Going out

Lake_Po
Lake_Po Posts: 228 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I'm absolutely terrible about going out to eat, I find it's just easier. I love to cook but hate to clean (yes, I'm lazy...what of it?!) I've noticed that a lot of my friends and others on here had the same issue. How did some of you kick your going out to eat habit?

Replies

  • fancycupcake
    fancycupcake Posts: 78 Member
    For me, it's a financial issue. Once I realized how much money I save by buying groceries and cooking rather than just going out to eat, the dishes didn't look so daunting! I'm a college student with two minimum wage jobs, so it's important for me to save as much money as I can....

    Unfortunately cooking does make a huge mess...the cutting board, the knives, the pans, the serving dishes...ugh!! We don't have a dishwasher at my house so we find that the best way to do it i to wash dishes as we go. Done cutting and have a few minutes before the oven is preheated? Wash the cutting board and stick it in the drying rack. Just transferred the gravy from the saucepan to the gravy boat? Wash the pain while you wait for the veggies to finish microwaving! Each dish you do in those idle minutes counts, and will leave you with less of a cleanup at the end.

    Another way is to tell the boyfriend/girlfriend/whoever "Don't worry about it, I'll make dinner...but you have to clean up!" :D That usually works for me!

    As far as cooking itself, find a few recipes that you really want to try and get excited about them! Maybe designate one or two nights a week to trying a new recipe, to keep cooking exciting, rather than a chore.

    And if you're broke like me, force yourself! :D
  • axialmeow
    axialmeow Posts: 382 Member
    It stresses me out because I cant control the calorie count.
  • Lake_Po
    Lake_Po Posts: 228 Member
    I'm also a college student with 1 job that pays only slightly better than minimum wage lol so I'm definitely broke. I think that's my 2nd reason for wanting to stop doing it so much though. My first is, I know I'll lose more weight if I eat at home. I know what is in my food and I know it's not crap. I don't know what's wrong with me. I just can't seem to stop!! It's very frustrating.
  • alyssamiller77
    alyssamiller77 Posts: 891 Member
    I hate cooking and cleaning up afterward, so here's what I've done. One, anything I can grill I grill, you don't need to clean up much other than brushing the grate after each use. Plus grilling most things is healthier than other ways of cooking it anyway. Two, I do simple things to make cleanup easier like lining cookie sheets with Aluminum Foil or using stainless steel pots, pans and such which can usually be cleaned with a quick spray of hot water and wiping them out. Third, I look for things that are fast prep ideas. For instance I recently added a recipe for a BBQ Chicken Flatbread Pizza, it literally takes 8 minutes and there's little to no mess. Be creative. You don't have to sweat it out in the kitchen for hours over multiple pots and pans to make a good healthy dinner.
  • Lake_Po
    Lake_Po Posts: 228 Member
    Good thoughts. I do love grilled food. I only have a George Foreman in the winter though and that's even worse to clean because mine doesn't come apart!! I think I just need to work out my priorities and self control. Bah!
  • orapronobis
    orapronobis Posts: 460 Member
    I hate cooking and cleaning up afterward, so here's what I've done. One, anything I can grill I grill, you don't need to clean up much other than brushing the grate after each use. Plus grilling most things is healthier than other ways of cooking it anyway. Two, I do simple things to make cleanup easier like lining cookie sheets with Aluminum Foil or using stainless steel pots, pans and such which can usually be cleaned with a quick spray of hot water and wiping them out. Third, I look for things that are fast prep ideas. For instance I recently added a recipe for a BBQ Chicken Flatbread Pizza, it literally takes 8 minutes and there's little to no mess. Be creative. You don't have to sweat it out in the kitchen for hours over multiple pots and pans to make a good healthy dinner.

    Please do share the recipe for the BBQ Chicken Flatbread Pizza. I haven't had pizza in months, and it's the only thing I miss.
  • skankamaggot
    skankamaggot Posts: 146 Member
    FOIL FOIL FOIL! I always cook chicken or fish in foil - no cleanup necessary, just throw out the dirty foil. Steam veggies in disposable ziploc steamer bags. I don't eat out because it's just toooooo expensive.
  • Cassierocksalot
    Cassierocksalot Posts: 266 Member
    I hate cooking and cleaning up afterward, so here's what I've done. One, anything I can grill I grill, you don't need to clean up much other than brushing the grate after each use. Plus grilling most things is healthier than other ways of cooking it anyway. Two, I do simple things to make cleanup easier like lining cookie sheets with Aluminum Foil or using stainless steel pots, pans and such which can usually be cleaned with a quick spray of hot water and wiping them out.

    Exactly this! We grill EVERYTHING! I also despise cooking. I think of ways to convince my husband that it's his turn every time. I also do a lot of early week prep to make the rest of the week easier. I usually chop a whole onion and mince some garlic and throw them in the fridge so I can just grab and use. Anything to keep the amount of dishes down.
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
    FOIL FOIL FOIL! I always cook chicken or fish in foil - no cleanup necessary, just throw out the dirty foil. Steam veggies in disposable ziploc steamer bags. I don't eat out because it's just toooooo expensive.

