Experts who express that cooking at home provides an advantage in terms of cost, emphasize that in today's conditions, ready-to-eat meals can cause chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, especially obesity, although it is time saving and practical. Nutrition and Dietetics Specialist Nurseda Hatunoğlu stated and warned that "One of the main differences between cooking at home and eating out is better nutritional hygiene. In cases where hygiene cannot be ensured, foods can be contaminated for various reasons and cause food poisoning."
Üsküdar University Faculty of Health Sciences Department of Nutrition and Dietetics Instructor Nurseda Hatunoğlu evaluated the effects of eating out continuously in terms of both economic and health.
Nutrition and diet expert Hatunoğlu pointed out that the habit of eating out has increased today and said that "The developing food industry, changes in lifestyle and socio-cultural structure cause individuals to benefit from more mass nutrition services and an increase in the consumption of ready-to-eat or semi-ready-to-eat foods. Our environment today provides easy access to very cheap, tasty and high-energy foods that are easily obtained."
There is often high-calorie, processed and fatty food out there
Emphasizing that the most important environmental factor that can cause obesity other than genetic and hormonal factors is the eating habit, Hatunoğlu said that "For this reason, it is not appropriate to eat from outside continuously to provide a correct nutritional behavior. Eating out can often include high-calorie, processed, and fatty fast food or restaurant meals. Excessive consumption of such nutrients can cause chronic diseases such as obesity, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes. However, eating out by making healthy food choices can have a positive effect on a healthy diet. Choosing the right restaurant, portion control, avoiding processed, excessive salt and sugar-containing foods can be maintained outside as well. Therefore, the person will both control the appetite and feel good socially."
Ready-to-eat meals can cause health problems in the long run
Hatunoğlu pointed out that in today's conditions, ready-to-eat meals can have unhealthy food content, even if they provide saving of time and practicality, and that these foods can contain high amounts of additives, fats, salts and sugars and that these foods can cause various health problems when consumed in the long term.
Noting that most restaurant menus include healthy and balanced food options, Hatunoğlu continued her remarks as follows:
"However, no matter how healthy a meal is, it can lead to high calorie intake unless portion control is paid attention to. Therefore, it is very important to make conscious and balanced choices in both ready-to-eat meals and restaurant meals in terms of health. If the correct preparation, waiting and cooking methods are not used, loss of nutrient content may occur. In addition, substances harmful to health appear when using methods such as frying. Processed foods also have less nutritional value.
There may be difficulty in regulating appetite control
Hatunoğlu stated that eating out can meet the daily nutritional needs of the person when the right choices are made, portion control and attention should be paid to food diversity. Hatunoğlu said that "Therefore, it is important to make restaurant selections with a menu that includes healthy dishes. However, the person may have difficulty in regulating appetite control when the balance of carbohydrates, proteins and fats that should be taken daily is not established,"
If the right choices are made, it is possible to eat healthy by eating out
Noting that it is possible to choose a healthy meal while eating out, Hatunoğlu said that salads, grilled or steamed meat and vegetable dishes and soups prepared with fresh vegetables rich in pulp, vitamin and mineral content can also be preferred by examining the restaurant menu.
Nurseda Hatunoğlu emphasized that eating out can be an option to meet nutritional needs if balanced and healthy choices are made, but preparing meals at home is the leading factor in maintaining nutrient content and providing a healthy eating habit.
Cooking at home can be made enjoyable
Stating that one of the most fundamental differences of cooking at home compared to eating out is better nutritional hygiene, Hatunoğlu touched upon the benefits of cooking at home and completed her remarks as follows:
"In cases where hygiene cannot be maintained, food can become contaminated for various reasons and it can cause food poisoning. In places where mass feeding is carried out, nutritional value losses are greater during the preparation and retention of nutrients. Moreover, cooking at home provides an advantage in terms of cost. To encourage cooking at home, cooking at home can be turned into a pleasant and practical activity without being seen as a chore. Weekly food shopping and weekly meal planning can be done. Delicious, low-budget and practical recipes can be created. Frozen products that do not contain food additives can be preferred. Vegetables, especially greens, can be stored by pre-washing and drying."
Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)
FAQs
Eating out can often include high-calorie, processed, and fatty fast food or restaurant meals. Excessive consumption of such nutrients can cause chronic diseases such as obesity, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes. However, eating out by making healthy food choices can have a positive effect on a healthy diet.
