Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

they can be maybe $20 or so per person, perhaps a little more if we have a drink or two

A little more with drink or two becomes $50 per person after tax and tip. Not so little.

I'm the OP - and I know it's not so little. That's why I was asking.

I'm not concerned about the idea of poisoning myself by eating at restaurants - frankly, I'm not such a great cook myself! - but am curious about what the alternatives are for hanging out with friends you would like to see. Hiking is a good one with some friends but definitely not with others. Plus it's a much bigger time commitment than meeting for dinner.

I'm not talking about community potlucks - not something where it's a big group of people. I mean situations where you are spending time with a couple of other people who you are making plans to see and talk to.

And I will add: I am not complaining about how much we spend at restaurants! I enjoy this way of socializing, though of course it'd always be nice to spend less $.

I am mostly just curious what people who don't eat at restaurants do to socialize. It sounds like some of you host at your house - I honestly think that would end up costing just as much to do, plus I'd have to cook and clean up - or you go out to sporting events (doesn't that cost $$, too?), or just see your friends at bigger community gatherings like kids games or church potlucks.

No sane person is unless they eat at Uncle Petey's Pig Factory.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Going to restaurants is literally paying corporations to poison you with overpriced food. We avoid them not just for finances, but because we value our health and what we put into our bodies.

And as others have noted, we socialize at each others' homes, at parks, at community gatherings, and elsewhere. The idea that you can't socialize without spending money in very specific environments is one more most Americans (and nearly all on DCUM) have been brainwashed into believing.

Actually Americans, compared to most other places, go to restaurants crazily infrequently. Spend some time in France or Italy and you will absolutely laugh that you ever thought Americans were the ones spending lots of time in restaurants

Um, this is wrong. My family is French and we spend part of each year there. Most French don't eat out more than once a month or so because a.) it's expensive, and b.) it's considered a special event, and not a daily expenditure like here in the US. On top of this, most people you see in French cafes are typically tourists, especially in major cities (Paris, Nice, etc). There's also a lot of government publicity about the importance of healthy eating, and people are actively encouraged to limit eating out. Why are you spreading misinformation?

+1 from an Italian. Most of us don't treat eating out like a daily necessity the way Americans do. I don't understand why someone would make up information about countries and customs s/he clearly has no experience with.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

they can be maybe $20 or so per person, perhaps a little more if we have a drink or two

A little more with drink or two becomes $50 per person after tax and tip. Not so little.

I'm the OP - and I know it's not so little. That's why I was asking.

I'm not concerned about the idea of poisoning myself by eating at restaurants - frankly, I'm not such a great cook myself! - but am curious about what the alternatives are for hanging out with friends you would like to see. Hiking is a good one with some friends but definitely not with others. Plus it's a much bigger time commitment than meeting for dinner.

I'm not talking about community potlucks - not something where it's a big group of people. I mean situations where you are spending time with a couple of other people who you are making plans to see and talk to.

And I will add: I am not complaining about how much we spend at restaurants! I enjoy this way of socializing, though of course it'd always be nice to spend less $.

I am mostly just curious what people who don't eat at restaurants do to socialize. It sounds like some of you host at your house - I honestly think that would end up costing just as much to do, plus I'd have to cook and clean up - or you go out to sporting events (doesn't that cost $$, too?), or just see your friends at bigger community gatherings like kids games or church potlucks.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Going to restaurants is literally paying corporations to poison you with overpriced food. We avoid them not just for finances, but because we value our health and what we put into our bodies.

And as others have noted, we socialize at each others' homes, at parks, at community gatherings, and elsewhere. The idea that you can't socialize without spending money in very specific environments is one more most Americans (and nearly all on DCUM) have been brainwashed into believing.

Actually Americans, compared to most other places, go to restaurants crazily infrequently. Spend some time in France or Italy and you will absolutely laugh that you ever thought Americans were the ones spending lots of time in restaurants

Um, this is wrong. My family is French and we spend part of each year there. Most French don't eat out more than once a month or so because a.) it's expensive, and b.) it's considered a special event, and not a daily expenditure like here in the US. On top of this, most people you see in French cafes are typically tourists, especially in major cities (Paris, Nice, etc). There's also a lot of government publicity about the importance of healthy eating, and people are actively encouraged to limit eating out. Why are you spreading misinformation?

Another French person here - correct to some extent. Young professionals do eat out more often, and of course there are always the "working" lunches (my father and his colleagues would stay 2 hours for lunch and bottles of wine, but times are a-changing and the younger generation is faster).

