4 Ways To Avoid Pricey Takeout and Delivery Meals
Written by
Dawn Allcot
Edited by
T. Woods
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With summer here, it can be tempting to hit up GrubHub or UberEats, or even stop at the drive-thru on the way home from work. While some people enjoy grilling during the summer, if you still have a packed schedule that includes full-time work, summer activities or camp for the kids, and trying to squeeze in some fun, grabbing takeout seems to make sense.
Until you realize how much extra it can cost compared to eating at home. A survey by OnePoll, conducted on behalf of The Habit Burger and reported by NYPost.com, revealed that Americans spend $2,500 per year eating out. Two-thirds of those who eat out regularly said they feel guilty when doing so, and 23% said spending money on a restaurant meal is “stressful.”
You can ditch the guilt and enjoy the convenience of takeout with these three tips.
1. Learn How To Cook Copycat Recipes
Search the internet, or even use ChatGPT, to find healthy twists on favorite restaurant meals. The famous Big Mac in a Bowl recipe you may have seen on TikTok is not only less expensive to make and tastier than a McDonald’s Big Mac, it’s also healthier.
Olive Garden’s signature Alfredo sauce tastes delicious, and it’s a simple recipe to make at home. Toss it with your favorite pasta, veggies and serve with a side salad for a quick and easy summer meal.
2. Keep Easy Favorites On-hand
Keep your freezer or refrigerator stacked with easy-to-cook meals that don’t need to defrost, such as pre-made burger patties or Kevin’s Natural Foods, which you can find at Costco, Lidl, Target and other stores. Kevin’s chicken dinners, which include varieties like Cilantro Lime, Parmesan Basil and Korean BBQ-style cost less than $10 per package and feed about three people.
3. Shop Costco’s Prepared Foods Aisle
When you’re looking for a quick and easy heat-and-eat meal, it may be time for a Costco run. From the $5 rotisserie chicken to stir fry or street tacos, Costco’s prepared meals feed a crowd, most for under $20. Since the average delivery meal for one person costs $21.80, according to recent research from CNET, you can feed four people or more for the price of one with Costco’s deals.
4. Subscribe to Meal Kit Services
If you lack faith in your cooking abilities, meal kit delivery services can help you hone your skills with easy-to-follow instructions and all the ingredients you need for healthy recipes. These services cost between $5 to $12 per serving, which may be more than you’d spend on groceries. But they simplify cooking while answering that challenging question of, “What’s for dinner?”
The CNET article revealed that the average cost of takeout is $15 per meal, so even if you splurge on a meal kit subscription, you’re still saving money over rolling up to that drive-through window.
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