"Saving" money by eating out less

[Anonymous]

[. I did find some fairly reputable info on breast cancer that said that 1-2 portions of tofu per day was fine. So, while I appreciate the concern, I don't think I'll be removing tofu from our diets (we certainly don't eat it every day!)

My relatives who survived breast cancer were told not to eat soy products by their oncologists.

[Anonymous]

We also eat primarily fresh vegetables. Our food costs rise significantly when I shop at bigger stores like Teeter or WF. I'm much more able to keep costs under control when I shop at the small Mom's around the corner from our house even though on a per item basis they may be more expensive. I think it's because I'm less tempted to treat myself with a special food item or to try something new there. I just focus on the basics. (FYI - we also waste less this way. Not throwing away as much food.) We get TP, cat litter, and things like that at Costco.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
The question though is when you are comparing to your previous spending, were you including the extra groceries (e.g. TP, cat litter, kitchen rolls) separately from the food? You should be comparing food costs before and after without including the household supplies. Olive oil counts, but the rest are household supplies that you would/should be buying either way. I've found that when our family of four goes out, we spend between $25-40 for a single meal. When we eat at home, $75 of groceries will last us 2-3 days (average 2 meals a day, so 4 meals). So for $75 for two meals or four meals? I can definitely see the difference.

Where do you eat for a family of 4 for $25-40??

Seriously. I would love to know. With just the 2 of us and a 2.5 year old, we rarely spend less than $60, usually closer to $75-$100 if we each have a drink after all tax and tip is included.

Looks like a lot of people questioned my $25-40 for four. Sorry to keep folks waiting, but work got in the way. My family of four includes twin toddlers who share either a kid's meal or a selection of sides. We do a lot of fast food and cheaper sit down places, so we don't spend a huge amount on restaurant food.

Is this not OP?

This is OP. No that was not me. It was the person who wrote the first post above and said that they spend $25-40 for a single meal - which should be pretty clear to anyone.

I did not say that, I do not have twins and I do not eat fast food. However, we do sometimes spend in that range in our family too, though $40-70 is more likely. Yes, it's possible to get dinner out for two adults and two small children somewhere that's not a fast food restaurant in the $40 range.

This is the point where you apologize. Thanks.

I am the parent of the twins, and not OP. I'm surprised that there was a question of who was whom. The quotes are there for anyone to read the back and forth.

When I say that we eat fast food, that includes a number of counter service restaurants that are not Burger King, McDonald's, etc. We eat at places like Shane's Rib Shack, Bob Evans, Ledo's Pizza and Pasta, Three Brother's Italian and the local Chinese restaurant. There are many places that you can get a meal for 2 adults and 2 toddlers for under $40. And if you're careful what you eat, you can eat moderately healthy, too.

These are disgusting gmo fatty fast food places.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I want to know where these "casual restaurants" where entrees are $8-12 but "not disgusting crap" are, please.

In DC (and the burbs). You do realize that expensive doesn't automatically mean healthy? Primarily I'm thinking of Thai, Indian, Vietnamese, Middle Eastern restaurants that we go to - though there are others, you neighborhood cafe, for example.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:[. I did find some fairly reputable info on breast cancer that said that 1-2 portions of tofu per day was fine. So, while I appreciate the concern, I don't think I'll be removing tofu from our diets (we certainly don't eat it every day!)

My relatives who survived breast cancer were told not to eat soy products by their oncologists.

The American Cancer Society says differently: http://www.cancer.org/cancer/news/expertvoices/post/2012/08/02/the-bottom-line-on-soy-and-breast-cancer-risk.aspx

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 3 year old son's favorite food is tofu with vegetables.

This is a side note and I ope you understand it is well intended- please do not feed tofu or any soy based products to your kids. Soy is an inflammatory food. I give you kudos for cooking home made food to your kids and not feeding them store bought garbage. As someone who grew up with health home cooked meals every day, I am amazed the garbage people eat and how little people know about good food. I mean, someone few posts above commented that dressing always comes in a bottle!!!


the benefit of soy is a myth . I am a former vegetarian who used to eat a ton of tofu as I thought it was a replacement for meat. I stopped eating tofu, miso and any other soy based products 2 yers ago after I was diagnosed with endometriosis and learned about inflammatory foods. Quinoa is a great source of protein if you need a replacement idea.

