Let's Talk: Cooking VS. Eating Out

Photo by Tim Mossholder

Hi ladies, it is yet another weekend approaching! Let's talk about this topic that has some debating. Do you prefer to cook at home or eat out? Let's review the pros and cons.


COOKING AT HOME

Pros:
- Cheaper when you cook for a larger amount of people (2-3 people and more).
- Easier to control what ingredients you use (good for fussy eaters)
- Practice as a hobby, extra skills

Cons:
- Bad cooking
- Always cook too much and cost wastage (or over-eating)
- Tiring and time-consuming (shopping, preparation, cooking, clean up)

Photo by Daria Shevtsova

EATING OUT 
*this also includes ordering via delivery

Pros:
- Best for single people or couples
- Many choices and conveniences (fast and easy)
- Should taste good most of the time (especially for harder recipes)
- Going out is fun for some people

Cons:
- Expensive if you buy for a bigger group (such as a family)
- Might not be the freshest ingredients or good quality condiments
- Going out is not fun for some people
- takeaway is not great for the environment

SUMMARY

For me, a single lady living on an average income, I prefer the convenience of eating out. Grocery shopping can cost a lot, it takes time and in the end, might not taste so good after all. However, if you have it all planned out and you do weekly grocery shopping for the whole week, this might work for you. For me, I find a lot of dead vegetables and expired goods in my fridge. In the end, I waste a lot of money.

For those who have a family, 3 or more people to feed, cooking at home might be better to save up. However, food places are getting more competitive and you can get good deals with prices. As for health reasons, eating out can be as healthy as cooking, but it may be costly. You can better control your recipes when you cook it yourself.

The bottomline is, you can play it smart and mix it up - buy half outside and cook rice from home. Or have some days where you cook something simple at home, then days where you eat out.

Find a balance and routine that works best for you and your family's lifestyle.

Do share your thoughts below.