The problem with dining out

[Sidenote--anyone know who makes these videos with the graphics and that music and the flowiness and text? just wondering, I have seen them everywhere lately and know they must be done by the same place.]

According to this video, 66 percent of people are eating out less. To this, I say, "Excellent news!" Because more likely than not, these are people who can't afford to be eating out as much as they used to (and in fact, they probably couldn't afford to be eating out so much when they were eating out, they just are coming to realize now how they must change their habits.)

The problem with this video is it makes the viewer feel like he or she is doing the economy a disservice by not going out to a restaurant at least once a week. In fact, if they are cutting back in order to live within their means and not rack up credit card debt each month, they are helping themselves and our economy in the long run.

I would like to add, I enjoy dining out just as much as the next girl. There is something really wonderful about sitting at a table with your family, friends, spouse or dating partner while drinking wine and talking and laughing and trying new foods and enjoying the ambiance and watching other people do the same all around you. It's a treat. It's fun to try new places with different types of food you've never had, and it's fun to go to your old, favorite places where you know you'll love the food. Dining out is an experience I enjoy, and I know I am not alone in that.

But, along with the 66 percent this video mentions, I have a budget I need to stay within and frankly, dining out just doesn't fit into it every week. Furthermore, the less I eat out, the more special it becomes. I think the last time I ate at a restaurant was about a month ago with a friend, at a place called Founding Farmers (no, actually, I didn't intend to plug them, but their food is delicious, prices are fair, the building is LEED-certified, and the food comes from local farms--umm, restaurant dream come true much!?)

Why do we care about beefing up the restaurant industry anyhow? More and more people with college educations are losing their high-paying, stable jobs and turning to food service jobs just to stay afloat. More young graduates are sleeping on the floor while working for minimum wage at these restaurants, when if the economy was actually where it should be--if we hadn't ended up in this financial mess due to improper spending, they could be getting paid internships and not having to work these part-time waiting jobs.

If you want to beef up an industry that's REALLY struggling, buy a subscription to the print version of a newspaper you read! (Make sure you recycle the newspaper. heh.)

We can't keep putting band-aid's over the problem. We can't keep frivolously pumping our money into things that bring us no added value. I say, if you can afford nice meals out once and a while, go for it. If you can't, stay home and whip up something in your own kitchen.