Is eating out bad financially? ›
' ” Certain personal-finance experts have long disparaged buying prepared food and drinks outside the home — particularly small, habitual expenses like coffee — as wasteful spending, especially when they become a routine rather than an occasional treat.
Can you still eat healthy food if you are on a budget? ›
Plan your weekly menu, and stick to your list. Meal planning is a great way to adhere to a healthy diet without blowing up your budget. Map out your meals and snack options for the week, and make a grocery list. The key: Avoid impulse purchases and stick to your list at the store.
Is it more expensive to eat out everyday? ›
cooking at home. Let's break it down further. If we consider that the average cost of a meal from a local restaurant/food chain is around $15 and an individual eats out every day, the monthly expenditure would be approximately $450.
Is it OK to eat takeout everyday? ›
Ordering takeout every day might have a bad effect on your health, depending what you order. Restaurant food tends to be higher in calories, salt, and fat to give it a big punch of flavor. Eating takeout daily can also have adverse financial effects.
What happens if you eat out a lot? ›
What's the problem with eating out? That people tend to eat more calories, saturated fat and sodium, and fewer fruits, vegetables, and whole grains when they eat out. In fact, on average, nearly one-third of American adults' daily calories comes from foods eaten away from home.
What is a realistic eating out budget? ›
What's a reasonable food budget? Many financial advisors and gurus recommend spending no more than 10%-15% of take-home pay on food, a figure that includes restaurant dining and takeout.
Why do Americans eat out so much? ›
Other reasons Americans prefer dining out over dining at home include better socialization, better food quality (it's almost guaranteed the food will be hot), and there's no cleanup involved for diners.
Do you really save money not eating out? ›
If you are like us, or like the typical American family, just cutting one meal out per week can save you $520-$1560 per year!
Can you live on 100 a month for food? ›
To stick to a budget of $100 a month, or $25 a week, you'll have to eat for less than $4 each day. For breakfast, try a bowl of oatmeal with half a banana and a scrambled egg, which should cost less than a dollar. Get into the habit of repackaging ingredients from dinner for lunches the next day.
Eggs, beans and nuts are excellent sources of protein and easy to add to almost any dish. Add nuts to oatmeal, cereal, salads and stir-fries for a healthy, hearty meal. Raw nuts are often cheaper. Roast them for a delicious snack.
What to eat if you can't afford healthy food? ›
12 healthy and affordable foods for your grocery list
- Brown rice.
- Cans or packets of chicken or tuna.
- Dried beans and lentils.
- Eggs.
- Frozen chicken breasts.
- Frozen or canned fruit (in its own juice or light syrup).
- Frozen vegetables.
- Low-fat dairy like cottage cheese.
For those who want a quick and easy answer: It's generally cheaper to cook food at home than eat out. The reason so many people can get stuck on the question is the human psychology variable. People don't always spend wisely, and it isn't as if prices are always the same at a supermarket or a fast food restaurant.
How often is eating out too much? ›
Not only can eating out be enjoyable, but it also is a normal part of life. Still, it should be balanced with home-cooked meals when you can. If you dine out twice a day or more, you may want to choose restaurants with nutritious options, consider portion sizes, and opt for more vegetables.
Is it better to eat at home or in a restaurant? ›
In general, restaurant meals tend to be higher in calories, sodium, and saturated fats. Additionally, cooking at home is the more affordable option compared to dining at a restaurant or ordering takeout. Experts recommend experimenting in the kitchen to increase your comfort with making your meals at home.
How often is it okay to eat out? ›
If you're following a healthy and balanced diet most of the time, enjoy dining out without worrying too much about your food choices. With that said, studies have linked eating out with poorer food choices and overeating. So if you do it often (3+ times a week), carefully consider how it fits into your overall diet.
Is it bad to eat takeout every week? ›
Long story short: It's probably not a good idea to eat fast food every day. But if you eat it once a week—or better yet, twice a month! —you're probably fine. Just make sure the rest of your diet is healthy and balanced.
Can eating out ever be healthy? ›
Check How Food is Cooked and Prepared
Look for food that has been steamed, grilled, roasted or poached. In general, these cooking methods equate to less fat and therefore fewer calories. Foods that are described on the menu as pan-fried, fried, crispy, crunchy or sautéed will usually contain more fat and more calories.
Is it OK to eat out every once in awhile? ›
Eating out can be nice once in a while or a convenient option when you don't have time to cook a meal. But the extra fat, calories, sugar and sodium (salt) can add up quickly if you eat out regularly. Use these tips to help make nutritious choices the next time you eat out.
