Ordering takeout is always a treat, but when it becomes more common than rare, your wallet (and diet) can start feeling the effects. Here are a few tips to help you cut back on ordering takeout.
Meal Prep
Part of the reason many people order takeout is that they don’t have anything at home already prepared. When you’re tired after a long day at work, the last thing you want to do is start cooking something from scratch. Combat the problem by meal prepping, which will make dinner at home much easier.
Stock Up on Convenient Food
By nature, takeout is convenience food. However, some store-bought frozen meals are just as convenient as takeout but cost a fraction of the price. Having these meals on-hand means you have an easy fallback for times when your refrigerator and pantry are bare – or you just don’t feel like cooking.
Brown Bag It
Aside from the nightly meals that we’re too tired to make, the other time of day we’re most likely to order takeout is at lunch. Nip this in the bud by preparing in advance. Pack your lunch in the morning (or the night before), and make sure you include food you actually enjoy. If you don’t like salads for lunch, don’t force them on yourself. You’ll just make the temptation for takeout that much greater.
Treat Yourself
Takeout is not the only way to treat yourself. If you want the occasional, unhealthy splurge, build it into your meal prepping so you don’t resort to takeout to get it. If you love french fries, prepare healthier at-home versions. They’ll satisfy the craving for a fraction of the cost without the need to order greasy takeout.
Pack Snacks
Getting takeout is often the result of being hungry since this is when cravings can set in. Avoid the problem by having snacks at the ready, whether in the car, at the office, or at home. You’ll be more likely to hold out for a home-cooked meal than you are to stop for takeout.
Ordering takeout is great on occasion, but when it’s happening all the time, it may be time to cut back, at least a little. These tips will help you to stop overdoing the takeout and enjoy plenty of home-cooked meals in the process.