| option | restaurant | family home meal | food delivery | potluck | village living (community kitchen) | state socialism (cafeteria) |
| ----------------------- | --------------------------- | ------------------------------ | --------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------- | --------------------------- |
| **philosophy** | market-based individualism | family unit self-reliance | technology-mediated individualism | voluntary collectivism | structured mutualism | centralized provision |
| **purpose** | convenience | `family nourishment` | convenience | `social bonding & mutual sharing` | `community wellbeing & resilience` | basic needs provision |
| **labor model** | paid professionals | unpaid family labor | gig workers | voluntary individual contribution | `shared community effort` | state employees |
| **resource efficiency** | low (duplicated facilities) | very low (duplicated kitchens) | medium (centralized prep) | low (`multiple home preparations`) | high (`shared facilities` & `bulk purchasing`) | high but inflexible |
| **cost structure** | pay per meal + profit | groceries + kitchen overhead | service fees + delivery premium | individual ingredient cost + personal time | shared costs, `minimal overhead` | tax-funded |
| **choice/flexibility** | `high (menu options)` | medium (family compromise) | high but expensive | high variety, `low predictability` | medium-high (community input) | low (set menu) |
| **social connection** | none/transactional | `strong within family` | minimal/none | strong but `intermittent` | `strong ongoing community bonds` | institutional/minimal |
| **quality control** | market competition | family standards | platform ratings | social pressure/`reputation` | community feedback & standards | bureaucratic standards |
| **skill development** | professional only | limited family teaching | none | individual specialization | `community skill sharing` | institutional training |
| **food security** | market dependent | family dependent | platform dependent | event dependent/unreliable | `community guaranteed` | `state guaranteed` |
| **waste level** | high | medium-high | high | medium-high (`uncoordinated`) | low (`shared resources`) | medium |
| **time investment** | money instead of time | `high` individual time | minimal time + high cost | periodic intensive effort | shared, `scheduled commitment` | no individual control |