End “I don’t know. What do you want for dinner?”

Who else dreads the familiar conversation of “What do you want for dinner?” followed predictably by “I don’t know. What do you want for dinner?” As someone who is notoriously unhelpful at deciding food options, this article might be of particular interest to those who have ever tried making dinner plans with me (and everyone else like this; we are not alone!). Aside from making people feel seen, this article is intended to propose ways to end this rhetoric.

When trying to decide what to eat, I truly don’t have a preference about flavors or genre. I will eat most things and can find something on any menu that will work. But in an effort to be a more helpful contributor to the familiar conversation surrounding the topic— I propose that we all have some preferences unrelated to food that could help get the ball rolling towards a choice. Here are possible factors that might influence a non-committed decision-making stance.

Budget

Are you trying to save? If you truly don’t care what you are eating, perhaps this will guide you to select a budget-friendly option over a more expensive purchase.

Health

Do you have a health concern that might benefit from selecting a low sodium or a dairy free option? If you’re trying to reduce fried foods, certain menus may help you better achieve this.

Lifestyle

If you are trying to eat more plant-based options or looking for responsibly sourced food, this might steer you towards certain decisions.

Proximity

Perhaps you are busy and want food in hand sooner. This concern might give weight to quicker options that have a shorter prep or can be delivered/picked up quickly.

Who is asking?

Does this person also not care, or do they have a decision already in mind when they are politely asking for your input? If they want you to participate, perhaps they can suggest their 2 ideal options and then you make the final choice (using some aforementioned guiding considerations).

What else might guide your decision strategies? And what other uninspired decisions, aside from dinner, could you apply this to for making better and more purposeful choices? Leave a comment with your own tips or suggestions.