Putting a Lid on Why You Should Cook From Home More Often

There are so many things that go into the decision of whether to cook from home or go out to eat. On one hand, cooking at home can save you money (Americans spend over $200 billion a year on fast food alone, so there is money that can be saved, literally billions). This is a finance focused blog, did you think for a second I wouldn’t incorporate the costs associated with cooking from home? Ha! And on the other hand, going out to eat is more convenient. Fast food is like streaming your favorite shows on Netflix. It’s a dopamine rushing experience. Some days I feel I’d rather go to work than have to plan what I need at the grocery store. You have to go to the grocery store, figure out what you want to make, and then actually make it. Are personal chefs affordable? It’s no wonder that so many of us just opt for the drive-thru instead.

There are countless resources to help you create a routine for creating a meal plan without breaking your budget or your daily routine. There are numerous websites, cookbooks and apps that can prepare a weekly and monthly routine for you. So, if you’re willing to put in a little effort upfront, cooking from home can definitely be a viable option. Below we will talk about the pros and cons of cooking from home, reasons why people don’t do it, along with the financial and health benefits of CFH (cooking from home). I wanted to start a new slogan and acronym, did it work?

What’s Stopping You from Cooking at Home?

If you’re like most Americans, the thought of cooking at home probably seems daunting. After all, cooking is time-consuming, and who has the energy to cook after a long day of work? Especially since it seems as though the 9–5 work week no longer exists. Does anyone really work 9–5? Plus, eating out is so convenient. Why bother cooking when you can just pick up takeout or go through a drive-thru? I’ll take a number 7 please! Oh, and 11.

It’s true that cooking at home requires some effort. But it’s not as difficult or time-consuming as you might think. With a little planning, you can whip up healthy, homemade meals in no time. And once you get into the habit of cooking at home, you might be surprised at how easy and affordable it is. Not to mention, you’ll probably start to feel better since you’ll be eating healthier meals.

Cooking at Home is Good for Your Wallet

Eating out can really take a toll on your wallet. The average restaurant meal costs about $13 per person, while the average home-cooked meal costs about $4 per person. That means that by cooking just one meal at home per week, you could save over $50 per month. And that’s money that can be put toward other things, like savings, investments or debt repayment. $50 a month over 20 years at a 9% annual rate of return is approximately $33,000. Not too bad for eating one meal at home per week, huh? Keep that up for 30 years and that’s $90,000 invested.

Cooking at Home is Good for Your Health

When you cook at home, you have complete control over what goes into your food. That means no mystery ingredients or unhealthy preservatives. Plus, home-cooked meals tend to be lower in calories and fat than restaurant meals. And since you’re in charge of the portions, you can make sure that you’re getting just the right amount of food. All of this adds up to a healthier YOU.

Cooking at Home is Good for Your Schedule

You might think that cooking at home takes too much time, but that doesn’t have to be the case. As mentioned above, meal planning websites, digital cookbooks, and even apps can help you get started. There are nutritionists and dietitians who have dedicated years of their life into finding ingredients that are healthy, tasty, and cost effective. You can start your CFH (cooking from home, remember?) journey by checking out the Nosh Nourish Wander blog site, which was started by a woman who has committed nearly 20 years of her life as a nutritionist. Depending on the time you have and the amount of people you are cooking for, there really are lots of opportunities a few clicks and scrolls away. Try the Turkey Taco Skillet, it’s tasty, healthy, and can be made within 30 minutes.

These people and programs will help you get into the habit of cooking from home, which you might be surprised at how easy and affordable it is. If all of that was not enough, let’s go over some more pros and cons.

Pros and Cons of Cooking at Home Vs. Eating Out

The Pros of Cooking at Home

When you cook at home, you have complete control over what goes into your food. You can choose healthy ingredients that fit into your dietary restrictions. And you can be sure that your food will be prepared fresh and without any preservatives. Cooking at home also gives you an opportunity to try new recipes and experiment with different flavors. And once you get into the habit of cooking, you might find that it’s actually quite enjoyable and sustainable. Plus, unless you are driving past a restaurant on your way home, you have to spend time driving to the restaurant to get food (which takes time and money).

The Cons of Cooking at Home

Of course, cooking at home isn’t always as convenient as going out to eat. And if you don’t enjoy cooking, then it can even be a chore. Meal planning can also be challenging, especially if you’re trying to come up with new ideas week after week. But there are plenty of resources available that can help with that, as was mentioned above.

The Pros of Eating Out

Eating out is convenient because someone else is doing the cooking for you. And if you don’t like to cook or don’t have time to cook a certain day or week, then it’s a great option. Eating out also gives you a chance to try new foods that you might not make at home. And it’s a great way to socialize with friends and family.

The Cons of Eating Out

Of course, eating out can be expensive — especially if you do it often. And restaurant food is often not as healthy as homemade food because it often contains more salt, fat, and calories. So if you’re trying to watch your weight or eat a healthy diet, eating out might not be the best option for you.

Putting a Lid on Why You Should Cook From Home More Often

According to the USDA, the average American spends about $3,008 per year on food eaten away from home. That comes out to about $255 per month — or $8 per day. If you cook just one meal at home per day, you can save more than $1,800 per year. If you stacked those monthly savings every month into an investment account over 20 years at a 9% annual rate of return, you’d have roughly $100,000. Do that for 30 years and that’s $272,000 put to the side. Now you may start to see the financial impact by cooking from home.

That’s not the only benefit of cooking at home — it’s also healthier. That means you can avoid processed foods and make sure your meals are packed with nutrients. And if you’re trying to lose weight or eat healthier, cooking from home is a great way to do it since you can control portion sizes and make low-calorie or high-protein dishes easily. Cooking from home is more sustainable than eating out since it generates less food waste and packaging waste. Which that additional packaging material cost is usually passed on to you, the consumer. You might be surprised at how sustainable the routine becomes — and how much money you’ll save in the process.

Before you go, don’t forget, CFH (cooking from home) is the acronym! Happy cooking and investing.

*This is not financial advice. For educational purposes only.