How Often Do You Go Out to Eat?

Updated on February 10, 2011
S.J. asks from Cherryville, MO
28 answers

Taking a poll - how often do you and your significant other go out to eat? If often or rarely, what is the reason?

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A.W.

answers from Kokomo on

We eat out as a family about once every two weeks as a treat. I like to cook and it is a lot less expensive to eat in. Also, I control the nutrition and quality of the food when we eat here and I want my kids to have healthy eating habits. We very rarely eat fast food of any kind. My husband and I try to have "date night" about once a month. Sometimes we go out more in one month and less in another but I think it is healthy for us to get some alone time and good for my kids to see that we "date" each other.

2 moms found this helpful
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B.C.

answers from New York on

We go out as a family 2 to 3x a week just he and I, it's been over a year. The kids, after school commitments, weekend commitments just never have the time. However we do try to go to a movie every 3 mths.

1 mom found this helpful
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L.M.

answers from New York on

Hubby and I (no kids) go out to lunch an average of 2 times per month.
Not counting vacations, the family goes out about every 3 weeks.
We only get take out about 3 times a year.

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R.C.

answers from Nashville on

Usually no more than once a week and always as a family. Hubby and I alone? 2 or 3 times a year.

2 moms found this helpful
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M.R.

answers from Chicago on

If we're talking just my husband and I? Maybe once every other month.

However, as a family we go out for lunch every Saturday and Sunday.

1 mom found this helpful

J.P.

answers from Stockton on

Not often enough! LOL ~ We have 4 kids - so by the time I get a babysitter and pay to go out to dinner it is a lot. Before we had the second "set" of kids, we were going out once a week on Wed. nights when the older kids had church. It was great!! We will be able to do that again. Going out as a family we dont' do often anymore either. Having one baby that is almost 2 and a 6 month old, and the 2 older ones, it takes almost as long to load the car and unload that car as it takes in the restaurant.

1 mom found this helpful

K.G.

answers from Boca Raton on

JUST my husband and I probably once per month~ My husband and I WITH our son probably once per week :0)

1 mom found this helpful

S.H.

answers from Spokane on

We eat out maybe once every couple of weeks. But it's not hubby and I alone, that rarely happens!

1 mom found this helpful

M.D.

answers from Washington DC on

We were going out WAY too often, because as my neighbor says we keep the roads hot with our kids activities :). But I am on a get healthy kick right now so we haven't eaten out in two weeks! YAY! We will eat out tomorrow night beause we are doing Valentines with our kids (Justin Bieber movie, Build-a-Bear, and a nice family dinner)...but other than that, I don't see eating out in our future.

1 mom found this helpful

T.B.

answers from Bloomington on

We go to a sit down restaurant 1-2 times a month, because it's hard to enjoy with 2 little ones or get a sitter. We eat Subway, pizza, or fast food probably once a week. This is because we are out at mealtime or I don't want to cook and he picks it up on the way home.

1 mom found this helpful

T.F.

answers from Dallas on

We run our business out of our home and around lunch time we need to step away. I have to step out of the office and get away from my Quickbooks and excel numbers.

So, we do lunch almost daily at Market Street (favorite fresh grocer with salad bar and fresh soups) or some sandwich shop.

We also eat dinner out often. We belong to a high end country club and we go there for lunch, dinner often. As for 5 star restaurants, those are about once every 3 months or so.

We typically stay away from fast food places, our lunches are fresh sandwiches, salads, soups, etc. Dinners are also away from fast food... includes Italian restaurants, PF Chang's, specialty dining places.

So why? Lunch is to step away from business. Dinner is because we feel like it and just want to. We are not overweight because of it. We are quite healthy and going to the gym is also a part of our routine.

1 mom found this helpful
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B.J.

answers from Los Angeles on

Just me & him? Never, LoL We started dating when his daughter was 2 & I had only 2 kids at the time, so we always just included the kids in our dates. We usually go out to eat as a family 2 or 3 times over the weekend, or the kids & I will go meet some friends or fam for lunch once a week, but otherwise never just him & I. But we don't mind, we have our time after the kids to bed at night & we sit & talk often instead of watching tv, or we just snuggle & watch a movie & we add our own commentary throughout the movie & make eachother laugh, LoL so we have our time together. Going out to eat isn't our choice of date night anyways tho, we usually go out to a swing or salsa club every year on our anniversery. (FYI Swing dancing club, not "swinger" club LoL)

1 mom found this helpful
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M.H.

answers from Dallas on

Almost daily. Neither of us has any desire to cook.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.B.

answers from Dallas on

We are a family of four. We MIGHT go out to eat once a month...and that includes pizza delivery and lunches. Occasionally the hubby does have a business lunch or two, but even that is rather rare. For the most part for us it's an easy way to save money. We also know exactly what we are eating when we fix it ourselves. We aren't big fans of crowds and there are several restaurants that we just don't think are worth the money. And we all enjoy cooking. Mealtime is family time for us.

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K.P.

answers from New York on

Alone? Rarely- we don't get much help from my in-laws in the babysitting arena, so that means hiring a sitter, which is fine but really pricey when you "add up" the night. I will say, though, if someone offers to hang with our son we have learned to accept the offer and make plans!

