Eat Out or Home Cooked Meal?

It's not the question of whats easier-but whats healthier! Home cooked meals are so much better-eating out should be a treat (: Just my opinion...

Oh, the different sides to this debate.

If we are talking about the whole family getting in the car and going somewhere to sit down and eat vs. cooking and eating a meal at home. I say cooking at home is easier.

However, if we are talking about one member of the family staying home and the other bringing home take out. Take out is the easier option for us.

With all this being said.....I strive to eat out less and cook more. We tend to eat healthier at home.

We have been known to just have it delivered or order take out.

I do try to have some super easy things always here for just in case.
Frozen Lasagna (microwave in 12 minutes)
sandwich stuff
cereal..

LOL, let your husband take the kid out and YOU stay home. Have some leftovers, a frozen meal, a bowl of soup, whatever. Take a bath, have a glass of wine and go to bed :)
Let him deal with mealtime/bedtime, kinda sounds like heaven to me :)
Seriously, I know I am biased, and I love to cook, but if the hubby wants to go out, then let him! My husband HATES to go out, and while I appreciate the fact that he loves my cooking I would also occasionally enjoy a night off.

Go the easy route: Eat out at home. ;)
Go get take out and bring it home. Then you don't have to get cleaned up or drag your son out either. I assume he's small/young, so make him a PB&J, get some carry out (Larry's subs is one of our 'go to's), and call it done. :))

I am too lazy and tired to cook every night of the week so I cook 2 large meals on the weekends and then only cook once during the week and we eat leftovers of all 3. If we run out, we usually eat pasta or omlettes for the other day. My hubby would never want to waste fridge food and go out all the time- even with coupons. No matter what you order and where- chances are it has more fat and sodium than something you could make at home...unless you cook like Paula Dean. I have a 1 hr commute everyday each way plus work long hours as an attorney, get up every day at 445am to work out before the kids get up, and have 3 kids- just turned 4, about to be 3 and a 4mo old. If I can manage to cook, I am sure most other people can too.

If money AND calories were not a factor than I would probably prefer to go out. Simply because I do not have to prepare it and clean up afterwards. Being that money and calories are a factor in real life than I'd rather stay in.

.

My friend and I have had this discussion. His feeling is that it is typically more economical time and money wise to go home and eat what you have. If it's fast food and it's not a meal to go (like on the road to my sister's 2+ hours away), I've found he's often right. By the time you get there, get seated, order, get your food, eat...you could have pulled out a 30 minute meal at home and kicked off your shoes. We try to weigh if it's really so important to eat out or if we should eat the perfectly good food at home. Steaks? DH does a great steak, so why go out if we already bought some?

The other day we were craving Thai and DH was passing by on his way home, but it's not a typical meal for us.

Home is easier - we have 3 kids aged 6, 4 and 2... going out is a project.

J.

Have you tried a slow cooker? Nothing like coming home to dinner that is already done :) It is also much more budget friendly. Eating out gets expensive.

Out works for me, I have plenty of days that I just dont want to cook dinner...Seems like I've done it for a zillion years. My hub is gettin pretty good at sayin "where ya wanna go for dinner tonight?"... he can tell when I'm leaning in that direction. there's never anything in the fridge that cant wait 24 more hours ;)

Going out is easier for us because we don't get dressed up and no matter what restaurant we go to I usually don't even have to look at the menu. I order the same stuff every time. My daugher is five and not overly messy so if anything all I have to do is swap out her shirt. She can put on her own shoes so that's not an issue. Going out is quick and easy but it costs money so for that reason we rarely give into the lazy demon and I just suck it up and cook.

If money wasn't an issue I'd only cook for Thanksgiving and Christmas. <3

Definitely have two generations here. The ones that like to cook are probably from the older generation where cooking was done at home with an occasional meal outside. The second group is the group where mom worked and did not have time to cook and no real cooking ever took place at home.

I would prefer to stay at home and try out new things. There are a few quick meals that I make at home that are under an hour that are healthy. Besides cooking is a lost art that can be very creative and relaxing.

