Homecooking Poll

createsure
createsure Posts: 55
edited September 18 in Food and Nutrition
Hi everyone,

If you've read my posts you may know I am a huge advocate of cooking or preparing your own food as opposed to eating out. Of course, it is so much easier to grab something on the go, and I know a lot of you out there eat out regularly (especially lunch).

I was wondering just how much people DO cook at home, and I want to take a poll:

How much of the food you eat (on a weekly basis) is from a chain restaurant or fast food place?

0 - 25% ?
26 - 50% ?
51 - 75% ?
76 - 100% ?

It would be interesting to know what the averages are out there.
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Replies

  • createsure
    createsure Posts: 55
    Hi everyone,

    If you've read my posts you may know I am a huge advocate of cooking or preparing your own food as opposed to eating out. Of course, it is so much easier to grab something on the go, and I know a lot of you out there eat out regularly (especially lunch).

    I was wondering just how much people DO cook at home, and I want to take a poll:

    How much of the food you eat (on a weekly basis) is from a chain restaurant or fast food place?

    0 - 25% ?
    26 - 50% ?
    51 - 75% ?
    76 - 100% ?

    It would be interesting to know what the averages are out there.
  • Jackie_W
    Jackie_W Posts: 1,676 Member
    I only eat out maybe once a month these days (probably even less), but it used to be every night - convenience and laziness mainly.
    I really enjoy cooking my own foods now, the satisfaction of cooking a family meal is wonderful - especially when I know what went in to it.
  • icandoit
    icandoit Posts: 4,163 Member
    We go out to eat as a family once or twice a month.
    Applebees or Yukon Jacks.
  • Healthier_Me
    Healthier_Me Posts: 5,600 Member
    I "eat out" about once a month.

    ~Joanna:flowerforyou:
  • bigjug1967
    bigjug1967 Posts: 201
    I used to eat out once a day and now none unless its subway or chinese broccoli and chicken lite dinner
    I am having withdrawls too from not getting all that fat.
  • yoginimary
    yoginimary Posts: 6,788 Member
    We eat out 2-3 times a week, but it's never fast food and hardly ever a chain (Pei Wei is a favorite chain).
  • memaw66
    memaw66 Posts: 2,558 Member
    Well, it's just me and my husband at home so it was so easy and convenient for the two of us to go out. We did that a LOT!!!!! I never cooked on the weekends. And I would go out for lunch EVERY DAY! But since we have been trying to lose weight, we haven't gone out together. I have had Subway and Chinese once. I love my chinese chicken/broccoli!!!! We are saving sooooo much money this way.

    Good post!:drinker:
  • kistinbee
    kistinbee Posts: 3,688 Member
    We eat out about once a month for our anniversary...that's about it. We take it as an evening for ourselves since our lives are so busy. It works out nicely, and we always order healthy. Occassionally we go out more than that, but it's become very rare. We used to go out multiple times during the week.

    *Kistinbee*
  • bigjug1967
    bigjug1967 Posts: 201
    Chinese food , some of it is very healthy, look at the chinese and they are in very good shape except for smoking alot .I like the vegetablees and rice sometimes also
  • bigjug1967
    bigjug1967 Posts: 201
    Chinese food , some of it is very healthy, look at the chinese and they are in very good shape except for smoking alot .I like the vegetablees and rice sometimes also
  • hollyt75
    hollyt75 Posts: 4 Member
    I used to eat out almost every day. My fiance and I have seriously cut back on the amount of meals we have out to 1 or 2 a week because we are trying to save money to buy a house. We have really enjoyed investing in cookbooks, I got Elie Krieger's new one yesterday and I love it! She breaks down the nutriotonal information for all her recipes. I try to make double of most recipes so I can freeze half and then just pull it out and heat up to eat as a "fast" meal at a later date. Best of all we seem to enjoy the food that we have at home more. We enjoy going to thte market and picking out fresh ingredients. We eat slower and enjoy actually sitting down and talking to each other without constantly being interrupted by a waiter.
  • erin83070
    erin83070 Posts: 78 Member
    We eat out so seldom, I'd have to put ourselves in th the 0 - 25% category. Maybe once a month, but not even that. When we want junk, I usually make it at home.
  • mechanicmom
    mechanicmom Posts: 5,699 Member
    I guess compared to some of you guys I still eat out too much. Lol. Or those who eat out a lot just aren't posting! :laugh: We usually eat out 1, maybe 2 times a week. Usually on Sundays after church with friends(Usually Mexican food). I still want to eat out every day because that was my lifestyle for a long time, but I am forced to cook which I really don't like doing. But I do feel better when eating food at home.
  • bigjug1967
    bigjug1967 Posts: 201
    Cooking can be made fun and you repect food much more too.
  • age1389
    age1389 Posts: 1,160 Member
    Once a week, I love to cook
  • rakpezr
    rakpezr Posts: 5
    My wife and I eat out 2 or 3 times a week. But, for me it's not the problem as I can control the portions better out than in. Actually, it's the snacking that gets out of hand at home. I see the food and I eat the food. Usually, I make healthy choices out and even bring home half or more for another meal or two. It's those low moments where it is a reflex action to reach for the candy or a couple or three cookies. I need to strengthen my resolve. But the first two days have been good for me as I have lost 4 pounds already. My wife's meals are wonderful and she makes stuff for me that compliments my eating plan. Good luck to all and keep the communication lines open.,.,.it really helps!
  • wuzzi
    wuzzi Posts: 39 Member
    I would say about 2-3 times a week if I forget to bring my lunch to work. It's just me and my fiance so sometimes eating out is easier when we're exhausted after a full days work. However, since I've started on this site we are cooking A LOT more at home. Lunch usually leads me to Subway. Midgekin and I split a black forest ham 6" and a can of healthy request soup. So good and so filling!
  • julieofthewolves
    julieofthewolves Posts: 339 Member
    Well technically your question was how often I eat at a chain or fast food restaraunt. In that case I would say rarely.

