Foodie On a Budget? Check Out These Tips
James Williams, associate professor of Hospitality and Tourism Management at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences recently sat down with WalletHub.com to share how foodies on a budget can get the best bang for their buck.
What tips can you provide to foodies on a tight budget?
When finding something to eat on a tight budget, I recommend limiting your meals. View this as an opportunity to manage your calories for the identified most desirable meal time. Is it breakfast? Lunch? Or dinner? Whatever your preference, utilize that time as an opportunity to splurge on a food item or food items. Yet, I will snack around the chosen inopportune times. I suggest using the chosen food time to find an item or items that provide a variety of flavors, aiming to capture the taste of desirable foods that you might be out of your budget. This advice is being provided based on an unknown budget.
In evaluating the best foodie cities for your wallet, what are the top five indicators?
For me, they are diversity of cuisines, quality of restaurants, price of items, cultural food aspects, and uniqueness or appeal.
What are the dining-out trends for 2024, and how is inflation affecting Americans’ eating-out habits?
I have noticed more health-conscious and money-conscious diners. This has created two different niche markets, in my opinion. For health-conscious diners, they are reading labels and counting their macros, making sure proper fats, carbohydrates, and proteins are accounted for in their meals. Some conscious diners are shifting their paradigms to meal prep instead of traveling to restaurants. However, restaurants have a great opportunity to woo these diners by creating meals that consider conscious macro seekers. Money-conscious diners are maneuvering this space by deciding to stay in or by limiting item selections or choosing cheaper items. Restaurants should construct future menu items or limited items with a sound understanding of these niche markets and/or consumers.
What tips can you offer to health-conscious foodies who like to eat out?
Study menu items prior to visiting the set restaurant. I recommend having three potential item preferences. Once you identify those items, scan and analyze the ingredients. This can provide you with the information needed to request modifications or to accept the food option as is. I would eat some protein or some veggies prior to leaving the house. Eating prior to visiting a restaurant will mitigate hunger, which in turn, will alleviate a strong desire to spend outside of your budget. I would drink a full glass of water at the table. This will flush out your system, and it will reduce hunger and/or compulsion.
What role, if any, can local authorities play in improving the food scene in their city?
Local authorities should encourage restaurants to buy local produce and resources to stock their inventory by providing discounts for companies that purchase from local merchants. I think authorities should attend these restaurants and build public relations around their visits, in the hope of attracting new visitors. Perception is reality, and it requires total commitment and support to create a buzz around a business.
This story was repurposed from wallethub.com. You can view the original story here.