Originally Posted by
Cloudship
I am not sure that is absolutely true. More so of certain demographics such as single people or couples. I know few families that eat out that often.
As for why, well I think time and convenience play the largest part, especially lunch. People don't have the time to prepare lunch at home and take it with them, especially when they have a long commute and no place to keep it at work. That's why I think there is such a perception there is so much more fast food in the US (I think that is a myth by the way). More places for quick lunches. I know very, very few people who go to true fast food for dinner. Some quick casual if the place is on the hot list, but most people who go out for dinner often that I know do so to cheaper sit down restaurants.
The fact that US agriculture is not subsidized to the extent it is elsewhere, and that most grocery store packaging is geared towards family size also makes it a lot more expensive and challenging for the sing person to cook.
I've seen plenty of people dining in restaurants in Europe and plenty of restaurants. I don't get far out of the cities though so I have no idea if the European countryside is as littered with drive through Taco Bells as it is here.
I don't eat fast food for the most part, but also rarely dine out for lunch or breakfast. I have access to a fridge, a microwave and a stove in the office. We frequent locally owned and operated casual places, occasionally a chain, for dinners out.
I cook for two, but have no difficulty finding packages of meat for 1 or 2. Steaks always seem to be indiviually wrapped. I can buy a single chicken breast or package of 5 drumsticks or 2 pork chops. I think the magic number is 1 pound - harder to find a smaller weight without digging. That's one of the reasons I appreciate a full service seafood counter - I try for 6 ounce servings of fish, order 30 littleneck clams at a time, a half pound of shrimp.
I will say when I still had 4 kids at home, we ate out a lot less frequently. But we didn't eat as well at home either, with far more prepared foods from the box or freezer. Time was the driver - I needed to get a meal on the table within 30 minutes of getting home from work or the kids would start gnawing on the chairs. As they got older, the kids learned how to cook or at least do the prep before I got home and weeknight dinner quality improved. Until at least 2 had grown up and moved out, dinner out was a once or twice a month event.