Eating at home or dining out

[upstate]

Interested in finding out how often people go out to dinner each week or do they stay home and cook. Would you note in your response if you are a FROG, snowbird or snowflake, thanks.

[asianthree]

does not matter where i live..(snowflake) eat out once a week...and it needs to be worth the calories...will be less when we spend more time in TV just not many mom and pop resturants

[CFrance]

We are frogs and probably go out to eat on average once a week. Mostly we prefer going out to lunch and then having the leftovers for dinner.

[nitehawk]

Interested in finding out how often people go out to dinner each week or do they stay home and cook. Would you note in your response if you are a FROG, snowbird or snowflake, thanks.

I am interested why you want to know ???????

[Lovey2]

We are none of the above (what do they mean?) I think, but we go out more often here than we did at home...even after we retired. Seems like we are out and about more, have more friends available to play (read:eat) with, and not too much time for BIG meal preparation. This plays hell on my waistline, but we are having fun, and I rationalize it by saying I am exercising more!! :) I think maybe in the winter, when it cools down and there are more people here, we will eat in more.

[upstate]

I am interested why you want to know ???????

My only reason in asking is that in a " resort, country club, etc " atmosphere people may be more apt to dine out.

[gomoho]

FROG here - we usually eat at home and go out when friends are involved. Tired of paying for food I can usually prepare better at home, so it really is more of a social experience for us.

[jnieman]

We eat at home alot because I like to cook. If someone asks us to go out we do. Probably 2 times a week we eat out. I actually like my home cooked food better than the restaurants. We definitely eat home more when the snowbirds are back because the restaurants are more crowded.

[BarryRX]

We are frogs and usually eat out once a week, but get take out another 2 times a week. In addition, my wife sleeps in but I am an early riser and I love to go out for breakfast, so I'll do that 2 times a week.

[Duvalboomer]

Once a week and only at places I know I will get good service. I don't waste my money at places with poor service. Live in TV full time (frog)

[JSR22]

Interested in finding out how often people go out to dinner each week or do they stay home and cook. Would you note in your response if you are a FROG, snowbird or snowflake, thanks.

We are Frogs and eat dinner out usually 4 times a week. Lunch on the average 2 times a week. W never eat breakfast out because I do not eat breakfast.

[GPGuar]

We're flakes, we eat out with friends 6 out of 7 nights while we're here. I don't think the oven or the dishwasher has been used yet, other than to test it out.:D

[Tom Hannon]

We are frogs and usually eat out once a week, but get take out another 2 times a week. In addition, my wife sleeps in but I am an early riser and I love to go out for breakfast, so I'll do that 2 times a week.

Okay, Barry. When I get to TV we should get together for breakfast. I am also an early riser

[Barefoot]

We're flakes, we eat out with friends 6 out of 7 nights while we're here. I don't think the oven or the dishwasher has been used yet, other than to test it out.:D

Same here .. We eat out almost every night. We are Seasonal Residents and spend six months each year in TV.

[zcaveman]

We are frogs and normally eat out once a week. We do lunch to avoid the crowds and also for the lower prices.

However, we always try to schedule early doctor appointments so we can do breakfast out.

If we skip golf on Sunday AM we do breakfast out and the Markets of Marion.

Z

[Tracy1581]

well hate to admit it but we eat out MORE than we should. But to be honest, I'm sick of the same old , same old. So tonight I'm putting together something completely healthy you'd never find in a restaurant - steamed kale, with steamed spinach, loads of all different veggies, some sesame seeds, some hummus, some chicken. I'm tired of same old sides when dining out, broccoli, corn. Salads when dining out are awful Basically lettuce, hardly any veggies anymore, cucumbers, tomatoes, red cabbage, radishes, carrots, are what I love on salads, not just lettuce, cheese and croutons. That is NOT healthy. Determined to eat more a home, especially when the snowbirds return. That will be a good incentive to start cooking more at home.

[Mikitv]

We rarely eat out. I don't find the food around here that great to spend my money and calories on. We are full timers. I am lucky that I have another cook in the house but then most of the time we eat pretty simply with lots of fresh organic produce and meat.

[Lbmb24101]

We are recent frogs
Eat dinner out every night
But zcaveman hasa goid point about crowds and $ being better for lunch so we might start to do lunch instead

[BarryRX]

Okay, Barry. When I get to TV we should get together for breakfast. I am also an early riser

Tom, that would be a pleasure, and I know just the spot. Let me know when you'll be back!

