Why I Won't Go to Restaurants in 2023
oad.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a8/Nighthawks by Edward Hopper
1942.jpg)
I’ve decided after some consideration to not go to restaurants at all in
2023. You can call this a New Year’s Resolution. It’ll require at least some
sacrifice, pain, annoyance to myself and perhaps others, but I’m going to stick
by it and I think it will have a good effect.
Restaurants are a drastically over-used creature comfort of the consumerist
economy… even worse, nowadays they’re not even comfortable…
Especially now that portions are smaller more expensive than ever, it’s hard to
go to a restaurant without feeling cheated.
All of this is fortunate, though, since relying on the ease of restaurants is a
vice. It is now easier than ever to quit it without missing anything but
disappointment.
Here Are the Rules.
1. When I travel alone, I will flatly never eat at a restaurant, no matter what.
I will pack food, or prepare food bought at a grocery store.
2. At time when I might usually offer to go to restaurants out with people, I
will serve them at home.
3. I’ll get in the habit of preparing and carrying food—not snacks—but food when
I will need it. This will include trips.
4. If I have not prepared food while out, I will go hungry. Oh well!
I have even already forewarned people in my life about my adherence to this.
I’m not saying I’m going to throw a Richard Stallman-style sperg-out when asked
to go to a restaurant, but I will find a novel alternative. If I do go
physically to a restaurant with people, obviously I will order nothing and eat
nothing, not even free tortilla chips (because it’s not just about the money,
either).
Things *even worse* that restaurants
yz/pix/grubhub.png)Obviously take-out counts as a restaurant, in fact, is even
worse.
There are some things even worse than restaurants that I don’t use now and
won’t start. (I say this because some might be tempted to comply with the
letter, but not the spirit of the law.)
I will get no take-out.
I will buy no food from gas stations, convenience stores or delis.
I will have no junk food.
I will also count coffee shops and other such things as restaurants and thus
subject to exclusion.
What not Going to Restaurants Will Get Me.
The first and obvious advantage is that I will be saving money.
The wider goal is to make sure that I am more comfortable with preparing food
for people on short notice, having spontaneous picnics, planning in advance for
things and thereby acting less impulsive in food consumption.
It might be weird to unironically suggest in the 21st century that “picnics” can
be an alternative to restaurants, but however corny they may sound to our ears,
they are infinitely more social, customizable and economical. Doing all of this
make a new habit to permanently displace compulsive restauranting.
My goal is not to minimize alimentary social outings—but to improve them by
minimizing cost and maximizing the possibilities of what I can end up doing.
How Rigorous Will I be?
People in real life have questioned how rigorous I will be in this resolution.
I’ve said I will reserve the right to go to a restaurant on a highly exceptional
occassion which is certainly not a part of everyday habit.
For example, earlier this year, I went out to a nice restaurant with some
friends and subscribers during Linuxfest—this is the kind of outing/event I
might exempt. Even in those circumstances, I want to consider social
alternatives to restaurant-going though.
I’ve talked to other people and restaurants have become a continuing
disappointment to many in the days of shrinkflation. Since I can barely go to
one and be filled for less than $35, I don’t think I’m going to look back from
this.