I was just thinking... whenever we go out to dinner, or are asked for that, it's 7 at the earliest, but can also be 8 or maybe even later.

Now I don't normally eat that late, so whenever I go out to dinner I will have to eat something at home before I go. If not I will feel faint and as if I'm starving. Meaning when I get to a restaurant I eat fast because I'm so hungry, not really appreciating a good meal.
Or, in the case there's these small buns (usually at a pizza place) with herb & garlic butter, I stuff my face with those. Meaning I feel partly full with bread before my pizza arrives.

How's this for you? Do you normally eat at 7 or (much) later?

Do you have a problem eating later when you go out to dinner at 7 or 8 or whatnot?

And why don't we go out to dinner at 6? For me that's already a late dinner.

I usually go out for dinner twice a year at the moment, which is when I visit my parents in Germany.

We prefer to go early ish, like 17:30 or thereabouts, because after 19:00, the restaurant we always go, is packed.

Personally I don't eat dinner till about 6-6:30 pm.

7-8 pm is common for dinner on a date because by the time you finish dinner the nightlife is just getting started and its a direct route to the venue.

Dinner and movie (locally), depending upon which showing and after-movie activity dictates the time reserved for dinner.

Dinner while at a mass venue like a concert or carnival usually dictates an earlier dinner with an after-snack. High volume amusement parks usually have restaurants on the premises and may offer picnic areas as well.

I believe one should eat when they are hungry. If the time is important, tell your date you wish to eat earlier (or later). If reservations are needed, best to get that info out BEFORE the reservation is made. If the reservation is a surprise, find a small high protien snack to eat to take the edge off without filling up...peanuts, a small sammich or popcorn works. It keep the tummy from barking at ya and your date...

I try to keep a bag of peanuts in the vehicle for hunger pains. I used to keep mini crackers but eww, ever try to eat a stale cracker!

Going out to dinner in the evening...
8-ish, I'll normally order a small meal
for myself.

My normal evening meal time is somewhere
between 5:30 and 6:30.

That's about the time I like too, 17.30 or thereabouts :)
Indeed a good restaurant would be crowded later on. All the nutters who dine late, haha.

That could indeed be a reason. But here if you'd want to go to a pub or music café afterwards you'd have to wait a long time as pubs don't get going until midnight or even later.
Used to be different in the past, but I guess people now prefer to watch their favourite tv shows before they leave, hihi.

As for crackers, I always have a packet of Sultana's in my handbag for emergencies. There's 3 in a packet and it's plastic packet so never stale.

Amazing that you can wait with food so long, 8-ish!
I'd have to eat at home first to tide myself over, haha.

I get out of work around 5 and so my dinner plans have to have me eating by 630 latest ... so yeah reservations are made for 630 the latest.... this is always mutually agreed upon before hand .... works out good for all concerned ....

Wait?
No.
If a dinner date doesn't start until 8,
I will have already eaten dinner at
5:30 or 6:30.
Hence, the small portions at the 8 dinner
date.

It may be our height.
But, like you, I can't go until 8
without food.

I am trying to adjust to a different way of eating for a trip I am planning.

My structure of diet has always revolved around daylight.

On the beach or on the farm it's always been about getting every last ride until the waves are no longer visible,,or....on a harvest crew it is dawn to dusk until you can't see the crops. It's all very American I'm afraid. I understand the huge breakfast part. Dinner is sociable but never understood the proportions. I know I am incredibly hungry after working or surfing but should not make that manner of eating a habit when not burning the fuel. That is why Americans are so obese.

I'm convinced that even if Tapas til 2AM isn't necessarily a more healthy way (which I think it is)....it will absolutely be better nourishment for the soul!!!!

Hihi, could be, although you'd tower over me! 1.96m-ish if memory serves.
I'd love a man that tall, if only my neck could handle that...

But it's a good way of doing things, isn't it: eating at home before you go, hihi.

Big breakfast, dinner at lunchtime and light meal in the evening is best I believe?
But I'm not one for a big breakfast, and if I have dinner for lunch I'm going to be incredibly grumpy later on when having to eat bread for dinner.
I'm too attached to my warm food for dinner, not much of a bread eater, to switch that round.