[Bonny]

Lived here full time for 13 1/2 years. We eat out almost every night.

[Ohiogirl]

Probably go out once a week for dinner, once a week for lunch, breakfast once in a while when in TV (7 -1/2 mos). I still like to cook, and feel we eat much healthier at home, less salt for sure, and a greater variety of veggies. We grill out a lot.

Interestingly, we eat out more when back in Ohio for the summer. One reason might be more interesting restaurants - Columbus is a real foodie town.

Also, when in TV seems we are busy all day, and just want to stay home and relax at night. In Ohio for the summer, seems we are less busy during the day and do more at night - this is partly because some of our friends are not retired, I think, and also because of all the summer festivals, concerts, etc. - most are at night, and only available in summer.

[TraceyMooreRN]

Fulltime here and work fulltime plus overtime--we eat out 90% of the time. Usually one meal of the day--rarely we eat more than that anyway. Too busy and too many activities to attend to stop and eat on our days off!

We enjoy the Country Clubs and Lake Sumter Landing the most.

[ConnecticutYankee]

We're here full time and we eat in mostly because it is healthier.

[Russ_Boston]

We're here full time and we eat in mostly because it is healthier.

Ditto.

Full time and also work 3 days per week. Not just healthier but better I think. But maybe 1 every other week we go out with neighbors/friends for the social aspect. Maybe 1 a week for quick foods (subway etc.). Obviously if we have guests over we go out more.

[golf2140]

Out just about every evening. So many restaurants, so little time!!!!

[Vinny]

We eat at home almost all the time. When we moved here we started eating out almost every night with friends and I gained 45 lbs. lost the excess weight and now eat at home.

[CFrance]

Probably go out once a week for dinner, once a week for lunch, breakfast once in a while when in TV (7 -1/2 mos). I still like to cook, and feel we eat much healthier at home, less salt for sure, and a greater variety of veggies. We grill out a lot.

Interestingly, we eat out more when back in Ohio for the summer. One reason might be more interesting restaurants - Columbus is a real foodie town.

Also, when in TV seems we are busy all day, and just want to stay home and relax at night. In Ohio for the summer, seems we are less busy during the day and do more at night - this is partly because some of our friends are not retired, I think, and also because of all the summer festivals, concerts, etc. - most are at night, and only available in summer.

Columbus restaurants... YUM!! :BigApplause::BigApplause:

[Bizdoc]

Frog. We eat at home most of the time (DW likes my cooking). Do eat lunch out if we are running errands and occasionally dinner for the same reason. When company visiting, we tend to eat out most nights (fits schedule better). And if it is day at the parks in Orlando, will usually eat lunch (or dinner) there.

[JAV0108]

Frogs here! We have lived here 5 1/2 years. The first year I gained thirty pounds because of eating out and eating at every social function we attended. Well, that didn't work. Now we seldom eat out and if we do it has to be pretty special. Hardly ever in the winter when lines are long and prices go up. My cholesterol is down, my blood pressure is normal and my weight is at a healthy range and I love getting out and exercising, that is my social time. I think if I continued to eat out every night I would be in the grave or at the least deathly..........................

[salferg]

After calculating that after 61 yrs. of marriage and cooking for a family of 6, I had prepared at least 66,000 meals I would RETIRE😊 We eat out almost every meal. Lunch is usually off the senior menu at a fast food restaurant. Biggest discussion of the day is "where are we going to eat?? Sure wish there was a Lubys Cafeteria here. Frogs!

[msbrit]

Snowflake...eat in all the time except when family/friends are visiting or for an ethnic food I cannot prepare well. With good time management there's plenty of time for cooking plus all the activities you want to do!

[gerryann]

Curious.....to those that eat out almost every meal....how is your health? Weight issues? I can't imagine that it can be healthy to eat resturant food EVERY DAY.....yikes!

[Barefoot]

Curious.....to those that eat out almost every meal....how is your health? Weight issues? I can't imagine that it can be healthy to eat resturant food EVERY DAY.....yikes!

Gerryann, I don't understand the stigma about restaurant food (other than the expense factor). Isn't restaurant food similar to food purchased at Publix and cooked at home? I almost always have a garden salad with grilled chicken, or perhaps grilled fish with veggies. We eat out for the social aspect and for convenience. I see no reason why people would gain weight, because every menu offers healthy choices.