I would say we probably go out alone 4 times a year (anniversary, his bday, my bday and then we Christmas shop together and make it a date)... with friends maybe another 2 or 3 times a year (group of couples that get together at eachother's homes)... with our little guy 2x a month.

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K.F.

answers from Cleveland on

We go out to eat once a month, that is the only time we have someone watch the kids. Sometimes we go out to eat with the kids but not often at all, only if we happen to be out and it's getting close to dinner time then we will stop somewhere. We get take out once a week.

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B.P.

answers from New York on

That really depends on how you define "out to eat". To a nice restaurant with no kid options, we got out 2-3 times a year. My husband and I will go out to chinese buffet every 2 weeks or so while our son is in school and we will either get take out or go out to a family style (check is around 20-30 dollars) once a week, maybe once every other week. We eat most of our meals at home but sometimes my son and I go out and share a slice of pizza or fries and a burger once a week. Why? Because eating out is expensive and can be fattening.

Before we had a child...totally different story...I am 10 lbs lighter and husbnad is 35 lbs lighter now!

C.F.

answers from Boston on

Before DS - easily 3 or 4 times a week, Since DS - Maybe Once or Twice a month............. Do I miss it ? - Sure, but its nothing I mourn over. LOL

M.M.

answers from Tucson on

By oursleves without kids, once every 2 months if we are lucky. I'd say we eat out ordering pizza, fast food, restraunt with kids 4x a month.

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K.U.

answers from Detroit on

As a family, with 1 child (DD is 3), we eat out once a week, sometimes more (there's a family restaurant in town that has super cheapy deals on Tuesdays so we tend to take advantage of that). Hubby and I might get to eat out alone though only 2 or 3 times a year.

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J.S.

answers from Minneapolis on

Rarely (about once every 4-6 months). We have 3 kids and are on a budget. Plus, eating out is not always very enjoyable as our kids are young (5, 4, and 2). My husband packs a lunch, so doesn't eat out at work either - unless it is for a meeting.

We eat out alone maybe twice a year.

J.

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V.T.

answers from Dallas on

We go out to eat once a week, with our daughter. Most of the time it's to a small restaurant and it typically doesn't total over $20. At least once a month, we try to go out to a nicer restaurant, and by nicer I mean an Outback style restaurant. Every 2-3 months, we have date night and go out to a really nice restaurant. I belong to restaurant.com and we often get gift certificates for $25, for around $2-$3 a piece, so it brings our cost down.

C.M.

answers from St. Louis on

I'll first say that I love to eat out!! I eat out as often as I do because it works with my budget and diet (trying to lose weight).

I go out to eat 2x a month with my mom (during work week). We dine out.

I eat out 1x a week with coworkers (usually go get it and bring it back).

With my husband and/or kids we usually eat out 2-3 times a month. It's mostly carryout (Chinese, pizza) or fast food since our kids are young and don't do too well in restaurants for long periods of time.

My husband never eats out. But he's home with the kids Mon-Thurs then working 12 hour shifts on the weekends and they don't eat out while at work. He used to eat out at least 1-2x a week when he was on a different schedule.

That being said, I also wanted to note that if either my husband or I eat out during the week (not as a couple or family) then it comes out of our invidivual 'slush' fund - meaning it's not budgeted in. If we go out as a family, I do budget for that each month.

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J.C.

answers from New York on

Out to eat once a week. Take in one or two times more. But I am a New Yorker so it's normal to eat out a lot. I also work FT and it's a 1 hour commute each way.

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K.R.

answers from Spokane on

Going out to sit down for a meal - once or twice a year (budget and time do not allow for more). Hitting up McDs or other fast food, about twice a month (mostly just to get the kids out and let them burn off energy in the climber during these cold and snowy months!)

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B.B.

answers from New York on

Just my hubby and I - maybe once every few months when we can get a sitter.

With the boys - the same, about once every few months.

We do order out probably once a week (pizza or chinese) but we bring it home.

Our kiddos are young - 2.5 and 14 months, so it is just easier to eat at home!

V.W.

answers from Jacksonville on

We don't eat from home several times per week. Depends on what you mean by "eat out" though... as to how I would answer that part. I pick up/carry out something 2x per week on the nights the kids have karate class that runs from 5:30- 7:30/:45 and my husband is at work and not at home for dinner those nights anyway. Then, we eat out as a family probably once per week, often after church or on Friday or Saturday night if there is some activity going on and we are out of the house at dinner time. My husband and I eat out just US no kids, about once per month or so. It is more of a rarity that we eat at home as a family than anything else.. and we all really look forward to it.

J.L.

answers from Los Angeles on

Maybe 2x a month. Most of the time we bring our daughter with us, sometimes she's at the inlaws so we go by ourselves. The reason is because we can, if our finances allow it, and we enjoy going out.
Lately we really haven't had much time for anything. My SO is gone from 6am-9pm, working lots of hours. Sometimes a dinner out where we can just enjoy each others company and our daughters....where I don't have to clean up, run back and forth to the kitchen, when we don't have to pick up the food off the floor, or think about the dishes...... is needed for family time. =)

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