2009-06-12 | American Culture | Hits:389 | AddFavorite(0)

So, if you’ve lived in the U.S. for several years, you’ve probably noticed that Americans often eat out. You’ll see people going out for breakfast, lunch, or dinner and, sometimes, more than one meal per day.

 

Businesspeople “do” (have) “power” lunches at which they discuss transactions, such as deals or mergers and acquisitions. Mid-level managers network with colleagues over lunch or dinner. And even students engaged in a summer internship have lunch with their boss or coworkers.

Evidently, while Americans had jobs, disposable incomes, and credit cards, all this dining out was beneficial for the restaurant industry. Fast food and more fancy establishments alike enjoyed solid revenues.

 

There were—and still are—several downsides to dining out instead of cooking and entertaining at home. First, some Americans end up gaining weight because U.S. restaurant portions are typically larger than they should be. Second, diners often eat too much that’s unhealthy, including red meat, sugar, and salt, and also drink liquor excessively. As a result, some frequent restaurant patrons’ health deteriorates, as their blood pressure and bad cholesterol levels rise and their livers are put under severe stress. In turn, such individuals may require medical attention and, therefore, run up healthcare costs. Third, unlike cooking at home, at a restaurant, diners can’t control what goes on in the kitchen, including cleaniness. Recently, several fast food restaurant workers posted a video online that showed them intentionally contaminating diners’ food. And lastly, because many American restaurant goers charge their breakfasts, lunches, and dinners to their credit cards, they incur huge debts.

 

As the economy has slowed and millions of Americans have lost their jobs, restaurants have also suffered. Dining spots that once required reservations weeks in advance are now less crowded and, in some cases, have even shut down. Those who still have jobs have cut back on or even eliminated eating out, preferring to bring their lunches to work.

 

The “silver lining” to the current recession is that families may eat at home more frequently. As a result, parents and children will spend more time together. Like other cultures that cherish dining and entertaining at home—or like America many decades ago—America may find that eating at home provides a host of benefits. It’s less fattening, more healthy, less expensive, and brings families closer.