[sailor47]

Barefoot, I think you are right. But I am an amateur restaurant goer. I do not go out often but when I do I over do it. All the really rich stuff soaking in butter/oil/cheese/etc. Sooo good! I think a lot of us fall into this category. I can honestly say I would be very sick if I ate out all the time. But then maybe I would change my eating habits.

Tom

[lovsthosebigdogs]

I also don't go out to eat very often but for me it's an opportunity to eat all those things I won't or can't make at home. Frequently it's something terrible for my health. I try to eat healthy most of the time and only go out to eat maybe once a month so it's a splurge. When we have friends over they want to go all the time so I guess if when I get to TV that becomes a more frequent social time for me I will have to change that habit to better choices eating out. However, I did talk my husband into our model of home because of the kitchen so if I give up cooking I may be in BIG trouble!!

[upstate]

Thanks for all of your responses, as a newbie snowflake this is good information.

[Barefoot]

Barefoot, I think you are right. But I am an amateur restaurant goer. I do not go out often but when I do I over do it. All the really rich stuff soaking in butter/oil/cheese/etc. Sooo good! I think a lot of us fall into this category. I can honestly say I would be very sick if I ate out all the time. But then maybe I would change my eating habits. Tom

I honestly think that the less you go out, the more likely you are to splurge and overdo it, because it's a "special occasion". It's easy for me to eat healthy when I eat out, because we do at all the time, so I don't have a choice. I'm lazy and I hate cooking. So at home, I may grab a series of quick snacks. For me, that is not as healthy as sitting down with friends at a restaurant where there are lots of delicious salads and grilled fish options, and lovely grilled veggies. I never go anyplace like Golden Corral, it takes too much will power. We often eat at Crispers which is relatively inexpensive and doesn't offer any fried food at all.

[keithwand]

Grilling marinated lamb chops tonight. Our summer kitchen gets used.
1 neighbor never even used their summer kitchen once in the year they owned the home.
They passed on the kitchen when they built another house across the street on the golf course.

[rubicon]

99% of our meals are prepared at home. We continue to cook in the same manner we did when we were rearing our family

There have been very few meals out wherein I honestly felt that it was worth the time and effort. I prefer to entertain at home and enjoy planning a meal for a group of friends vis a vis going out with the group. Perhaps it is because everywhere we moved we would join gourmet groups

[senior citizen]

My honest impression is that most of the fast food or semi fast food “chain” restaurants use frozen packages of prepared meals which they simply nuke. You could do the same at home, purchasing frozen processed foods. Beware all of the unwanted additives.

There is no way they could be “behind the scenes” preparing 30 different appetizers and entrees “to order”.....

Years ago, we might have been fooled.........but truly “see the light” now re how most restaurants operate......

Obviously, the great New York City or other high end restaurants do have a league of sous chefs onboard preparing “to order” whatever the customer desires.

But most of these other restaurants could never make all of the stuff on the menu..........unless it’s a short order diner with an experienced cook.

Back in the 1990’s we’d frequent an “inn” in our town......lovely place for special occasions and even weddings.............beautiful Victorian home.

The elderly innkeepers were very nice people. They had on hand “one chef”.....the place had a lot of New England ambience. We'd ask for a table in front of one of the big old fireplaces.

However, they really pulled the wool over our eyes.........

We’d RAVE over the French baguettes that they brought to our table “warm out of the oven”........in small slices, with sweet butter in a small crock............envisioning the chef "baking" those French baguettes earlier in the afternoon.

If we were lucky, they might bring us another few slices of that delicious French bread.

After using Schwan’s food service which deliver frozen ice cream and such to the homes up here, I tried their French baguettes which you simply put in your oven for 15 minutes........guess what? We both recognised them as the same as the ones at the inn. They are prebaked and come out of your own oven PERFECT. Hard crusty exterior, soft interior.

In my younger married days , while raising the kids, I actually made my own French bread........it’s not hard and it is delicious......but not something I want to do now.........so Schwan’s is pretty good....and exactly the same as what that inn provided. (Schwans and Sysco Foods deliver to restaurants.)

Then they’d bring out a teeny tiny round of goat cheese on one little cracker. Following that was a teeny tiny cup of “mustard soup” which I would wager to guess was some chicken broth with a teaspoon of mustard stirred in and some herbs on top.

A nice fresh green salad was next. Yes, that would be natural.

But then came the main course and that was to die for................
BEEF WELLINGTON.

We would all rave (as we’d go with friends) about all the labor that went into that Beef Wellington........in small individual portions , one on each plate.