Can you send a link to the science behind these claims? Thanks.

Here is one. You can also look up soy+ fertility and soy + inflammation .

http://www.endo-resolved.com/soy.html

We limit soy intake in our family as much as possible because of health concerns, but everything I've read links the problems to non-traditional foods like soy milk and other soy derivatives. I don't think there's much risk to fermented soy products or "young" soy beans (like edamame), eaten in moderation.

I googled this before I asked for research and I found nothing convincing and plenty that said that tofu was good as part of an anti inflammatory diet. So I am pretty confused. What I'd be interested in seeing is some published research because I tend not to trust web sources that I can't verify as being reputable. I did find some fairly reputable info on breast cancer that said that 1-2 portions of tofu per day was fine. So, while I appreciate the concern, I don't think I'll be removing tofu from our diets (we certainly don't eat it every day!)

I'm the second soy-limiting poster, and we also eat tofu from our diets. I haven't seen anything, anywhere, to suggest it's unsafe. What we DON'T eat are the ubiquitous soy products that are not traditional, like soy burgers, soy milk, etc. Very hard to avoid soy lecithin, though!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I want to know where these "casual restaurants" where entrees are $8-12 but "not disgusting crap" are, please.

In DC (and the burbs). You do realize that expensive doesn't automatically mean healthy? Primarily I'm thinking of Thai, Indian, Vietnamese, Middle Eastern restaurants that we go to - though there are others, you neighborhood cafe, for example.

Tortilla Cafe, across the street from Eastern Market. No matter how much we order, it never costs more than about $25 for a family of 3. And it's mostly healthy--roasted chicken, salads, traditional Salvadorean food. Delicious, highly recommend it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I want to know where these "casual restaurants" where entrees are $8-12 but "not disgusting crap" are, please.

In DC (and the burbs). You do realize that expensive doesn't automatically mean healthy? Primarily I'm thinking of Thai, Indian, Vietnamese, Middle Eastern restaurants that we go to - though there are others, you neighborhood cafe, for example.

Of course I do. I am genuinely curious and asking for specific places, as even the places you listed above typically cost more than $8-12 an entree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I want to know where these "casual restaurants" where entrees are $8-12 but "not disgusting crap" are, please.

In DC (and the burbs). You do realize that expensive doesn't automatically mean healthy? Primarily I'm thinking of Thai, Indian, Vietnamese, Middle Eastern restaurants that we go to - though there are others, you neighborhood cafe, for example.

Of course I do. I am genuinely curious and asking for specific places, as even the places you listed above typically cost more than $8-12 an entree.

I suspect they are eating at Chipotle and don't want to admit it!

[Anonymous]

My relatives who survived breast cancer were told not to eat soy products by their oncologists.

The American Cancer Society says differently: http://www.cancer.org/cancer/news/expertvoices/post/2012/08/02/the-bottom-line-on-soy-and-breast-cancer-risk.aspx

"But to find out for sure whether we should recommend soy foods to women, researchers would need to repeat these findings, ideally through a controlled study (considered the gold standard in research). At the very least, the evidence from the studies in women reassures scientists that moderate consumption is likely to be safe. "

I am first poster above-- from that article it sounds like they don't really know, so they aren't taking chances.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Getting a bit off topic, but I find it odd that anyone uses bottled salad dressings. I'm not happy if someone tries to serve me that. Truly, just put some nice olive oil and vinegar on the table instead if you can't be bothered to mix one.

I've never made salad dressing homemade. I wouldn't know which seasoning to add. We like the refrigerated ones from the market. The Asian ginger one is great. I also like the Greek ones. I wouldn't like plain vinegar and oil.

