According to an Indiana Business Review article, individuals in the US between the ages of 25-54 spend an average of $2833.00 each year on eating out (this is according to 2004 data). While the number is not surprising, it did get me thinking about personal finance and daily eating habits.
Given the current economy, many personal finance blogs and magazines are offering advice on money saving products, deals, coupons, investment strategies, etc., but I've yet to see a piece on the importance of NOT eating out often. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to eat at a fine restaurant each and every night (provided I could find some healthy dishes on occasion!), but I don't do it because:
1. Eating out is a colossal waste of money (most food and beverage items have a huge markup).
2. Eating out is not healthy (you don't have direct control over ingredients and the amount of fat, salt, etc. used in the cooking process).
3. Eating out, often, leads to a reduction in the quality of ingredients used/consumed (unless you're eating at a four star Michelin restaurant each night).
4. Eating out is a waste of time (think about the process: figuring out where to go, figuring out how to get there, waiting for your food, leaving a tip/paying, getting back to your home/apartment, etc.).
5. Eating out is lazy (going to a restaurant other than for a special event breeds the type of behavior that is all about immediate satisfaction).
6. Eating out can rob you of personal time with family and/or spouse (think about the teamwork needed to prepare a nice meal - it's the kind of behavior that makes families and couples bond).
7. Eating out does not allow me to build leftovers into my weekly food planning process (read: do not buy lunch at work!).
Many people make statements like, "I don't know how to cook" or that "cooking is hard" in response to eating out often, but cooking quality meals is NOT hard (see my getting started to cooking at home guide here) and after you've been doing it for a while you can get really efficient at putting together healthy and great tasting meals (including food for lunch at work the next day). Also related, see my essential kitchen tools guide here as well as a guide on buying fruit, vegetables, and fish here
Over the last couple of months I've been posting simple and tasty recipes and I thought now would be a good time to summarize the entries given the financial crunch. So, try and avoid making reservations and opt to make a few of the dishes below (they're really not hard to prepare and you'll be happy you didn't go out after your belly is full!):
1. Perfect Omelet
2. Oven Baked BBQ Ribs with Dry Rub
3. Black Bean and White Corn Salad
4. Pasta with garlic, olive oil, and parsley
5. Perfect Grilled Chicken Sandwich
6. Tomato Salad
7. Roasted Pork Tenderloin
8. Fava Bean Gazpacho
9. Eggplant Parmigiana
10. Scallops with Pan Simmered Tomatoes
11. Roasted Peppers
12. Chicken Thighs and Mint
13. Classic Salad Dressing
14. Baked Flounder with Fennel Salad
15. Couscous with Feta and Tomatoes
16. Lamb and Beef Kufta Kebab
17. Braised Short Ribs in Red Wine
18. Lentil Soup
19, Onion and Potato Fritatta
20. Oven Roasted Vegetables
Finally, if you're looking for food items you can consume often, I have a quick series on "foods I live on" http://www.scordo.com/blog/2008/10/foods-i-live-on-part-3-de-cecc.html Looking for a nice bottle of wine, here's my guide on buying wine!
Another excellent post! I think I'm going to start following your advice and then documenting it.
Vince,
Thanks for this awesome list of recipes!
Have you checked out the blog: http://cheaphealthygood.blogspot.com/
It's a frugal cooking site, and the girls that write it do a really great job; very funny. I think you might like it!
I'll definitely be trying some of these recipes, especially the veggie ones (not a meat-eater).
Excellent post. Few restaurant meals can compare to a meal lovingly cooked at home with fresh, quality ingredients.
For some reason the Chicken Thighs and Mint, Classic Salad Dressing, Onion and Potato Frittata, and Oven Roasted Vegetable links aren't working for me. Two give an error, and two link to the wrong recipe.
While I agree with you for the most part, let me tell you why I eat out occasionally. One, it provides jobs for people who may not have one otherwise. The other is that I get to spend quality time with my spouse and am even more appreciative of my children when I get back. Sometimes mom's just need a break! I do agree that it's a huge chunk of money and there's little to no control over what you are actually getting. Thanks for the wonderful article!
Excellent advice. So useful, that I listed your article in my "Resource" section for a related food storage items that I wrote. You can click on my name to get to that link. Thank you!
Hi Matt,
Thank you! I haven't seen the link, but I'm probably looking in the wrong place!
Best,
Vince
Hi,
Thanks for your comments, here's a quick response:
1. Jobs for other folks. If your financial house is in order, then it's ok to think that spending money can help create or maintain jobs. However, if you have debt, then you should take care of yourself first.
2. Spending time with a spouse is key. You could arrange for someone to watch your kids while you cook at home or if you need to go out (do coffee instead of dinner).
I'm glad you enjoyed the article and, yes, mom's do deserve breaks!
Best,
Vince
Hi! *waves* I found you through a comment you left on Wisebread pointing this article.
All good points, btw. This is something I'm still struggling with, but as you point out, most restaurant food is of poor quality compared to what you could make at home. I spent a summer working in a commercial kitchen and I know that, unless you're working at a really nice restaurant, all they do for ingredients is back the Sysco truck up to the walk-in once a week. I live in an area with a lot of small-time agricultural, so there's no reason I have to PAY EXTRA to eat like that when I can buy fresh-picked corn on the cob right down the street.
(Also, not apropos of this article, I'm intrigued to see that you have an interest in philosophy and cognitive science, as well!)