Is this considered eating out?

[apnep]

Well, if you're not eating at home, then you're usually eating out, and if you're eating something at home that you brought home from a food place, then you're eating take-out, so, if you didn't cook it at home, you're "eating out."

Justsyd2, that's funny.

Ang

 

[disneymom2003]

Yes I consider it eating out. I like to eat out but I rarely do it because it cost way.............more than I want to spend. We have lots of arguements at my house because hubby loves to eat out. It's a big waste of money for me.

 

[Carl Fredricksen]

Yes you are eating out.

Agreed.

It isn't always just the cost of the meal. You aren't getting any good nutrition and good calories from a BK or LC meal. It is processed, greasy and unhealthy. I decided that it was better for my health to buy raw veggies and raw meat and cook them myself than to fill it with empty calories and fat.

Second that. Our family "ate out" once last month, and because we have detoxed from "eating out" over the last 2 years, we all got sick to our stomach even though it was a "good" restaurant. They use a lot of MSG and substandard ingredients at most restaurants.

I haven't set foot in a McD, Wendys, Arbys, KFC, Taco Bell, or Rally's in over 3 years and never felt better. I can make an entire spaghetti dinner with fresh ingredients for my whole family for about 2 bucks more than a "value" meal costs for me alone at one of these places, so it's a no brainer IMO.

I do have and use my crockpot, at least twice a week. Probably need some new recipes.

HERE is the link to the "Crockpot and Easy Meals" thread on our own Dis Budget Board, that has some great recipes on it. As well, I love this lady's blog, who made a decision to use her slow cooker for a solid 365 days a few years ago. She has a cookbook, but she lists the recipes on her blog with a review of each one. I have tried about 20 of them, and all were pretty good.

 

[mrsklamc]

From the standpoint of budgeting your monthly expenses-I think all that matters is where YOU want to put those items in your budget, and that you stick to it.

 

[disfan07]

We usually eat out for lunch an dinner once or twice a week because of appointments.

We are usually gone from 10Am until 7 PM. We have one meal that is really eating out (usually hospital cafeteria or jerrys deli across the street) adn one that is "eating out" but we bring it home.

Even though we bring it home, we still consider it eating out because we did not make it at home.

It's an expensive thing to do (usually about $20 for lunch for 2 of us in teh cafeteria or $35 at the deli and between $25 and $30 for dinner for 3 of us) but we really have limited options those days (unless we have leftovers for dinner which is rare)...afte r6 hours of doctors and 3 hours of driving, all we wnat to do is eat adn go to bed.

 

[Mommee]

Instead of picking up pizza or fast food for times when we don't have time to cook, we've started picking up a rotisserie chicken from the deli, usually for under $5. Convenient and cheap, but a bit healthier for us.

 

[luvdisney00]

Instead of picking up pizza or fast food for times when we don't have time to cook, we've started picking up a rotisserie chicken from the deli, usually for under $5. Convenient and cheap, but a bit healthier for us.

Us too. This is my "in a pinch" home cooked meal!

 

[wshupnastar]

This thread is really hitting home!

My family has just gotten WAY too used to eating out. This month I have set a budget for us. Family of 4, and the budget is $100 for the month. I know many of you wouldn't even spend that much, but, trust me, for us it is at least half of what we have been spending!

I am trying to lose some weight, so eating out just isn't going to be much of an option for that anyway!

I am going to have to check out the other threads on here and learn some new, easy recipes!

 

[TiffanyK]

I wrote a post about a month ago on the topic of breaking the eating out habit. It just went up the other day. You can read it here - 5 Ways to Break the Eating Out Habit

I've also got lots of easy dinner recipes on my blog (link in my signature). We try to avoid spontaneous eating out whenever possible. I don't mind planned occasions, but those times when I just didn't cook and we grab something out - I always regret it.

 

[LisaInNc]

When I am not eating out I don't eat out....simple.

I live an hour from civilization so I understand your dilema.

Sometimes I plan to eat there but if I decide that I am not going to spend the money or my DBF is dieting or sometimes we are there and timing just won't allow a stop for a meal so I plan differently. I keep peanuts in my emergerncy box in the trunk.

I have brought snacks and sandwiches for the car so we don't eat out. I also HATE stopping at convenience stores for a cold drink. I usually bring a small cooler with ice packs and toss in bottled water and whatever my family is drinking.

I never get into the car with my DD for that hour trip without some kind of snack for her.

I also hate fast food and junk food so stopping for a pizza or a sub is not something I would do. It's a sit down meal with fresh food for me or I don't eat.

I could not believe how much money I saved when I started doing that.

Lisa