'Tis the season to get healthy! We all know that's a popular New Year's Resolution. But another popular resolution is to get your finances in order. Here's some good news, There's one way you can do both! You can eat at home!
My husband and I have been working at that lately. We're doing our best to eat at home. That's significant for us, because dining out is our favorite thing! But we recognize that it's time to buckle down... for our pocketbooks AND our waistlines. Apparently, we're not the only ones. A new study out today shows more families are eating at home and liking it. Interestingly enough, this is apparently a behavioural change brought about by the recession.
I talked about this with folks on the KKTV 11 News Facebook page. I asked - are you eating out less? Have you always tried to eat at home? Overwelmingly, folks said - yes, because it saves money!
Yvonne said,"We are a family of 6 with 2 teenagers..eating out takes more than half of my food budget for a week, so we do it on special occasions and go to all you can eat buffets."
Michele said, "We used to average eating out once a week or so. Now it is maybe once every month and a half. It is simply too expensive."
So right!! So eating at home can make a big difference for your wallet. But there's another benefit as well. It can make a difference for your waistline. A big one.
How can that one thing make a difference? Think about it. If you're doing the cooking, you know just how much butter is going in that main dish. You know how much sauce you're adding to the pasta or cheese to your salad. You're in control! That alone can save you on fat grams and calories.
You're also in control of your portions. I don't know about you. But when I go out to eat, I want my money's worth! No matter the size of lasagna the waiter puts in front of me, I'm going to do my best to eat it all. I don't want to waste food! And portions at restaurants are so out of control! You may be getting twice or three times an acceptable portion! When I eat at home, I'm less likely to feel the triple-portion-pressure to eat. So I eat less.
But again, I haven't forgotten about the money I'm SAVING by eating at home. And you haven't either.
Beth said, "Eating at home to be healthier and it is cheaper. I love to cook."
Beth, I wish I had your cooking skills!! (And so does my husband.)
Jameson said, "Its cheaper and better to eat at home. Going out once in a while is good too."
I totally agree with you, Jameson. Going out is a nice treat. Remember how Yvonne talked about going to the buffet when she and her family go out to eat? I'm with you, Yvonne! Buffets are my fave! (So much for paying attention to portion sizes.)
I also loved the ideas everyone had for cheap/easy at-home healthy dinners. My favorite suggestions were from Scott and Angela.
Scott is apparently a grill master. He said,"I do stuff on the grill or in the smoker when I can. Less fat that way. I like to do veggies on the grill too." Yum!!
Angela shared her plans for dinner tonight! "Im going to make a nummy rotisserie like lemon rosemary chicken today," she said.
Wow. You all are making me hungry and inspiring me to come up with something healthy for dinner tonight at my house. Yes, I'm going to save money. And yes, my husband and I will be healthier.
But I also liked what Michele went on to share on facebook as well. No matter where or what you eat tonight, there's something else that's important about dinner as well.Michele said,"We always try to eat at home. Not so much because if the recession, but we have 3 kiddos and one thing that is important to us in dinner time and all us being together at the dinner table."
Well said.