Olive oil, balsamic vinegar, spicy mustard (or dijon), salt, pepper. Put it in a jar and shake. Delicious, fresh, and inexpensive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
When I say that we eat fast food, that includes a number of counter service restaurants that are not Burger King, McDonald's, etc. We eat at places like Shane's Rib Shack, Bob Evans, Ledo's Pizza and Pasta, Three Brother's Italian and the local Chinese restaurant. There are many places that you can get a meal for 2 adults and 2 toddlers for under $40. And if you're careful what you eat, you can eat moderately healthy, too.

These are disgusting gmo fatty fast food places.

To each his own. My family is healthy and long-lived and we have no problems eating this food in moderation. My extended family have all lived into their 80's and 90's. We don't worry about organic this and non-GMO that and all those concerns that you take such pains to spend money on avoiding. You've taken this obsession with avoiding all of these things to the point of being almost OCD about it. Relax. Eating this stuff once or twice a month isn't going to kill you or turn you into a blimp.

[Anonymous]

OP -- I have found that if you wait for sales at CVS -- you can get great deals and refunds with their loyalty card. We stock up on tp, paper towels, soaps, body washes, etc. when they have sales. (I'm terrible at cutting coupons -- never remember).

For your food, we look at flyers that offer two for one deals. Safeway does that and I'm sure others do too. We also go to Trader Joes. I know some people here can't stand TJs -- but we get good prices on fruits and veges. I think to see what you're spending -- you could keep a diary for a week or two. That will help you see where you might cut down or economize.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I want to know where these "casual restaurants" where entrees are $8-12 but "not disgusting crap" are, please.

In DC (and the burbs). You do realize that expensive doesn't automatically mean healthy? Primarily I'm thinking of Thai, Indian, Vietnamese, Middle Eastern restaurants that we go to - though there are others, you neighborhood cafe, for example.

Of course I do. I am genuinely curious and asking for specific places, as even the places you listed above typically cost more than $8-12 an entree.

OP here. Here are some of the places that we go to where we typically spend in the $25-40 range for our family. Remember we are two adults and two children (age 1 and 3) so this may be for two entrees , two entrees and a side, two entrees and an appetizer or a kids meal or more. Usually vegetarian, which is often less expensive than meat. Likely not including drinks.

Franklins, Hyattsville
Big Bear Café, Bloomingdale (daytime, the menu in the evening is much more expensive)
Tryst, Adams Morgan
Red Toque, Shaw (tasty food, never spend more than $25 and often have left overs - very casual place)
Beau Thai, Shaw (now also in Mount Pleasant)
Rustik, Bloomingdale (we usually go during happy hour 5-7pm when prices are reduced)
Sala Thai (various locations)
Busboys and Poets (various locations)
Tiffin, Langley Park (the weekend buffet is, I think, $12 per person, the food is delicious and they've never charged us for our kids - this is an Indian with great vegetarian food)
Mr. Chen's Organic Chinese, Woodley Park
Kanlaya Thai, Chinatown
Mehak (Indian), Chinatown

I'm sure there are more, but those are some that come to mind.

[Anonymous]

In terms of trying to reduce your overall bills, have you comparison shopped places like Amazon Subscribe and Save for dry good like toilet paper, paper towels, pasta, and other foods? We save a lot on staples, non-perishables, and toiletries by buying online in bulk. We will get a case of Seventh Generation toilet paper at a time for example. We also order cat litter online in 40 pound bags. (We have two cats and three litter boxes, and it's a lot easier than buying at the store as well as less expensive). Laundry detergent, all sorts of things are available by the case and if you get 5 subscribe and save items at once you get 15% off.

Using dish towels and washable cloths saves a lot over buying paper towels. (I will never, ever go cloth for TP though....I know there are people who do it but no how no way here).

Also, have you looked into whether a CSA or the farmer's market would get you better prices on in-season produce? It might take a little legwork to find that out, and having a CSA requires a lot of planning on the fly once you get the week's haul, but it might make more sense money-wise.

If you're buying a lot of organic, check out Environmental Working Group's Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen -- you can buy the Clean Fifteen conventional, and make your own cost-benefit judgments about buying conventional vs. organic.