It’s a Tuesday evening and you’ve just had a draining day at work. The last thing you want to do is prepare a meal, so you order Chinese or stroll to the nearest Chipotle for a quick dinner. By night’s end your stomach may be satisfied, but your bank account is lighter.
Food ranks as thethird-largest monthly costfor most households, trailing only housing and transport. And at about $2,505 annually, the typical American family spends nearly as much dining out as they do stocking the pantry!
Preparing roasted chicken and vegetables can run roughly half the price of a McDonald’s meal for a family of four, according to the New York Times. Cutting out restaurant meals could save your household a thousand dollars or more every year.
You know this, yet sometimes you’re too worn out, pressed for time, or simply unmotivated. Your plans to cook at home are genuine, but life keeps getting in the way. What can a busy person do?
Make cooking, rather than eating out, the simplest option. Here are a few straightforward steps to help you break the takeout cycle.
Identify Why You Fail
Take a moment and answer this: Why do you usually eat out even when you meant to cook? In my case:
- I can’t be bothered to figure out what to prepare.
- My fridge doesn’t have what I need.
- I’m starving now and can’t wait.
- I’m exhausted and don’t want to cook or, worse, clean up.
By pinpointing the reasons I avoid cooking — my failure modes — I’ve created tactics to tackle them one at a time.
1. Can’t Decide What to Make? Plan Your Meals Ahead
Rather than rifling through cookbooks each night like I used to, I map out meals at the start of the week. I begin by checking what leftovers and staples remain from the previous week, then pick recipes that share spices and ingredients to reduce waste.
A thoughtful meal plan is essential for escaping the takeout trap. I don’t schedule a multi-course feast when I only have an hour to cook and eat. And I don’t add creme brulee to the roster because, as much as I love it, I don’t own a blowtorch at home.
Every dish I plan must meet three conditions:
- It’s something I actually like to eat.
- It’s simple to make, with no more than 30 minutes of prep.
- I already own the equipment necessary to prepare it.
Extra credit if a meal uses inexpensive cuts of meat or can be prepared in large batches.
2. Nothing to Cook? Shop Weekly or Use Delivery
Like meal planning, I make it a point to shop for groceries once a week. That routine saves me time and stress.
There are many budget tips for grocery shopping, but I prefer to use online grocery services such as Instacart to compare prices and shop from home. When I first tried it I scored $10 off shrimp that was on sale at a store a little outside my area. That discount, plus a $10-off first-order promo, made a noticeable dent in my food expenses that week.
3. Can’t Wait for Dinner? Keep Snacks Ready
Whenever I shop, I always grab a snack. That way, if hunger strikes before or while I’m preparing dinner, I have something to tide me over.
While chips or an apple will suffice, I aim for snacks with protein and fat to avoid the sugar slump. My favorites are nuts, avocado slices and cheeses, pre-portioned into snack-friendly servings so I don’t wreck my appetite by overeating.
4. Feeling Unmotivated? Reduce Cooking and Cleanup
There’s no hiding it — cooking requires effort. But you can make it less of a chore.
Favor one-pot dishes to cut down on mess and wash-up time. Cook in larger portions and save leftovers for the next day’s lunch or dinner. If you live with roommates or a partner, set up a dinner rotation where you alternate cooking nights. Or turn meal prep into a group activity to make it more enjoyable.
Making dinner at home doesn’t have to be burdensome. With a little advance thought and structure, you can make it your go-to option quickly.
Your Turn: How do you resist ordering takeout or dining out? Share your tips for making cooking easier!
Jordan Park is a young professional, a foodie, and a personal finance writer. Follow their journey toward financial independence and visit their blog at EngineerCents.com.
