I home cook a lot bc my food is better, healthier imo. 2-3 times a month for dinner. It will either be take out or dine in. Mostly takeout since covid We also bring home packed lunch etc to work every day.

3-4x week + some fast casual (Panera/Chipotle/etc.) I know.

At the beginning of COVID we saved SO MUCH money because we didn't go out to eat and kids weren't going from one activity to the next.

We do takeout once a week, usually on Fridays. I don't often go out to eat at restaurants; even pre-COVID, it wasn't something I did on a regular basis. Our neighborhood (North Potomac) doesn't have a ton of restaurant options. For date-night a few times per year, DH and I go to Pike & Rose.

We usually eat out about 2x a week. I have a family though (husband, 2 kids). When I was single, I ate out for at least one meal most days. Some days I ate out for every meal, plus drinks. It was as different lifestyle. I was home much less and out with friends a lot more. I tried not to waste food though. Leftover pizza from one night got paired with a salad I made from stuff I bought at the grocery store and eaten for lunch later in the week. Veggies about to go bad got roasted and eaten as part of dinner.

OP, you need to rethink your habits. There's no reason you need to buy groceries you're just going to throw away. Also, why don't you eat your restaurant leftovers. Also, there is a food box in my neighborhood where you can donate non-perishable food. I'm sure there's one near you.

1-2 times a week. We are retired and we can afford to eat out more but the extra calories and expense aren’t worth doing it more. Twice a week my husband will bring very good soup home from his club so I end up cooking 3-4 nights a week.

OP, $300 a month is only $10 a day. That’s not too bad and so it’s surprising you have to throw away food on $10 a day.

We eat out several times a week for dinner and buy lunch whenever going on site (about 2-3 times a week).

2-3 x a month.