There’s a Name for Going on a Date Mostly for the Meal — and 30% of Americans Have Done It

A recent survey found that 30% of U.S. adults have accepted a date primarily for a free meal or drinks, a behavior many term a "foodie call."

Gen Z and younger millennials reported foodie calls at the highest rate, but at least one in four respondents in every generation said they had accepted a date primarily for the meal or drinks.

Experts say foodie calls can reflect a range of motivations, from seeking a free meal to being unsure about romantic attraction but interested enough in the restaurant or experience to accept the date.

Sharing a meal has long been central to dating, but as the cost of going out rises, food can play a more complicated role in whether someone accepts an invitation. Sometimes, the restaurant — or the prospect of a free meal — is part of the appeal.

According to a recent DatingAdvice survey of 1,016 U.S. adults, 30% of respondents said they had accepted a date primarily for a free meal or drinks. The behavior is commonly known as a "foodie call," with Gen Z and younger millennials reporting it at the highest rate.

The term has been part of the dating lexicon for years, with a version appearing on Urban Dictionary as early as 2007. A later study published in Social Psychological and Personality Science defined a foodie call as accepting a date despite a lack of romantic attraction in order to get a free meal.

In the DatingAdvice survey, women reported the behavior slightly more often than men, at 32% compared with 26%. The findings, however, don't indicate how much romantic interest respondents may have had when they accepted the date.

Alexandra Foglia , a doctor of marriage and family therapy (DMFT), describes foodie calls as existing "on a continuum of intent, ranging from a genuine interest in getting to know another individual to being opportunistic." Someone who is uncertain about their attraction but interested enough to meet over dinner, she explains, is in a different position from someone with no romantic interest who accepts a date solely for an expensive meal.

Gen Z and younger millennials reported the highest rate of foodie calls in the survey, with 32% saying they had accepted a date primarily for the meal or drinks. Dating coach Erika Ettin says the survey findings don't necessarily reflect what she sees among younger daters, who she finds are often more protective of their time. "I think younger daters are actually more protective of their time, so they are inclined to take a lower-key date, like a coffee, which won't cost much anyway," she says.

Younger respondents reported foodie calls at the highest rate, but the behavior spanned generations. Foglia cautions that the differences by age aren't substantial enough to conclude that younger adults are driving a broader trend. Among respondents 65 and older, 26% said they had accepted a date primarily for the meal or drinks, and at least one in four respondents in every generation reported doing so.

Why are foodie calls part of the dating conversation now?

Foodie calls aren't new, but the term has resurfaced at a time when dating has become more expensive and people weigh whether an outing is worth the time and money. BMO Financial Group's 2026 Real Financial Progress Index found that Americans reported spending an average of $189 per date when expenses such as grooming and transportation were included, up 12.5% from the previous year. Half of respondents said rising costs had prompted them to go on fewer dates or choose less expensive activities.

Dining out is getting more expensive, too: Restaurant prices rose 3.4% year over year in July, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics . Those costs may be particularly significant for younger people. In the BMO survey, 50% of Gen Z respondents and 40% of millennials said dating expenses were getting in the way of reaching their financial goals.

For Nadia Edwards , author of The Dating Reset , those financial pressures may make the proposed meal or activity itself a bigger factor when deciding whether a date feels worthwhile. "Younger daters may be more comfortable viewing the meal or activity as part of what makes the date worthwhile, even if the romantic interest is limited," she says.

Limited interest, however, isn't the same as no interest at all. Foglia says an appealing restaurant can sometimes tip the balance when attraction is still uncertain. "It is possible that if a couple is somewhat ambivalent regarding their mutual attraction to each other, an appealing dining location, tasting menu, or exclusive reservation can provide enough encouragement for them to agree to meet up," she says. In other words, the dinner may be part of the reason someone says yes without being the only reason for the date.

What do foodie calls say about dating now?

Ettin says she doesn't usually see people accepting dates solely for the meal, though they may appreciate being treated by the person who extended the invitation. "Sometimes men incorrectly equate this kindness (especially if a second date doesn't follow) with a woman being greedy," she says.

For Val Bastien , MS, a certified dating and relationship coach, the distinction comes down to whether the experience complements the romantic interest or substitutes for it. "The problem is when that experience replaces the attraction to the person," he says.

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