Cutting back on eating out, how to not feel deprived?

[Anonymous]

We recently sat down and worked out a budget looking at our spending habits over the past few months.

We knew we were spending a lot on eating out, but it was pretty eye opening to see the amount we have been spending - generally $1k per month.

We really should cut back on this and put that money to work elsewhere.

I've always cooked dinner M-Th each week. And we've been eating out most meals (except breakfast) on the weekends...some of this probably stems from me being tired of cooking from the week.

We've been trying to cut back on the weekend eating out drastically(trying to take it down to spending no more than $100/weekend)...but I can see us getting tempted back to our old ways. I think we are just lazy and like a lot of food variety (sushi, thai, tacos, etc.). I also think I've not been planning well enough with what we have in the house.

I need some practical tips on how to keep eating home fun and yummy...and frankly, not too labor intensive.

I've already decided that I'm assigning DH one weeknight to be responsible for making dinner to help spread out the work. He doesn't like to cook, but always does clean up.

What do you do or recommend?

[Anonymous]

Its not labor intensive but it requires a little planning.

A friend of mine has a big "cook" weekend at the start of each month where she makes a chili and a curry and a pasta sauce in bulk and then freezes portions. They are good for weekend meals and can last a while in the freezer. It means you've got home cooked food on the weekend but you've not had to chop, cook, etc you just defrost it and warm it up.

[Anonymous]

OP, do you have kids? When we are in a rut or if we didn't do enough planning earlier in the week, DH and I eat leftovers and we have the kids eat cereal, waffles, oatmeal or other breakfast food for dinner, and let the kids eat in front of the TV. That is fun for them, and less work for us. I know that doesn't sound as fun as eating out, but it's cheap and easy and will save you money.

Also, we eat out on the patio to make things more fun and exciting. Even boring food is good outside.

I think the problem with eating in is feeling bogged down, like each meal has to be a gourmet 4-course meal. It doesn't have to be.

[Anonymous]

Hi. Yes. We have a toddler who only sometimes will eat the same thing we are eating (picky).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Its not labor intensive but it requires a little planning.

A friend of mine has a big "cook" weekend at the start of each month where she makes a chili and a curry and a pasta sauce in bulk and then freezes portions. They are good for weekend meals and can last a while in the freezer. It means you've got home cooked food on the weekend but you've not had to chop, cook, etc you just defrost it and warm it up.

blech. Warmed over mushy food (chili) or freezer-burned food that should be served immediately after preparation (marinara, pesto).

[Anonymous]

You could do meals like grocery store rotisserie chicken and salad, or steaks or chops on the George Foreman Grill on the weekends. Sandwiches for lunch.

[Anonymous]

We have a family of 4 (kids 3 and 5) and spend about $100-110/weekend on eating out. We usually have 1 fast casual meal (mall, Chipotle, etc.) and 1 meal in an ethnic restaurant each weekend. Our favorite Chinese restaurant, Joe's noodle, gives huge portions. We order an extra entree and end up with 1-2 meals with the leftovers.

We generally don't mind leftovers, so I usually make a dish that lasts us 2 dinners. It helps reduce the burden during the week.

[Anonymous]

Can you do something like, on Friday night you order pizza (feels like a treat, you don't have to cook, not super expensive), you can go out to eat on Saturday night, somebody cooks on Sunday night, and for weekend lunches you either eat at home or just buy sandwiches out, no huge restaurant meal?

[Anonymous]

OP, when my wife was unwell I took over the cooking for almost four months. Hardly ever ate out. I cooked a variety of foods and different cuisines.

It took me on average about one hour from prepping to cooking to serving the food. It takes planning - as another PP said - and does not require any unique skills. While the food was cooking, I'd wash the dishes and clean up.

