Convenience food and take out food does not save time.
Do this test:
Time yourself. Use a timer or regular clock and write down exactly how much time it took to go to and return from the fast food restaurant, deli or pizza place. Then time yourself in the kitchen, how long it takes to serve a similar but home-cooked meal. You will be amazed to see how much longer it takes to go get the convenience food.
If you still have doubts think of:
How long it takes to serve and cleanup the fast food meal; dishes, disposing the extra packaging.
How many hours did you have to work to pay for it? if you get $14 an hour; and you spend $14 on a fast food trip, don't you think you could have used that whole hour cooking food at home vs. having to go to work to earn the money to "save" the effort? Subtract the gas. Divide out your paycheck to see how many hours it takes to earn the fast food money as compared to the home cooked expense.
I have often talked to my family and friends about this. It really does take more time to buy take-out than the cook something at home. The key is to have a well stocked pantry to get dinner on the table fast.
An even better test is cook for two weeks with no fast foods. You will be amazed at how much extra money you have. Add to that selective shopping (buy cleaning supplies and canned goods at the Dollar Store) and watching sale items, and you will be even further ahead.
This pages has been archived 1 time. You can view older posts and feedback below.
Tip: Home Prepared Meals (11/10/2009)
Don't waste money on prepared foods. Instead, prepare meals ahead of time and freeze them, or double a recipe when cooking, and freeze the second for a hectic day coming up.
Post Feedback:
Login using the form on the top of the page to post feedback (if you are a registered user). If you have not yet registered, click here to do so. It's FREE!.
Archives:
Tip: Home Prepared Meals
Archived on 11/10/2009
Don't waste money on prepared foods. Instead, prepare meals ahead of time and freeze them, or double a recipe when cooking, and freeze the second for a hectic day coming up.
By Chell
Feedback:
RE: Home Prepared Meals
Excellent advice. I've just gotten interested in Once A Month Cooking. I'm starting out slow by tripling my dinner recipes, and freezing two. Today I'm making cookies dough for 10 dozen chocolate chip cookies. Forming the dough into balls, and freezing them allows me to bake fresh cookies in the amount I want anytime. To find out more just do a Google search with OAMC in the search box. (03/05/2005)
Another good idea is to prepare you meat before you freeze it on grocery day. I divide up my meat as usual for freezing but I get it ready. Like I take one pound of hamburger and add all the things to make it ready for meatloaf or spaghetti, then put it in baggies for freezing. Or I put my pork or chicken in a marinade and then into freezer containers. Takes out a step when you want to use them. Plus the marinade has a lot of time to infuse your meat. (05/19/2006)
