A YouGov report from October 2025 found that 37% of American diners said they were eating out less often than they had a year earlier. The report attributed this decrease to high menu prices and a desire to save money. Conversely, 8% of American diners reported dining out more often than they had a year earlier, according to the YouGov report.

Kimberly Palmer, a personal finance expert at NerdWallet, suggested evaluating dining choices based on desired value and enjoyment. "You might be getting just as much value and enjoyment by going out for a less expensive pizza than a nicer restaurant," Palmer said, "so just putting some time into thinking about why you're going out, what you want to get out of it, that can help guide your decisions."

Financial counselor Lindsay Plumb referenced a method of allocating funds for discretionary spending. "My grocery money does not touch, I call it, our 'spend-with-joy' money," Plumb said. She explained that this approach allows her to spend without financial concern: "The spend-with-joy money I get to spend truly with joy, not worry about whether or not I can pay my mortgage or buy the groceries or if the kids need cleats."

Amy Lawson, a registered dietitian, noted the impact of hunger on dining decisions. "Especially when we go to a restaurant, and we get there, and we are really hungry. Our hunger hormones are really loud, and they are telling us: 'Give me all the carbohydrates … Give me the quickest source of fuel,'" Lawson said. She stated that this can affect food choices, adding, "It can kind of muddle in our brains the choices in terms of making the healthiest choice."

In 2025, three out of every four meals served by U.S. restaurants were taken to go, according to the National Restaurant Association. An analysis by the nonprofit ReFED determined that 25% of restaurant customers consistently or frequently leave food on their plates. Additionally, a LendingTree study found that fast-food and fast-casual delivery orders in the top 10 U.S. metropolitan areas cost nearly 80% more than if customers had picked up their orders themselves.