BTW, I am not talking about cooking simple fare but making fairly elaborate dishes: Italian, French, Thai, Chinese, Middle Eastern, etc. I was quite surprised by my acumen in doing it and also how it really does not take a lot of time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can you do something like, on Friday night you order pizza (feels like a treat, you don't have to cook, not super expensive), you can go out to eat on Saturday night, somebody cooks on Sunday night, and for weekend lunches you either eat at home or just buy sandwiches out, no huge restaurant meal?

I'd change the ordering in pizza - it actually adds up if you order more than 1 pizza (cheese only for kids, something more elaborate for adults). You can easily spend $40. I'd do pizza, but frozen. Maybe 1 out of 4 times order pizza delivery.

Otherwise we're in the same boat as you. In our case, it's that our kids are now in after school activities so a couple of nights week we get takeout. Not healthy and not inexpensive, but when gymnastics is from 5-7 it's hard to eat before or wait until you get home and heat something up. But when we started this routine e did not cut back on weekend eating out. for us, it's so nice to eat breakfast out.

We generally cook something big (stew, hearty soup, casserole) on Sunday nights that gives another meal during the week. Have to work on the rest.

[Anonymous]

Yes, on Friday night we have been ordering a single large cheese pizza and a large salad that we all three share. It's been just under $30 with delivery tip.

I think that we could use our grill more often and that would be a nice change.

I currently make all our pasta sauce from scratch in big batches and freeze it so we always have that on hand. I also make chili in big batches and freeze that as well. What other things would be good like this?

The tough part is that I love using the frozen pre-prepared meals I've made during weeknights since we we both work full-time and dinner needs to be ready fairly quickly before toddler meltdowns happen (I definitely don't have the luxury of an hour of cooking from scratch on weeknights - maybe 45 minutes tops). As a result, we haven't been eating the things I've pre-made and frozen during the weekend.

What other things are simple to make but really good? Maybe it's just that my recipe rotation is too narrow and we're bored of it.

[Anonymous]

The nicest compliment I ever received from my husband and kids is that they prefer my cooking to eating out. Not only is it less expensive, portions are the right size for everybody and there's often left overs.

For me the key is to buy fresh produce every week. I usually go to the Asian market and stock up on Sundays. I find that having a nice variety of fruits and vegetables makes all the difference.

My freezer is stocked with meat. I don't necessarily pre cook the food but I do pre marinate a lot of things before I freeze. So I'll buy lbs of chicken and marinate in italian dressing before freezing. Or I'll buy london broil and marinate. Stir frys can marinated in an asian soy sauce mix. In the morning, I just pull something out of the freezer to defrost. It's already prepped and season so all I have to do is go to work, let it thaw, and then cook it.

Add in some veggies and a starch and dinner is served.

Like one of the PP mentioned, my kids have activities starting around 5:30pm. For them, when they get out of school, I give them a large snack. It might be a pasta salad or a PJ&J sandwich with a cheese stick and an apple. But it's enough to tide them over until the end of activities, showering, and then dinner.

I really started cooking about a year ago. I can't remember the last time we went out to dinner as a family. Whereas before it seemed easier to go to eat, not it just seems like such a hassle and too expensive for what you get.

On the bonus side, when DH and I do go out for a date, we go to a nice restaurant, order wine, have appetizers, meal, dessert and it really does feel like a special occasion date.

[Anonymous]

Make some fresh pesto and freeze it. How about more salads (pre-wash lettuce & pre-cut veggies)? Top with whatever protein you're feeding the toddler.

When you eat out, do you order wine/beer/alcohol? How about if you do allow yourselves to dine out, but just don't order the alcohol? That will save you money. Or eat simple dinners at home, and drink more wine with it!

[Anonymous]

OP here.

We only order alcohol if we are eating out with friends. If we eat out as a family we generally just drink water or soda. We probably eat out with friends 1-2x per month.

What's a good recipe for a yummy stir fry? I really haven't made that and we'd probably like it.

We have a freezer full of meat as well - which is great when I remember to take something out the night before.

[Anonymous]

Eat at home but go out for ice cream afterwards or just add a dessert at home if you usually don;t have it..still feels like you indulged.