Survey Reports Many Families Will Celebrate Mother’s Day By Dining Out

LANSING, Mich. — Thirty-eight percent of Americans choose to celebrate Mother’s Day by dining in one of the country’s 844,000 restaurants, according to the National Restaurant Association’s holiday dining 2000 survey.

“Mother’s Day is one of the busiest days for restaurants” said Rob Gifford, Executive Director, Michigan Restaurant Association (MRA). “Many families want to treat their mothers to a day of relaxation, including a nice dinner, to thank them for all they do throughout the year.”

Mother’s Day is the second most popular holiday or occasion to dine out, following only birthdays (55 percent). The third most popular holiday or occasion for dining out is Valentine’s Day at 32 percent.

The survey indicates that dining out on Mother’s Day is more common among larger families. Almost half (43 percent) of adults in households of three or more eat a Mother’s Day meal at a restaurant, compared to about one-quarter (24 percent) of those who live alone. Those who live in households with children under 18 are more likely to dine out than those who live in households without children.

According to the survey, Mother’s Day restaurant celebrations are more common in the southern region of the country. Forty-three percent of individuals in the South eat a Mother’s Day meal at a restaurant, compared to 32 percent of those living in the Northeast.

The MRA represents more than 3,500 eating and drinking establishments statewide. On a typical day, more than 4 million meals are purchased from Michigan foodservice establishments.