I like to go out to eat sometimes. I like having dinner out with my husband or taking the whole family for a special treat. But there are times that I really don’t like eating out. When I haven’t made a plan for dinner or things get crazy and we find ourselves grabbing a fast food meal, I get irked with myself.
It is so expensive to feed the family at a fast food restaurant. For the $10-$15 (or more) that we spend on a quick meal, I could buy groceries to make a really good meal at home that would probably have left overs for lunch the next day too.
For me, the biggest temptation to grabbing a meal out is just not having a plan. There are sometimes that we have to eat on the run. In those situations, I like to pack food to eat. It costs less and tastes better. It does involve some planning though.
What situations cause you to cave in to the temptation to just grab a fast food meal? Are you trying to eat out less often? Leave a comment and let me know how you’re doing with this issue.
This is the biggest reason at our house for grabbing food at fast food or on the way home from work…because I didn’t plan, didn’t thaw out meat or simply am so stressed I can’t throw something together. In the past I’ve printed out a calendar for the month and just made a menu plan…of course it is subject to change and often does but it takes the day to day thinking out of the equation. I can plan simpler meals on the days I work or I know we have sporting events. I can grocery shop better and use my coupons more effectively. Often times there are leftovers or I plan for the leftovers on the calendar knowing what I’m making. This works for me … I just need to do it. I was just thinking that I need to do this soon!
I used to think it was fun to have a ‘reason’ to grab a fast food meal. Then a few years back I began to get irked, just like you say.
I’d much rather pay for a meal when I’m less stressed and ready to enjoy it. I’d much rather eat somewhere the food is tasty, and healthy. I’d even enjoy the anticipation of looking forward to eating out a week or so in advance.
I try to keep a couple of fast food alternatives in the freezer for when things are stressed and I’ve not planned ahead. It costs less to have some frozen chicken tenders ready to prepare than it would to run out and get food. Rice and pasta with frozen veggies are always a quick and easy meal to go with the chicken and, if I’m lucky, there are some fresh herbs or greens ready to pick in the garden. I can practically prepare these things in my sleep.
Home-cooked chicken with pasta, olive oil, and herbs tastes better than fast food anyway. Fast food is all salt and sugar – I think I’m losing the taste for it!
Well, living in the country, we don’t have the opportunity to eat out like other people, so we really don’t do it a lot. However, I find that poor planning on my part leads us to eating the quick, “emergency” meals (frozen pizza, pasta, hamburger helper, etc.) instead of saving them for when we really need them (sudden child sickness, mom gone unexpectedly and dad has to cook). I wish I had more meals prepared and in the freezer for the times I don’t plan well, or for those “emergencies.”
But, yes, poor planning is a big problem for me.
Since January I’ve been trying to budget a lot better than I did last year; I’ve managed to get my expenditure on food down to around $11/day by packing my own lunch and buying in quantity. I eat out on occasion, but it’s rare. I don’t even miss it that much…
I agree, poor planning usually gets me too. When I get to the end of the day, I’m tired and we’re busy with activities after school. If I haven’t planned dinner, then we end up going the easy route and eating out.
I agree, poor planning is how we wind up eating out more often than not these days. We used to eat out tons and tons before we had our son last year, and lost an income resource (me), so we’ve cut back on our food spending, and try to eat out only for special occasions.
I used to eat out a lot, just at Wendy’s and such but it was adding up fast! I began planning better and hardly ever stop at fast food restaurants anymore, unless I get a last minute babysitting job…usually I try and pack all three meals otherwise!
The dollar menu is our go to if needed. My son and I get yogurt and plain hamburgers. My husband gets the chicken with no mayo and we split a large fry. It feeds our family for less than 2 dollars a person and it is a fun treat.
It is hard to find “healthy” fast food, we eat mostly organic at home. I enjoy cooking but it is hard after a long day at work but as long as I plan ahead and I do my shopping based on the recipes I intend on making during the week it makes it a little easier.