Tender filet mignon layered with a savory mushroom duxelles and then wrapped in a light flaky puff pastry and baked to perfection.....the filet mignon perfect.

YEARS LATER...........for a special occasion dinner at home, I purchased the same exact thing from KANSAS CITY STEAKS..........delivered to my door, frozen.

Follow the instructions and they came out perfectly and they do impress the guests. No bloody steak to contend with. Foolproof. Expensive but perfect.

So, if a small inn can fool us as well as others.........just think what the big chains can do. All of those MSG and glutamate and flavor enhansors can pass by simply known as “natural flavorings”..............I’ve done the research. (Ditto for big name frozen foods such as Stauffers....I’ve talked to them on the phone).

I’m even beginning to wonder about Chinese restaurants which I always assumed was stir fried to order..........for the longest time I’ve asked for no MSG and no soy sauce........last week I requested “no oyster sauce” and “no fish sauce” and he kept saying that it was already in it, etc., etc. and that’s how it comes..............????

That made me wonder if they don’t get some of their stuff frozen????
I know they must get their egg rolls frozen.

It’s always been mind boggling to understand how they can do a BIG ORDER for 8 different entrees in just 20 minutes??? Even with pre chopped veggies, etc.

Anyway...........all of what I ordered came with the unwanted oyster and fish sauce and the unwanted soy sauce and I’m sure unwanted MSG.

Anyone who is food sensitive.......will realize when they’ve had MSG. So, although basically healthy, my favorite Chinese foods are laden with MSG....

When traveling, we sometimes have had Applebee's and I can tell that their stuff is definitely FROZEN FOOD. Loaded with unwanted stuff.
I used to think Bob Evans was "home made" but the last time we had it, it was OVERLY SALTY and did not taste home made at all.

Again, the great restaurants of the world.........yes, they would make your food from scratch. But not the run of the mill restaurants we all go to today.

[Russ_Boston]

Not going to quote your post - too long.

But if you think your meal is being made at order time by almost any restaurant you are sadly mistaken. The vast majority of food is prepared ahead of time and heated up under the salamander (broiler). How do you think you get your meal in 10-15 minutes with a plate that is piping hot? Many of the things we order at restaurants take 30-40 minutes to prepare and cook from 'scratch' - just watch any cooking show. That doesn't mean that the original food isn't prepared from scratch and then refrigerated.

[gomoho]

I wonder how a Schwanns would do in The Villages? We use to buy from the them when we lived in the desert southwest and enjoyed their products.

[senior citizen]

I wonder how a Schwanns would do in The Villages? We use to buy from the them when we lived in the desert southwest and enjoyed their products.


I do believe someone told me that there is a Schwanns delivery route in TV.

Just the other day I was saying to my husband, "I really feel sorry for the
drivers as they would go nuts trying to find the streets " but he seems to believe that their navigational systems would lead them directly to the customer's home.

He LOVES their ice cream. That's how we got started.
Everyone up here loves their ice cream.

[Bonny]

I have some friends that order a lot from Schwans.

[senior citizen]

I wonder how a Schwanns would do in The Villages? We use to buy from the them when we lived in the desert southwest and enjoyed their products.



YES! We provide both Home Delivery Service (http://www.schwans.com/aboutus/ordering.aspx) and Mail Order (http://www.schwans.com/aboutus/ordering.aspx) service to ZIP Code 32159 (not 32159?) (http://javascript<b></b>:__doPostBack('leftNavDeliveryInfo1$LinkButtonRemo veZip',''))

I typed in “Schwans Food Service” and I came up with their website from which you order on......or just browse their products and “reviews” of what people say, whether they like an item or not.

“”””Yes, we provide both Home Delivery and Mail Order service to zip code 32159 (which is Lady Lake, Florida).””””””

I think they have a warehouse in Ocala, Florida.........so they probably also deliver to Marion County and Sumter County........as well as Lady Lake.

Besides home delivery, whereby they will stock your freezer for you......and take away the boxes........if you are NOT HOME.....they will leave it outdoors in a freezer container.....not so good in hot Florida.......but o.k in the frozen north. Our guy just comes into our garage and stocks the freezer.

[jblum315]

That's why I'm suspicious of charming little eateries with BIG menus. Because you know they could not possibly even keep all those ingredients in stock, much less prepare them to order. I once got fried fish in some little New England inn that was frozen in the middle. I sent it back and the replacement was the same fish microwaved.

[senior citizen]

I have some friends that order a lot from Schwans.

