Cooking at Home vs. Eating Out: A Cheaper Option for Families

Is it cheaper for a family of four with two teenagers to cook at home or eat out regularly? Here’s a breakdown to help you decide.

Introduction to Cooking at Home

First and foremost, I would like to address the point about cooking at home just once a week not being a "regular basis." By breaking down the costs, we can clearly see that cooking at home can be financially advantageous on a regular basis. Let's take a look at a typical spaghetti dinner to make the case.

Homemade Spaghetti Dinner: A Cost Analysis

For a spaghetti dinner for a family of four, here are the typical costs of the ingredients:

Bucatini pasta (on sale) - $1.00 or less. Stock this up when on sale as it lasts a long time. 24 oz. jar of marinara sauce (either Mezzetta or a store brand) - $3.00 on the high side. Walmart also has Mezzetta for about $4.00, depending on the brand. 1 oz. wedge of Frigo Parmesan cheese - approximately $3.00 or less. At Walmart, you will only use about 1 oz. per person. Browned ground meat (optional) - another $5.00. If you buy ground meat at a sale or use a mixture of 50% beef and 50% pork to stretch your budget, you can still keep it under $15 for several servings. Half an onion and a couple of cloves of garlic - around $0.50.

The total cost for these ingredients can range from $8 to $15 for several servings. If you were to eat at a restaurant like Olive Garden, a single plate of spaghetti could cost anywhere from $11 to $15, depending on the location.

Quality and Cost Comparison

The quality of food served at fast-food restaurants is significantly lower. McDonald's, for instance, uses very low-grade meat, which is often sold to pet food stores at a lower price. Other options like a single "dollar menu" hamburger from McDonald's would still be more expensive to make at home, not to mention that the quality is far superior.

Batch Cooking and Planning

Assuming you mean everyday, cooking at home is definitely cheaper. Teenagers often have large appetites, and it would be prohibitively expensive to feed them three meals a day and two snacks outside the home. Here are some cost-effective ways to plan and prepare meals at home:

Roasts: Use vegetables and bread to stretch the roast. For example, you can braise a roast with cabbage, carrots, and potatoes, adding a bit of broth to make it more flavorful. Chicken: Stretch chicken by using it in casseroles, meatballs, or soups. Chicken thighs, in particular, are very versatile and cost-effective. Ground Meat: Extend the use of ground meat in recipes like chili, tacos, or spaghetti. Adding beans, rice, or vegetables significantly increases the bulk and nutritional value of the dish. Pasta: Homemade marinara sauce is not only cost-effective but also full of flavor. Use it as the base for casseroles, pasta dishes, and meatless meals like meatballs stuffed with cheese or cheese-stuffed pastas. Beans: Black beans, lentils, and other beans are very filling and very cheap. Use them in burritos, soups, salads, or as the base for bean burgers and casseroles.

Conclusion

Batch cooking can save a significant amount of time and money over the long term. It allows you to prepare meals in advance, which is especially useful during busy weekdays. Cooking at home not only helps you save money but also ensures that your family enjoys healthier and more nutritious meals. Emergencies and unexpected events can still be planned for by having a few extras stored in the freezer or pantry. For the rest of the time, opt to cook at home and save going out to eat for special occasions or once a week or less.