Money Moral Dilemma: Should those with more children pay extra when we eat out together?

ExFitty

The biggest unknown factor here is the current ages of the children and whether they are all of a similar age.  It sounds as though the practice of paying per family was slipped into when children were young and didn't eat much or ate from parents plates.  Now though they are eating as much as if not more than their parents.  You have obviously been out for dinner with these other couples for a while now and do not want to lose them as friends, so I say just be honest and have the conversation before you next go out.  Your friends probably haven't realised the unfairness of the situation and will no doubt be embarrassed when they realise you have been subsidising their children.