Eating out all the time can drain your wallet and affect your health. Whether you want to save money, eat better, or both, cooking at home is a habit worth building. Here are 13 practical ways to cut back on eating out and stick to homemade meals.
Assess Your Eating Habits
Start by figuring out how often you’re eating out and why. Track your meals for a week and note the patterns. Are you grabbing takeout after a long day or eating out for convenience? Add up how much you’re spending, and you’ll probably notice just how much those meals add up. Being aware of the problem is the first step to fixing it.
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Plan Your Meals in Advance
Meal planning can be a lifesaver. Choose one day each week to sit down and decide what you’ll eat for the next seven days. Write out breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and even snacks. Keep it flexible but stick to the basics. Planning ahead not only saves you from the temptation of eating out but also makes grocery shopping easier.
Make a Detailed Grocery List
Going to the store without a list is a recipe for overspending or forgetting things. Write down everything you need based on your meal plan. Organize it by sections of the store to save time. Stick to the list when you’re shopping—no wandering down the snack aisle “just to look.”
Batch Cook Your Meals
Batch cooking is preparing a large amount of food at once to eat throughout the week. Think soups, casseroles, pasta dishes, or even simple grilled chicken and veggies. Cook on Sundays or another day that works for you. Store your meals in portioned containers, and you’ll have quick and ready options for busy days.
Keep Recipes Simple
You don’t need chef-level skills to cook at home. Focus on recipes with just a few ingredients and quick prep times. Sheet pan meals, one-pot dishes, and sandwiches can be your best friends. You’ll save time and energy, especially if you’re still getting comfortable in the kitchen.
Transform Leftovers Into New Meals
Leftovers don’t have to be boring. That roasted chicken from last night? Shred it for tacos or toss it into a salad. Rice can turn into fried rice, and veggies can become soup. Get creative with what you have so you’re not tempted to order out.
Set a Consistent Routine
Pick specific nights for cooking and stick to them. Maybe it’s cooking dinner Monday through Thursday and leaving Friday as a takeout treat. A routine helps you get used to eating at home more often. Plus, it makes meal planning and grocery shopping easier when you know what the week ahead looks like.
Invest in Time-Saving Kitchen Tools
Some tools can make cooking easier. Slow cookers and instant pots, for example, allow you to toss in ingredients and have a meal ready later without much effort. A good set of knives or a sturdy blender can also make food prep faster and less of a hassle.
Challenge Yourself to a No-Restaurant Month
Go cold turkey for a month and stop eating out entirely. Use it as a reset to focus on home cooking. Keep it fun by trying new recipes or dedicating certain days to themed meals, like “pasta night” or “DIY pizza night.” Breaking the habit might feel tough at first, but it’ll get easier with time.
Pack Your Lunch for Work or School
Buying lunch every day adds up quickly. Prep your lunches in advance to avoid the daily temptation of grabbing food on the go. Salads, wraps, or leftovers from dinner make great options. Make it something you actually enjoy so you’re not tempted to visit a nearby restaurant instead.
Find Budget-Friendly Ingredients
Eating at home doesn’t have to cost a lot. Look for sales, buy generic brands, and plan meals around items already on sale. Staples like rice, beans, and frozen vegetables are affordable and versatile. You might be surprised at how far your dollar can go when you’re mindful of what you’re buying.
Make Cooking Social
Cooking doesn’t have to be a solo task. Invite friends or family over and cook together. It turns meal prep into a fun activity and gives you a chance to catch up. You can even trade cooking nights with loved ones to share the load and keep things interesting.
Reward Yourself Occasionally
Completely cutting out restaurants might feel overwhelming. Instead, allow yourself a treat here and there. Plan one meal out per week or once every two weeks. Budget for it and enjoy it guilt-free. Having balance makes it easier to stick to home cooking most of the time.
Start Reducing Your Dining Out Today
Cooking at home is a habit that takes time to develop, but it’s worth it. You’ll save money, eat healthier, and likely enjoy trying new things. Start with one or two tips from this list and build from there. Soon, you’ll find yourself eating out less without even thinking about it.
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