Recession Proof your Dining Experiences

Economists say we've moved out of the recession that held us in its grasp for the last year and a half. You couldn't prove it by me. Times are still tough here in the Heartland. We've all had to incorporate money saving techniques into every area of our lives if we want to keep doing the things we enjoy.

If you're like me, you've even cut back on dining out to make your entertainment dollars go farther. Here are a few tricks to insure that you can still dine out with family and friends while saving money. All it takes are a few insider tips to have you dining out without hurting your wallet.

1. Have lunch at dinnertime. It’s no secret most restaurants have a lunch menu with smaller portions and equally smaller prices. What you may not know is you aren’t necessarily limited to lunch portions before four o’clock. Ask your server for a lunch portion. Not only will you save money, you'll consume up to a thousand less calories over the course of the meal.

2. Forget about the kiddie menu. Instead of ordering the kids their own meal, order one adult entrée and have them split it. The price is typically cheaper, plus you’ll have more options.

3. Look for the real deals. Ever notice how restaurants place high cost items in the most eye-catching spots on the menu and around the restaurant? That's because they want to encourage diners to order high profit items. Outsmart this common marketing ploy by overlooking the eye-catching posters and going straight to the middle of the menu instead of the featured items.

4. Dine at the bar. Bypass a regular table for a seat at the bar and you may find yourself with a cheaper more casual menu. Remember, cheaper is usually synonymous with smaller portions and fewer calories.

5. Don't be tempted by the dessert menu. Chances are you're not really hungry at the end of the meal anyway. Instead of lingering over coffee, get up and leave. Window shop or take a walk at a nearby park. Not only will you save money, the ride home will be more comfortable and you'll already be burning off your dinner. If you just can't say no to dessert, share with a friend.