This is actually rather uncommon, although it is a stereotype for some reason.

http://www.maitresrestaurateurs.com/quelles-sont-les-habitudes-alimentaires-des-francais-le-midi/

"Selon le sondage, apporter sa « lunchbox » au travail est une pratique extrêmement répandue en France. En effet, plus d’un interrogé sur 3 (35%) déclare apporter son repas au travail. Le sandwich est la deuxième habitude alimentaire la plus courante : 25% des interrogés y ont recours le midi. 1% ne mange rien le midi.

Déjeuner au restaurant ne semble pas être une pratique si courante pour les Français. En effet, seulement 4% y déjeunent le midi."

For lunch, 35% pack a lunch. 25% pick up sandwiches from stores, and 16% go to fast food places, with 4% going to restaurants.

Do you not know what word "young professionals" means?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Going to restaurants is literally paying corporations to poison you with overpriced food. We avoid them not just for finances, but because we value our health and what we put into our bodies.

And as others have noted, we socialize at each others' homes, at parks, at community gatherings, and elsewhere. The idea that you can't socialize without spending money in very specific environments is one more most Americans (and nearly all on DCUM) have been brainwashed into believing.

Actually Americans, compared to most other places, go to restaurants crazily infrequently. Spend some time in France or Italy and you will absolutely laugh that you ever thought Americans were the ones spending lots of time in restaurants

Um, this is wrong. My family is French and we spend part of each year there. Most French don't eat out more than once a month or so because a.) it's expensive, and b.) it's considered a special event, and not a daily expenditure like here in the US. On top of this, most people you see in French cafes are typically tourists, especially in major cities (Paris, Nice, etc). There's also a lot of government publicity about the importance of healthy eating, and people are actively encouraged to limit eating out. Why are you spreading misinformation?

Another French person here - correct to some extent. Young professionals do eat out more often, and of course there are always the "working" lunches (my father and his colleagues would stay 2 hours for lunch and bottles of wine, but times are a-changing and the younger generation is faster).

This is actually rather uncommon, although it is a stereotype for some reason.

http://www.maitresrestaurateurs.com/quelles-sont-les-habitudes-alimentaires-des-francais-le-midi/

"Selon le sondage, apporter sa « lunchbox » au travail est une pratique extrêmement répandue en France. En effet, plus d’un interrogé sur 3 (35%) déclare apporter son repas au travail. Le sandwich est la deuxième habitude alimentaire la plus courante : 25% des interrogés y ont recours le midi. 1% ne mange rien le midi.

Déjeuner au restaurant ne semble pas être une pratique si courante pour les Français. En effet, seulement 4% y déjeunent le midi."

For lunch, 35% pack a lunch. 25% pick up sandwiches from stores, and 16% go to fast food places, with 4% going to restaurants.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Going to restaurants is literally paying corporations to poison you with overpriced food. We avoid them not just for finances, but because we value our health and what we put into our bodies.

And as others have noted, we socialize at each others' homes, at parks, at community gatherings, and elsewhere. The idea that you can't socialize without spending money in very specific environments is one more most Americans (and nearly all on DCUM) have been brainwashed into believing.

Actually Americans, compared to most other places, go to restaurants crazily infrequently. Spend some time in France or Italy and you will absolutely laugh that you ever thought Americans were the ones spending lots of time in restaurants

Um, this is wrong. My family is French and we spend part of each year there. Most French don't eat out more than once a month or so because a.) it's expensive, and b.) it's considered a special event, and not a daily expenditure like here in the US. On top of this, most people you see in French cafes are typically tourists, especially in major cities (Paris, Nice, etc). There's also a lot of government publicity about the importance of healthy eating, and people are actively encouraged to limit eating out. Why are you spreading misinformation?

Another French person here - correct to some extent. Young professionals do eat out more often, and of course there are always the "working" lunches (my father and his colleagues would stay 2 hours for lunch and bottles of wine, but times are a-changing and the younger generation is faster).

This is actually rather uncommon, although it is a stereotype for some reason.

http://www.maitresrestaurateurs.com/quelles-sont-les-habitudes-alimentaires-des-francais-le-midi/

"Selon le sondage, apporter sa « lunchbox » au travail est une pratique extrêmement répandue en France. En effet, plus d’un interrogé sur 3 (35%) déclare apporter son repas au travail. Le sandwich est la deuxième habitude alimentaire la plus courante : 25% des interrogés y ont recours le midi. 1% ne mange rien le midi.

Déjeuner au restaurant ne semble pas être une pratique si courante pour les Français. En effet, seulement 4% y déjeunent le midi."