    But in reality I do eat out about twice a week - never to a chain or fast food place though!

    I also believe that just because you eat out doesn't mean you eat unhealthy and just because you eat at home doesn't mean you eat healthy.

    I just try to eat healthy wherever I am! :wink:
  • Eve23
    Eve23 Posts: 2,352 Member
    Not very often for us. Once or twice a month. These are usually only because I am shuttling kids and time is short.

    Usually taco bell or subway.

    I prefer subway though.
  • kjllose
    kjllose Posts: 948 Member
    During the holiday season it seemed like I was eating out once every week due to christmas shopping but normally I don't eat out at all. I or my husband cook everyday. Of course we spend more on groceries eating healthier because fresh food costs more but I don't mind because we eat less than we used to. Eating out for us is a rare treat.
  • sherielf
    sherielf Posts: 28
    We don't eat out for supper very often since I can plan those ahead and it helps me stay on track.

    My husband and I do eat breakfast and lunch out at least 1x a week depending on my daughter's schedule. I find that breakfast out is a realxing way to start a usually hectic day. We usually eat at Tim's and split a small BLT and a Boston Creme with our tea and coffee.

    It is better when we only go out once or twice a week - our lunches out are our "Latte Factor" - where we drop unneccassary money as per David Bach (financial guy).

    Have a great day!:flowerforyou:
  • amandagreen1980
    amandagreen1980 Posts: 286 Member
    Hi
    I eat out about twice a month, so would put myself in the 0-25% category.
    I've never eaten out more than about once a week, but like julie says, i used to cook unhealthily at home so i don't think it really made too much difference in my life.
  • deanea
    deanea Posts: 1,437
    I eat at home majority of the time. I order pizza once or twice a month and eat a meal out once a month. I do however eat a frozen/processed meal once a day ( I'm thinking that's not home cookin)

    Anne
  • hmmmm
    hmmmm Posts: 607 Member
    My family eats out (or more likely take out) usually once a week. If I am running errands and get hungry I try to look for a mcdonalds and I get a bbq grilled chicken wrap and a fruit and yogurt parfait I can fit this into my calories easily. My Downside is when my hubby wants dominoes pizza. I would not order it for myself since there really isn't anything healthy on the menu but feel bad letting all that pizza go to waste so I eat 1 to 2 slices and a salad with it. I try to fit this in to my calories but this usually ends up to be the day I go over. Not too bad since it is usually only like every 3 weeks or so
  • dulceluva
    dulceluva Posts: 728 Member
    I only eat out on Wednesdays for dinner as I won't be home for a while. Basically every day I prepare all my breakfast, snacks, lunches and dinner at home. I also try to make food that will give me left overs to last a couple of days so I am not cooking every day.

    So I eat dinner out once a week (and its usually Subway) and sometimes (like 2x a month) my family and I have dinner out at a restuarant.
  • lockedcj7
    lockedcj7 Posts: 257 Member
    We eat out 1-2 times per week. My wife and I met at a local place yesterday for happy hour and 1/2 price appetizers. I very, very rarely eat fast food and we do go to chain restaurants now and then. The trick for me is to ask for a doggy bag right away. If I can take home 1/2 of what I order, I feel empowered to eat the rest without guilt or risk of gaining too much. I take Lean Cuisine or Healthy Choice meals, fruit and water for lunch with Slim-Fast and fruit for breakfast.
  • AndreaMMil
    AndreaMMil Posts: 165
    Twice a month. We used to eat out at nice restaurants about 3 times a week until we realized the scale was going up and the bank account was going down!!
  • denmother46
    denmother46 Posts: 272 Member
    Was eating out for lunch 5 days per week when working in an office - was never much of a lunch bringer. My ex boss used to buy lunch for the office almost everyday. Thats how I gained 15 pounds in the last 5 years. Now I go out to lunch about once every two weeks and family goes out to dinner also about once every two weeks. We dont eat fast food - havent in years. My husband is from Brazil and he was raised on only fresh foods. He doesnt even like me to buy meat and freeze it, so I go to the market almost every other day. We eat very little canned or frozen stuff - all fresh. Its taken almost 14 years, but he's finally got me into his way of thinking.
  • Nich0le
    Nich0le Posts: 2,906 Member
    93% of meals come from home for a month. twice a month we go for mexican food after skateboarding lessons.

    Other than that everything is made at home, fresh ingredients and some planning make for a faster meal than fast food.
  • sundaygirl85
    sundaygirl85 Posts: 69
    Weekly, 0-25%. Maybe lunch at a coffee shop once or twice a week, dinner out once a month average. I love to cook!
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