Want to eat a good meal without paying for it? It may take a bit of research, but it is possible to get food at a restaurant or supermarket at no cost to you. Deals and freebies abound, if you know the right ways to look for them. Some methods require more shamelessness than others, of course, and how far you are willing to go for free eats is completely up to you. Just use this handy guide to learn how to eat free.

Who says there's no such thing as a free lunch? If you know where to go, you will be able to eat without spending a dime. There are many ways to eat for free, and several of them are listed below.

Many hotels, motels and inns provide free continental breakfasts for patrons. Most do not check to make sure that breakfast-time guests are actually staying in a room. That would be incredibly time consuming, and could even lead to potentially embarrassing situations. After all, guests typically do not want to be hassled every morning by employees asking them what room they are staying in or asking to see their room key, and breakfasts are inexpensive enough that it is not worth the hotel's time to annoy guests in order to save a couple of dollars on food costs. Find out which hotels in your area offer complimentary meals, and what time they serve them. Then, all you have to do is show up!

There are plenty of restaurants that will feed children under a certain age for free, as long as one adult purchases a meal. Denny's and International House of Pancakes have both been known to run such specials. Pack up the kids and head out to a restaurant that offers one of these deals, and you will score at least one free meal.

On busy weekend afternoons, many grocery stores offer a plethora of free samples. If you visit two or three groceries, you can easily consume the equivalent of a meal. Try Whole Foods, Trader Joes, and Sam's Club for good sampling options. Some supermarkets will offer more variety and volume than others when it comes to sampling, so it is definitely a good idea to shop around your neighborhood for the best grazing opportunities.

Find a store that offers double or triple coupons, and then do some clipping or online browsing for good deals. Then, find out what items are already on sale. If you purchase sale items and also use a doubled or tripled coupon, you may end up getting your food for no money, or possibly just a few cents.

If you need a job, try applying at a local restaurant to work as a cook, busboy or server. Employees often eat for free, and at the very least you will get a substantial discount. If you score a position in the kitchen, you may even be able to create whatever dishes you want at no cost.