We’ve all been there. Deciding where to eat, if we should order pizza, get dessert, or choose something healthy. It’s a frustrating, exhausting, and timeless struggle.
The average American goes out for a meal an average of four times a week, excluding breakfast, so it’s not surprising that it has become a common issue among families, couples, and groups of friends or employees. Restaurants are also doing their part to solve this food dilemma by offering diverse menu choices and better dine-in experiences. One example is the pizza delivery offered by pizza parlors, where they provide customers with various sizes and recipes.
People have specific considerations when it comes to choosing food. These include the budget, value, and saturation point. When we accommodate the personal preference of those around us, deciding becomes difficult because we want to choose something that satisfies their interest. To help you and your group on your food adventures, we’ll help you choose where to eat next.
Narrow the choices down
Doing the process of elimination may sound crazy, but using a bit of logic makes the decision easier. There are plenty of ways to break down your food options. First, tell the group your dislikes. This will save a lot of time and effort by helping the group eliminate which options they’re not in the mood for.
Eliminating less-liked options will also allow the party to discover each other’s favorite food, diet, food allergies, and taste preferences. This will also identify the mode of transportation to reach the restaurant, the person’s availability and time limit, and other suitable options nearby.
When narrowing your food choices, be sure to look ahead. This means picturing yourself as to how you feel after eating the meal. Of course, the last thing you want is to waste money on something you’ll regret later.
Another critical point is to assign a leader instead of a group effort. Allowing everyone to decide will lead to confusion or even an argument. Some people appreciate making tough decisions for other people. Let them use their leadership skills to determine the team’s food goals.
Make a food map
Thinking about where to eat often happens between you and the people you’re with at that moment. It happens all the time that it got you thinking that you should be prepared during these situations.
Having a food map, tournament bracket, or chart serves as your reference that will help save a lot of time. You can turn it into a game by having a food tournament. All you need is a piece of paper, and each person will take turns writing down their options. If your group has listed down the dining options beforehand, creating a flow chart that considers specific tastes will help. This will serve as your lifeline when caught in a food argument.
Another technique is to create a collaborative Google Maps. Simply create a map under the “My Places” option and add your favorite food places, including menu items and preferred dishes. You can invite your friends to give their suggestions and create a collaborative climate every time you find yourselves debating where to eat.
When confused, stall
If you’ve been spending the last few hours still deciding where to eat, then it’s likely that you’re not hungry. The inability to determine often boils down to pressure or not being hungry at all. Whatever your reason, if you can’t decide, stall.
Stalling might be the most practical answer to the “where should we eat” argument. Why? Stalling allows you to give yourself some time to feel, think, and process information related to a choice or solution. When you think a quick decision is unlikely and pressure is making it worse, stall.
Most of our decisions come from our guts, an innate response recognizing one’s inner truth. In this case, quick decisions made at the wrong time will prevent the person from having enough time to communicate with their internal truth. In these scenarios, it’s essential to give yourself time. Tell your friend to hold the plan for now, and you’ll get back to them as soon as possible. Giving yourself some time to think will ease the pressure from making bad, hasty decisions.
While stalling, keep yourself busy to unburden your mind. Though you may be hungry, a few minutes of clarity might lead to an eventual revelation.
Deciding where to eat can cause frustrations for many. But it’s important to understand that almost every person has gone through this at some point. The variety of options to choose from and the desire to try something good can make it challenging to decide the right choice. Whatever technique you use, make sure to choose something that will give a satisfying food experience.
