IHOP giving away pancakes on Feb. 24
Filed under: Bargains, Budgets, Food, Fantastic Freebies
IHOP is offering free pancakes on Feb. 24 in celebration of National Pancake Day.
This will be the fourth year that IHOP has celebrated the national event, with nearly 1,400 IHOP restaurants throughout the United States giving guests a free short stack of buttermilk pancakes from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Find the restaurant in your area here, and WalletPop also has a list of special restaurant deals.
Diners will be asked to donate what they would have paid for the free pancakes, or more, to their local children's hospital or another charity. IHOP is hoping to raise $1 million for Children's Miracle network, a nonprofit helping children's hospitals and other causes.
Last year, IHOP gave away more than 1.5 million pancakes and raised more than $875,000 for charities.
National Pancake Day is also knows as Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras, and dates back several centuries to when the English prepped for fasting during Lent. Strict rules prohibited the eating of all dairy products during Lent, so pancakes were made to use up the supply of eggs, milk, butter and other dairy products.
Test Your Health IQ
Which has more carbs?
- Cherry pie
- Pumpkin pie
Which has more carbs?
- Peanuts
- Barbecue potato chips
Which has more carbs?
- Onions
- Carrots
Which has more carbs?
- Raspberries
- Blueberries
Which has more carbs?
- Cranberry juice cocktail
- Light beer
Which has more carbs?
- Peas
- Chickpeas
Which has more carbs?
- Jelly
- Honey
Which has more carbs?
- Raisins
- Marshmallows
Which has more carbs?
- Large bagel
- Glazed doughnut
Which has more carbs?
- Salt
- Pepper



Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
1-05-2009 @ 7:21PM
Dravain said...
So do you HAVE to give the donation, or is it just suggested?
Reply
1-05-2009 @ 8:40PM
michelle said...
thanks for telling the entire nation.now the place will be to full to get a free pancake. donation? never heard of that.free is freee and you leave a more generous tip for your waitress, thats how free usually works.
Reply
1-05-2009 @ 8:40PM
michelle said...
OOPS didnt read article first, guess there is a donation. and yes if you support the ihop free pancakes then yes you should give a donation to suppor their fundraising cause. and of course tip generously as well.
Reply
1-05-2009 @ 9:07PM
Jess said...
Great! I am a chubby mom of 2 slightly chubby (though very cute girls 3 and 5). Why don't they offer a free offer of oatmeal or fresh fruit or whole wheat toast and scrambled eggs as well?
I strive to eat healthy and lead by example for my daughters. As a woman and type A, I always feel I am not "enough". Yeah, I probably need more therapy. But my weight has been an albatross around my neck for years! I eat flax every morning for health and weight loss reasons. I have the same breakfast now every day. I recently lost 30 pounds following the sane and normal weight watchers program http://www.weightwatchers.com and I now just
am more watchful every day of what I eat. I have a banana low fat yogurt with golden roasted flax for breakfast every day. It is filling, keeps me regular and tastes fabulous (kinda like sesame seeds). My Weight
Watchers leader recommended fitflax to me and it definitely helped the last 10 pounds to melt off. It is low carb and low cal. It is a flax and chia blend and I
think I read about it in O mag. They also listed a code to get 10% off. The site is http://www.fitflax.com and the code for 10% off is gb10
Reply
1-06-2009 @ 1:51AM
Don said...
Gee, thanks for the advertising. Why not build yourself a legitimate website instead of inserting your testimonials in an article about a company donating its sales to charity?
1-06-2009 @ 4:20AM
Scott said...
I'm no rocket scientist but my guess the reason they are giving out pancakes rather than oatmeal is because their name is the International House Of PANCAKES!!! Hence IHOP.
1-06-2009 @ 5:58AM
TIM said...
FREE banana low fat yogurt with golden roasted flax, all you ans your kids can eat. Wieght Watchers
1-06-2009 @ 9:31PM
Steph said...
They aren't offering free oatmeal, fruit, toast or eggs because it's National Pancake Day. Emphasis on the word "pancake"
1-24-2009 @ 4:56PM
Xexexex said...
I believe the article says it is the National PANCAKE Day that is to be celebrated on Feb. 24. Did I miss something that said National BREAKFAST Day? Nope, sure didn't. And if folks are serious about managing their weight, why put the burden on IHOP (or similar establishments)? If you like and want their pancakes, then by all means go to IHOP. If you think they are not your cup of tea when it comes to food, then don't go to IHOP. Why don't you and your children go to Whole Foods and get your oatmeal there (and at the same time, demand that they provide you with free oatmeal on National Pancake Day). Better still, why don't you just cook oatmeal at home. No, I'm not talking about the microwaveable ones (and packed with additional calories). I'm talking about the regular, inexpensive stove top oatmeal. If you're looking to set a good example for your children, this is a perfect opportunity to show them that eating healthy does not need to be expensive.