Key Lime Pie is a Florida "treat" which we fell in love with years ago while
vacationing on Sanibel Island.......and eating at The Bubble Room on Captiva Island.

Well, Schwan's Key Lime Pie is great.....not too tart; not too sweet.
Just right. Nice to have in the freezer for unexpected company.
Or for yourselves.

No baking. Just thaw.

Their lemon pie is also good....again, just thaw.
But to me, it's a bit too SWEET. But the guys like it.
Just cut it into "slivers"....as it is rich.

But, I do prefer the Key Lime Pie.
I have made them myself over the years.
Schwans is just as good.

We use Schwans mainly for their French baguettes and French rolls.
Their rolls are good as a dinner roll warm out of the oven.
We've even used them for hamburger rolls.

I also like their Live Smart Broccoli florettes..... which come in small mircrowaveable packets. No sauce. Just baby broccoli.

Perfect to add to a pasta dish......or a salad....or just eat as is.

Vegetables are so perishable.......so to have something frozen that is good, is great.

Recently I tried their shrimp scampi. My husband LOVED it.
He said it was restaurant quality. He would give it a high rating.
You can serve it over pasta or over rice. I have made it from scratch.
This is just as good. I would think there would be some "additives in it".
Do not have the package anymore.

[senior citizen]

That's why I'm suspicious of charming little eateries with BIG menus. Because you know they could not possibly even keep all those ingredients in stock, much less prepare them to order. I once got fried fish in some little New England inn that was frozen in the middle. I sent it back and the replacement was the same fish microwaved.

You said it. I agree. We can buy Gorton's fish in the supermarket if that's what we want....frozen in the middle.

Next time you are in New England, eat right out on the piers where the boats come in.....and the fish will be fried up fresh. A world of difference.

I'm still missing my daily fried haddock dinner which was piping hot, the best breading and moist white haddock.....delicious. Ditto for the Maine lobster. We saw the college kids cutting it up after taking it out of the shells (to use in lobster bisque, etc.)......while the live lobsters were cooked upon order. Sad for the lobsters, for sure.

Innkeepers are lovely folks.......the new innkeepers at the place I mentioned are a young couple with a baby. We've brought our now grown up extended family there for celebrations..........once it was good and the last time not so good........it did taste like they made it all ahead and then warmed it. Like our own two day or three day old leftovers would be. O.K. for at home.....but when you are paying to eat out, no so much.

[senior citizen]

Ditto.

Full time and also work 3 days per week. Not just healthier but better I think. But maybe 1 every other week we go out with neighbors/friends for the social aspect. Maybe 1 a week for quick foods (subway etc.). Obviously if we have guests over we go out more.

Now, Subway is one fast food place I do like.

The one in our town is very popular and everything is REALLY FRESH.

I always enjoy their double turkey with double lettuce and spinach with plain vinaigrette. Hubby likes the Italian sub with the works.....plus all kinds of fattening meats.

[jbdlfan]

We live here fulltime but rarely eat out. In our opinion, it's just not worth it. The only place we consistently go any more is offsite. We've been disappointed way too many times. There are very few meals that we can't make at home better than any eatery around here.

[senior citizen]

We live here fulltime but rarely eat out. In our opinion, it's just not worth it. The only place we consistently go any more is offsite. We've been disappointed way too many times. There are very few meals that we can't make at home better than any eatery around here.

I agree. So, the marketing tactic on the TV video about everyone's "kitchen being closed" is a stretch??? It doesn't appear to be so. Perhaps 50/50?
Some prefer their own home cooking while others enjoy dining out often.

We do enjoy eating out when we have extended visitors for a long period.
Then, I need a "break". Or, of course, when on vacation. But at home, one knows exactly what they are putting into their own meals.

Let's face it, we've all fallen back on some prepared food items every now and then.........when we are super busy with other more important things, but to put together a totally natural meal.....is really worthwhile. Plus there is always the leftovers.

[LeeM]

I also don't go out to eat very often but for me it's an opportunity to eat all those things I won't or can't make at home. Frequently it's something terrible for my health. I try to eat healthy most of the time and only go out to eat maybe once a month so it's a splurge. When we have friends over they want to go all the time so I guess if when I get to TV that becomes a more frequent social time for me I will have to change that habit to better choices eating out. However, I did talk my husband into our model of home because of the kitchen so if I give up cooking I may be in BIG trouble!!

I eat out all the time. I really do need to make better choices also.