I only eat a bigger breakfast when in England, which unfortunately isn't all that often (bacon & eggs!!!YUM haha, but then forego the baked beans and sausages. Tad too much)

I think obesity in the USA is because most everything has corn syrup in it? And also the size of portions is out of proportion. Humungous meals that would feed me for 3 days, not kidding. And stuff like mac & cheese, so unhealthy! I couldn't eat it, hihi just the thought of it makes me gag.
Mac & cheese is being pushed here of late too btw.

Sounds reasonable :)

Eating dinner out at 7 or 8:00 at night seems to be the normal thing, if you live in a big city. I don't live in a city. I would go out 5 or 6:00 if it were up to me. I'm also a morning person, so I'm up early.

Yes High Fructose Toast in
Sm
Md
Lg
XL
XXL
3XL
4XL
5XL ???????????????

Oh HELL NAW!!! ^^^^^^^ For Sissies!!!

MERICAN PROPORTIONS!!!! and DOUBLE SIZE IT!!!!


and a diet coke please.

I used to do lots of long road trips.
I tried to eat at least 1 full meal withing 12 hours.
I used to snack on trail mix (a bag between my legs) kept the hunger at bay but also helped with staying awake.

I didn't drink much tho. Too many bathroom stops.
I kept a small cooler on the passenger seat with a couple bottles of gator-aid under ice. A few small coffee stops if I felt tired or highway hypnosis coming on.
No sugar sodas or teas with sugar.
No candy bars or potato chips (crisps) but sometimes I would snack on pretzel rods.

1. Avoid driving when you are drowsy or impaired in any way.
2. Avoid driving on the freeways when circumstances are adverse.
3. Enter the freeway safely.
4. Stay in a safe lane and at the right speed.
5. If you need to pass the other vehicles, pass on the left. Never pass on the right of other vehicles.
6. Leave a lot of room between your vehicle and other vehicles.
7. Do not drive in another vehicle's blind spot.
8. Scan far ahead for obstacles and traffic hazards.
9. Do not park on the side of the freeways.

5 Key Rules of the Smith System of Driving

1. Aim High

The first rule for this method is “Aim high in steering”. Staying alert of the dangers and traffic ahead not only avoids rear-end collisions, but also alerts other drivers behind your vehicle to slow down. The driver should steer and focus their attention high, so as to view the road as whole and not just a few feet ahead.

2. The Big Picture

“Be aware of your surroundings at all times” may seem obvious to say, but distracted drivers are
just as dangerous as intoxicated ones. Erratic and angry drivers take up a large portion of the traffic we see daily, so avoid major accidents by noticing how other drivers behave on the road. Having the whole picture means that you are doing your part to keep your vehicle as safe as possible while moving 1000 ft a second. There are a variety of hazards between your own vehicle and other drivers, and a keen awareness of these dangers will reduce these risks.

3. Keep Your Eyes Moving

The third standard of the Smith System asks drivers to remain alert. Energy drinks can only do so much before they cause the body to crash, and any repetitive motion sends us into a trance. Consistent eye movement prevents your body from entering the trance state, keeping you alert to every driving condition ahead of you.

4. Leave Yourself an Out

The fourth principle of the Smith System states to leave yourself a way out. This means ensure that other drivers do not box you in while selecting their lanes. Do not tailgate other vehicles too closely, and always anticipate other drivers moves.

5. Make Sure They See You

The worst thing a driver can do is assume. Assume other drivers can see them, assume other drivers are not dangerous, or even assume that they will just get to their destination safely. The final rule for the Smith System is “Make Sure You Are Seen”. This rule prevents accidents by removing assumptions made behind the wheel. As a driver, make sure that other drivers can see you and anticipate your move. If you feel you are coming into another driver’s blind spot, use the horn to get their attention.


-Listen and stay alert: Remain focused on the road at all times by not engaging in distracted driving. Use your mirrors to view oncoming vehicles. 16% of fatal crashes involve driver distraction.
-Proceed with caution: Pull to the right side of the road and do so swiftly, but cautiously when approached by emergency vehicles.
-Resume entry slowly: Use your turn signal! Slowly merge back onto the road or highway while checking your surroundings for others when re-entering roadways.

I don’t have a problem eating late . Hopefully dinner is just the start of the fun rather than the main event

I go out to eat every day since I do not cook. I usually get to a restaurant before 3pm since I want to beat the usual dinner crowd that shows up anytime after 4pm. I am not a crowd person so the less the crowd the better.

I never get home from work until 7 at the earliest, so no chance of me ever going out for dinner!