Eating out all the time gets old and can add to the waistline and empty out the purse/pocket.

Sometimes just cleaning up and changing your clothes can be a morale booster and make you feel better about eating later (home/out) and can put some pep in your step. It's time to fix yourself up and hoist up the girls and look good for you (a new attitude) and hubby will enjoy the new spunkier you.

Good luck to you.

The other S.

if we are out already, eating out is easier for me, but home is easier for hubby.

If money weren't an issue I'd love to go out on days when I am tired. Unfortunately we seldom, if ever, get that option. Yes, I'd loved to be waited on and not have dishes to do and get a nice car ride. No, I don't get to do that.

I think it goes both ways. I would rather go out to eat anyplace rather than have to clean the kitchen again. It takes so much of my evening and I am already tired after a long day.

If I had the opportunity to go out then I would, each and every day. These people I live with eat different things and eating out is just so much easier when everyone has just what they want.

As for this situation, I assume you work full time or you'd have dinner fixed and it would be a non issues. So, if you are comfortable with the option, put something in the crockpot when you get up and by the time you both get home it will be cooked and ready for dinner.

Out to eat every single time!!

I make a really big meal on Sundays with plenty of leftovers for the weeknights I don't feel like cooking.

Ordering in! If it's too late/too much work to cook, but going out would require effort also, we order food for curbside pick-up or delivery.

We both enjoy home cooked meals, and I even enjoy cooking IF I know WHAT to cook! I get stuck in the same old meals all the time. However, if it's been a long, hard day I pick......neither. Well, sort of neither anyway. I pick take out. Totally don't want to sit in a restaurant trying to keep my children (who have probably also had a long day) happy/quiet....that'd just be adding torture on to the end of the day. Take out pizza all the way!! But we only do that like once every other week.

If cost wasn't a factor I would be buying all organic food and grass fed meats and cooking at home. It's easy once you have a solid 10 recipes you're family loves and you can just rotate. Or use the crock pot. I put it together the night before and turn it on before we leave in the morning. Check out "Once a Month Mom" and "Crock Pot 365" maybe that would help take the pain out of dinner time.

Out.

I get so tired of cooking dinner and he never gets home before 7.

home is easier to me, and better for my waistline and pocket book and for helping for me to relax. But trying to convince Dh of this is sooo not worth the hassle, so out we go. blech. go you for using the coupon.

I choose option 3 - take out.
Most of the time if we're feeling lazy that is what my husband wants to do. And he eagerly volunteers to go drive and pick it up, so i don't have to cook OR leave the house! Works for me!
Sometimes though the cost bothers me, so I'll say Just forget it, I'll cook.

Luckily my husband loves to cook, so he usually does the cooking. We prefer home cooked because it;s cheaper and usually healthier. However, if he has to work really late and we don't have anything that I can cook, I'll have him bring something home. If he does bring something home, we don't do fast food. He calls a restaurant and has it ready for pickup on his way.

OUT!!!!!!

I hate cooking when I've had a long hard day. However, my husband would prefer to stay home, he doesn't cook, so he doesn't decide. We do compromise and we always end up at a Chili's or Applebees style restaurant that doesn't require getting dressed up or clean clothes. I have no problem going to a restaurant in sweatpants and a t-shirt and my hair in a ponytail. I would rather wait on someone else doing all the work than do it myself. Really, is it that much longer until the end result of eating from going to a restaurant and doing all the work yourself? Where we are we can be to and from the restaurant and eat in under an hour. Very rare can I make a good meal in under an hour.

Home Cooked.
What about getting carryout and you send the husband to pick it up and he can either call it in or do it on on-line if its an option.

My hubby would rather eat out. Although I love eating out because it means I don't have to cook or clean up, I'd rather eat at home...LOL

If cost ISN'T a factor, I would eat out. But it is kind of easier to just stay home and eat, once everyone is home. I have tons of easy recipes that I make so it really isn't an issue anymore. I'm a big believer in not only saving money, but making things as quick and easy as possible. Good luck!