In the meantime, let IHOP and others celebrate their passion -- pancake.
1-25-2009 @ 10:48AM
Nancy said...
It's called International House of Pancakes, not International House of Whole Wheat Toast. Duh.
1-05-2009 @ 9:23PM
sharon said...
free is never free...you must donate what the pancakes would have cost if you actually ordered the cakes. This is called a scam!! Just ask for donations, stop the scams.. using your debit, becarful, if you leave cash tips as I do, mark that on your receipt. I made the mistake and left it blank and the waitress added her own tip of 5.00 and a tip was left at the table besides. Will never go to a I Hop again! Yes we were reimbursed but that is not the point. When we called the and spoke tot he manager guess who we talked with, yes the waitress who is also apparetly the manager!!!!!!!!!!
Reply
1-06-2009 @ 10:48PM
chas said...
Hey, Genius (not!),
They're asking for the donation (cost of the meal) to be made to the "local children's hospital or another charity". Last year IHOP gave away 1.5M pancakes and raised $875,000 for charity. Hell of a scam! Do you have a better idea re how to accomplish this? I'm guessing that your ate your fill of pancakes and then ducked out w/o dropping a nickel, right?
1-05-2009 @ 10:30PM
betty said...
First of all i hate when stores want u to think u are getting something for nothing,There nothing wrong with donateing to
charity,But people read the ad good ,It said.s,You will have to
donate the price of what the pancake cost,So u can go on any day or nite and u still pay.I don,t understand why companies
have to have a catch to draw people to their stores.If IHOP
wants to raise money for charity,Then do like stores used to do
put a jar by the register and as people get their change they
will drop money in.I think the ad should have said you will have
to donate something or it could have been u have to donate
half of what the pancake cost and they will draw more people
because people will feel they are getting something .IHOP
is,nt giving anything away,were in a ression people.Who goner
pay for all that flour, milk,and eggs.And IHOP will make money
also .Alway remember NOTHING IS FREE IN THIS WORLD
IHOP is a business why don,t they donate this money by their
self.people IHOP is donateing your money ,but the ad saids
IHOP will donate the money
Reply
1-25-2009 @ 10:54AM
Nancy said...
You might want to invest in a literacy program before you rant about free pancakes.
1-05-2009 @ 11:35PM
Wolfster said...
I agree with the others here. Either they are free or not, and even if it's for charity, a scam is a scam. I donate to charities I choose with good reason, not one I'm strong-armed or embarrassed into donating to. Here's one customer who will not be stopping in for the un-free pancakes that day.
Reply
1-05-2009 @ 11:59PM
Dee said...
You people are crazy and CHEAP!!! They're trying to do something nice for charity and everyone is going nuts. Just don't go there and that will be that! Oh and the reason they're giving pancakes instead of oatmeal and juice (as suggested) is because it's National PANCAKE Day!!!
Reply
1-06-2009 @ 12:05AM
sibie94518 said...
haha. thats on my birthday =]
Reply
1-06-2009 @ 12:47AM
Mr. Ed said...
dining out is supposed to be a social experience. Unfortunately, people in this day and age have forgotten how to be sociable and gracious when dining out. There is always the tendency to look for the ulterior motive when something is given "free". In this case the money is being donated to something worthwhile, buy the unsociables have still feel that they should get the meal for free. I am surre that IHOP would honor their committmet to a free meal if asked to. However, the gracious person gladly supports the program that IHOP is donating the money. As the old saying goes, "let your conscience be your guide", if you have one.
Reply
1-06-2009 @ 1:42AM
Don said...
Anyone who would go to IHOP on that day and just eat for free and not think of making a donation should choke on the last bite they take. It'a not a "scam" as some say here. It isn't forced on you either,,,it's your choice to participate or not.
IHOP is donating all the money to a great worthwhile charity. Because they are doing that, remember that they also bought the batter, cooked the pancakes, kept the lights on, paid the staffs, cleaned the dishes, etc etc........it cost them $$$ to keep a restaurant going, so in fact they DO donate the money.
Just remember, what goes around, comes around. One day you may need some help and no one will help YOU.
Reply
1-06-2009 @ 1:43AM
Jeff Schrembs, ElvisCollectorWorldwide said...
Great job IHOP!
Reply