Save Money and Your Health: Eat In!
by Julie Hall
Until recently Americans were eating out a lot. Estimates vary, but some statistics indicate that people, both singles and families, were eating out 4-5 times a week, not including take out restaurant meals. This trend is dropping as we look for ways to save dough by making the dough at home.
In addition to being less expensive, eating home-cooked food is healthier. According to a 2006 study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, restaurant food is more caloric and less nutritious than food prepared at home. And, perhaps not surprisingly, full-service restaurants are not much better in these respects than fast food restaurants. The study reported that restaurants of all stripes tend to prepare food with more cholesterol, salt, and saturated fat than people do at home.
But eating at home does not automatically add up to spending less and improving your health. If you buy high-end and prepared meals at the market you are not likely to save much, if anything, by staying home. Buying highly processed and premade food is not likely to improve your health either. To optimize home eating is to shop smartly, which means choosing more unprocessed whole foods, like grains, legumes, eggs, nuts, fruits, and vegetables, as well as natural (minimally processed and humanely raised) meats, cheeses, and yogurts. A pound of organic rolled oats from the bulk food section (see last week’s Money Saver: Buy Bulk for more on the subject) goes for about $1.19, while a box of processed (complete with salts, sugars, fillers, and preservatives) oat cereal will set you back typically $4 or more and not go as far.
In addition to reducing your food bill and being more nutritious, eating in cuts down your driving, which reduces your gas bill, lessens your carbon footprint, and saves you time better spent at home instead. So put on some music, kiss your dog, teach your kids how to grate cheese, and turn your food life into wholesome and inexpensive at-home fun.
For more on cooking for yourself, see Cook More: It’s Greener, Leaner, and Fun.
Image by Marshall Astor, January 2008.
©2009 ProgressiveKid
Powered by