For lunch, 35% pack a lunch. 25% pick up sandwiches from stores, and 16% go to fast food places, with 4% going to restaurants.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Going to restaurants is literally paying corporations to poison you with overpriced food. We avoid them not just for finances, but because we value our health and what we put into our bodies.

And as others have noted, we socialize at each others' homes, at parks, at community gatherings, and elsewhere. The idea that you can't socialize without spending money in very specific environments is one more most Americans (and nearly all on DCUM) have been brainwashed into believing.

Actually Americans, compared to most other places, go to restaurants crazily infrequently. Spend some time in France or Italy and you will absolutely laugh that you ever thought Americans were the ones spending lots of time in restaurants

Um, this is wrong. My family is French and we spend part of each year there. Most French don't eat out more than once a month or so because a.) it's expensive, and b.) it's considered a special event, and not a daily expenditure like here in the US. On top of this, most people you see in French cafes are typically tourists, especially in major cities (Paris, Nice, etc). There's also a lot of government publicity about the importance of healthy eating, and people are actively encouraged to limit eating out. Why are you spreading misinformation?

Another French person here - correct to some extent. Young professionals do eat out more often, and of course there are always the "working" lunches (my father and his colleagues would stay 2 hours for lunch and bottles of wine, but times are a-changing and the younger generation is faster).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Going to restaurants is literally paying corporations to poison you with overpriced food. We avoid them not just for finances, but because we value our health and what we put into our bodies.

And as others have noted, we socialize at each others' homes, at parks, at community gatherings, and elsewhere. The idea that you can't socialize without spending money in very specific environments is one more most Americans (and nearly all on DCUM) have been brainwashed into believing.

Actually Americans, compared to most other places, go to restaurants crazily infrequently. Spend some time in France or Italy and you will absolutely laugh that you ever thought Americans were the ones spending lots of time in restaurants

Um, this is wrong. My family is French and we spend part of each year there. Most French don't eat out more than once a month or so because a.) it's expensive, and b.) it's considered a special event, and not a daily expenditure like here in the US. On top of this, most people you see in French cafes are typically tourists, especially in major cities (Paris, Nice, etc). There's also a lot of government publicity about the importance of healthy eating, and people are actively encouraged to limit eating out. Why are you spreading misinformation?

Another French person here - correct to some extent. Young professionals do eat out more often, and of course there are always the "working" lunches (my father and his colleagues would stay 2 hours for lunch and bottles of wine, but times are a-changing and the younger generation is faster).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Going to restaurants is literally paying corporations to poison you with overpriced food. We avoid them not just for finances, but because we value our health and what we put into our bodies.

And as others have noted, we socialize at each others' homes, at parks, at community gatherings, and elsewhere. The idea that you can't socialize without spending money in very specific environments is one more most Americans (and nearly all on DCUM) have been brainwashed into believing.

Actually Americans, compared to most other places, go to restaurants crazily infrequently. Spend some time in France or Italy and you will absolutely laugh that you ever thought Americans were the ones spending lots of time in restaurants

Um, this is wrong. My family is French and we spend part of each year there. Most French don't eat out more than once a month or so because a.) it's expensive, and b.) it's considered a special event, and not a daily expenditure like here in the US. On top of this, most people you see in French cafes are typically tourists, especially in major cities (Paris, Nice, etc). There's also a lot of government publicity about the importance of healthy eating, and people are actively encouraged to limit eating out. Why are you spreading misinformation?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Going to restaurants is literally paying corporations to poison you with overpriced food. We avoid them not just for finances, but because we value our health and what we put into our bodies.

And as others have noted, we socialize at each others' homes, at parks, at community gatherings, and elsewhere. The idea that you can't socialize without spending money in very specific environments is one more most Americans (and nearly all on DCUM) have been brainwashed into believing.

Actually Americans, compared to most other places, go to restaurants crazily infrequently. Spend some time in France or Italy and you will absolutely laugh that you ever thought Americans were the ones spending lots of time in restaurants

Um, this is wrong. My family is French and we spend part of each year there. Most French don't eat out more than once a month or so because a.) it's expensive, and b.) it's considered a special event, and not a daily expenditure like here in the US. On top of this, most people you see in French cafes are typically tourists, especially in major cities (Paris, Nice, etc). There's also a lot of government publicity about the importance of healthy eating, and people are actively encouraged to limit eating out. Why are you spreading misinformation?

Anonymous wrote:It's like you don't know that food exists in other places than restaurants, OP.



The only way we can afford our excellent public school is by living frugally. We don't go out much at all, and hardly ever with friends. We prefer going to each other's houses, because then we can spend a lot more time together, and the kids can play while we cook and sit after dinner. Plus I'm picky and only like expensive restaurants .