    That's what I'll do half the time is use foil. It does cut down on the clean up.
  • RevCO30
    RevCO30 Posts: 176 Member
    I moved to a town that does not have dining out options, LOL, but in all seriousness: plan ahead. I try to do the thing where you cook for the whole week on one day, doesn't always work that way but at least you only have to clean up once.

    Another suggestion: do you have a crockpot? They are a wonderous creation: one pot and lid to clean...if you're very busy you can set it up and let things cook for a looooong time till you get home...ton of healthy recipes out there for crock pot cooking.
  • mitsi94
    mitsi94 Posts: 64
    Third, I look for things that are fast prep ideas. For instance I recently added a recipe for a BBQ Chicken Flatbread Pizza, it literally takes 8 minutes and there's little to no mess. Be creative. You don't have to sweat it out in the kitchen for hours over multiple pots and pans to make a good healthy dinner.

    This!

    Well, the first thing I did to help kick my habit was to start looking up the calorie counts of all those things that I loved to eat when I would eat out. OMG! You just don't realize how many calories are in some of those dishes! Even the ones that you think might be a healthier choice, like some salads - they are really deceiving! I realized I could never meet my calorie goals on a regular basis if I kept eating out on a regular basis. Now I just do it once in awhile, and plan the rest of my eating for the day accordingly.

    Second, just like poster above, I had to find some foods & recipes that were really easy to prepare and cook. If it's super easy to do, then it's really not such a big deal to come home and pop something in the microwave or oven or steamer or something, instead of going out or hitting the drive through on your way home. There are lots of microwaveable foods that are good, soups are good, smoothies are good, etc. Just have to find some stuff you like, and then it will be easier than going out!
  • GCLyds
    GCLyds Posts: 206 Member
    Clean as you go. Keep your dish rag soapy. As you cook wipe it out with the soapy dish rag and rinse. Most of my dinner dishes are done before we eat dinner. Or fill up a sink with soapy water and do it that way. Everyone washes their own dish. It takes like 2 seconds when food isnt left to dry on.
  • Contrarian
    Contrarian Posts: 8,138 Member
    I prefer my own cooking to most restaurants.
  • msbunnie68
    msbunnie68 Posts: 1,894 Member
    cook in batches - if you make a soup make a big pot of it and freeze portions. Most recipes are for 2 or 4 people so make it that much and freeze your meals. That way you could easily get down to only having to cook a couple of times a week.

    Bagged salad mixes are great. Open bag, grab a mittfull, wash put on plate et voila! You have a Side Salad. (Measure your handful so you know how much your handful weighs and laugh at the 9ish calories that naked salad is.)

    There are quite a few one pot meals cookbooks out there - designed for the less motivated cooks :)
  • alyssamiller77
    alyssamiller77 Posts: 891 Member
    I hate cooking and cleaning up afterward, so here's what I've done. One, anything I can grill I grill, you don't need to clean up much other than brushing the grate after each use. Plus grilling most things is healthier than other ways of cooking it anyway. Two, I do simple things to make cleanup easier like lining cookie sheets with Aluminum Foil or using stainless steel pots, pans and such which can usually be cleaned with a quick spray of hot water and wiping them out. Third, I look for things that are fast prep ideas. For instance I recently added a recipe for a BBQ Chicken Flatbread Pizza, it literally takes 8 minutes and there's little to no mess. Be creative. You don't have to sweat it out in the kitchen for hours over multiple pots and pans to make a good healthy dinner.

    Please do share the recipe for the BBQ Chicken Flatbread Pizza. I haven't had pizza in months, and it's the only thing I miss.

    Posted to the recipes forum:
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/820683-bbq-chicken-flatbread-pizza
  • blady135
    blady135 Posts: 12 Member
    When I was in school, cooking anything stir-fry was my go to meal! I just had one big pan and threw all my veggies, tofu, meat, whatever in it and it cooked quickly. I started cooking extra and making my roommate food because it was just so easy and healthy. Definitely saved money, time, and clean-up.
  • sashastackhouse
    sashastackhouse Posts: 51 Member
    FOIL FOIL FOIL! I always cook chicken or fish in foil - no cleanup necessary, just throw out the dirty foil. Steam veggies in disposable ziploc steamer bags. I don't eat out because it's just toooooo expensive.

    When you are done with your foil, please clean it off, crumple it into a ball and recycle it! Aluminum can be recycled many many times ;) Be sure to check with your local recycling company to be sure of what to do with it!

    For the OP, there are a lot of websites that compare the calorie content and cost of eating out to preparing food at home. I would suggest googling those for a bit of motivation. Also, learn how to cook a few meals REALLY well and then experiment with the ingredients. I like making healthy curries (chicken, tofu, eggplant, PUMPKIN, etc.), stirfries of all sorts, and the options for salads are never ending.

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