackaged alternatives, especially if your definition of "home cooking" isn't the same, on a daily basis, as Paula Deen's.

The Zagat Survey recently released some stats from its new 2007 edition of America's Top Restaurants. According to Zagat, the citizens of Houston, Austin and Dallas/Ft. Worth dined out the most, all about four times per week. (Houston also frequently tops the Men's Fitness list of America's fattest cities.) The average meal is also a little cheaper in Houston ($27.04), compared with some of the more expensive dining cities on the survey, such as New York City ($39.43) and Palm Beach, FL ($38.56). Also, west coast diners apparently tip a percentage point or so less than East Coast diners, according to Zagat. Average tips out west hovered around 18 percent, while averages on the other side of the country were around 19 percent. There are still plenty of chowhounds out there too, apparently; 63 percent of those surveyed said they would drive 45 minutes each way for a good meal. Restaurant News Resource has the full Zagat press release with lots more info.

For years, binge-eating has been thought to be an almost entirely secretive, private habit, but some new research by Dr. Gayle Timmerman of the University of Texas at Austin's School of Nursing shows that binge eating may be more likely to occur in restaurants, especially for women. Binge eating is overeating compulsively and in a restaurant that can translate to ordering an appetizer and a dessert when you might only otherwise have been hungry enough for one main course. Women tended to take in an extra 200-300 calories and about 15 grams of fat when they ate out.

The frequency with which the study participants, as well as people in general, eat out is one of the biggest causes for concern. The participants went to a restaurant or got take out on half of all the days they were in the study and when meals out get that frequent, they are no longer "special occasions" calling for indulgence, though that is the mindset than many still have. Another problem is portion size which, when combined with restaurants' "ample delicious food cues," can cause even a disciplined eater to press on with eating when they should have stopped.

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