How often do you cook vs get takeout?

[tokie]

People who live with their parents and people with children please leave this thread. I am interested in people who are independent (i.e. 21-40) who do not have children.

It seems that a lot of people I know (roommates, coworkers, etc but oddly not my friends) get takeout/delivery nearly every day for dinner. My current roommate gets it 6 days a week.

I think that is unhealthy and disgusting. Why do people not cook more? It's not just a cheap-person thing -- after a long day at work, I find it relaxing to make a nice steak with some good vegetables and sides.

I generally cook for myself 5-6 days a week and then on Fridays/Saturdays I get takeout or go out to eat.

 

[lxskllr]

Almost never, even when my daughter isn't with me. I'm not doing any fancy cooking though. It's just to save money. If I could eat out as cheaply as I could cook, I'd never cook again. Food someone else makes for you always tastes better than food made yourself :^D

 

[Skitzer]

Rarely go out to eat or get takeout/delivery.
Wife and I budget our food consumption ... can't afford not to.
Besides home cooked meals are so much better.

 

[Upgrade_Itch]

We both prefer to cook our own food unless we are on vacation......or at work.

 

[Mo0o]

Wife and I both work 12+ hr days so frequently get take out

 

[KaOTiK]

I cook for myself. I much prefer a home cook meal. Not only will I get a better tasting meal, but I'll get more of it and for cheaper as well so I can have it for a second meal (usually). I was fortunate that both my parents could cook well and taught me how when I was young and I was a chef for a Italian restaurant for a few years as well.

 

[waggy]

we prefer to cook if we can. Though we do go out once a week as a family. its good to teach the kids how to behave in public. Also its a nice reward for things.

 

[Jumpem]

Rarely. It costs too much compared to cooking at home.

 

[Leros]

I cook for myself, but only so I can eat healthier food. Otherwise, I would prefer to get take out every day.

 

[nageov3t]

not counting lunch, it's probably about 50-50... I'll cook food one night that will last for 3-4 dinners and order takeout on a couple nights (typically something that will provide me with a few days worth of leftovers)

 

[GagHalfrunt]

About 6 to 1. I make better food at home, about the only things I ever get take-out are Chinese or pizza.

 

[fatpat268]

Rarely ever. Getting takeout on a regular basis would blow my food budget. I've gotten used to buying staple food items in bulk (flour, rice, pasta, beans, etc) and making decent meals on the cheap.

 

[DrPizza]

My wife and I make a point of going out to dinner together at least once a week. It's not much of a budget killer, as we'll often go out for fish fries on a Friday night, or something like that. Usually no more than $30-$40, including tip. Since you included take-out - that adds on a few meals each week - Thursday night, if we get groceries, we'll pick up a pizza (Thur night is special night - $6.99 for a large.) Again - $6.99 isn't much of a budget buster.

 

[Mixolydian]

I'd say about 50% cook 50% take-out during a normal week.

 

[xanis]

Once, maybe twice per week (usually Friday or Saturday). I get breakfast and lunch for free Monday through Friday and I cook dinner every night, so by the time the weekend hits I'm okay with dropping a few bucks and going out to eat or getting some takeout.

 

[Dulanic]

About 6 to 1. I make better food at home, about the only things I ever get take-out are Chinese or pizza.

Pretty much this. Prob closer to 20 to 1 for takeout and 10 to 1 for going out to eat.

 

[shortylickens]

People who live with their parents and people with children please leave this thread. I am interested in people who are independent (i.e. 21-40) who do not have children.

It seems that a lot of people I know (roommates, coworkers, etc but oddly not my friends) get takeout/delivery nearly every day for dinner. My current roommate gets it 6 days a week.

I think that is unhealthy and disgusting. Why do people not cook more? It's not just a cheap-person thing -- after a long day at work, I find it relaxing to make a nice steak with some good vegetables and sides.

I generally cook for myself 5-6 days a week and then on Fridays/Saturdays I get takeout or go out to eat.

Is it lonely up there on your high horse?

 

[zerocool84]

People who live with their parents and people with children please leave this thread. I am interested in people who are independent (i.e. 21-40) who do not have children.

It seems that a lot of people I know (roommates, coworkers, etc but oddly not my friends) get takeout/delivery nearly every day for dinner. My current roommate gets it 6 days a week.

I think that is unhealthy and disgusting. Why do people not cook more? It's not just a cheap-person thing -- after a long day at work, I find it relaxing to make a nice steak with some good vegetables and sides.

I generally cook for myself 5-6 days a week and then on Fridays/Saturdays I get takeout or go out to eat.

Unhealthy and disgusting? I didn't know you couldn't get healthy and tasty food anywhere other than at home. Oh and guess what, not everyone enjoys cooking, just like not everyone enjoys working on their car or working on their computer. Failed at trying to make yourself look better than others.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I'd say close to about half the time. I've been trying to cut down, but it's so hard. It's convenient, cheaper and tastier. The problem with cooking is I then have to eat the same thing for a whole week and try to eat it as much as possible so it does not go bad. It also takes much longer to cook something than to just order something.

I often just throw chicken and fries or similar stuff in the oven, but that would probably kinda fall under the "take out" category as it's prepared food. While it may take 20-30 minutes at least I can do something else while it cooks. I hate the act of actually cooking and preparing something, and lot of ingredients only last so long and it's a pain trying to coordinate what to buy, and how to use it all before it expires.

I decided to buy stuff to make pitas at home, yeah ended up wasting most of it because I just got sick of eating pitas every day for a week and most of the stuff expires within that time period.

When I do take out I try to make it a sub or a pita though, but those can get old fast too, and about the only take out choice available that's actually healthy. I noticed a few sushi places popping up here but I'm not a fan of that, I tried it when I went to Hamilton for a few days. Seems to be popular down south.

 

[KentState]

We get take-out about once a month at the most. Usually when I get a craving for Chinese and we don't have the stuff at home to make it. We have been going out on Thursdays however since we have softball after work and we like going out with the team before/after the game. Overall, cooking at home cost us roughly $80 every other week for groceries.

On a similar note, I was able to drop nearly 65lbs over 6 months by managing and budgeting my calories at home. It's so much easier to know exactly what you are taking in if you make it yourself.

 

[iCyborg]

The problem with cooking is I then have to eat the same thing for a whole week and try to eat it as much as possible so it does not go bad. It also takes much longer to cook something than to just order something.

Do what i do: I usually cook 4-5 portions on Sunday and freeze 2-3 for later. So I can still minimize effort by cooking larger amounts without eating the same thing for days.

I almost always buy lunch either at caffeteria or take-out when I'm at work, and probably 1-2 a week for dinner too. I actually like to cook, but I hate cleaning up after it...
And there are many other things that I like to do too. And TBH, I don't think I'm saving all that much money because I don't really buy bulk for mostly just myself.

 

[nageov3t]

now that I finally have a dishwasher, I'm hoping to cook more.

I enjoy cooking, but having dishes to do was always the big drawback for me (versus takeout on paper plates).

the other drawback, though, is having to plan out for an entire week in advance. between my normal 10-12 hour shift at work and 2 hours commuting, I rarely have the time/energy to go to the grocery store on my way home from work, so whatever I buy on the weekends is that I've got for the week.

 

[MustISO]

Rarely do we get take out or carry out, maybe once a month. We go out to dinner maybe once a week with our parents and then we eat out on our own maybe 4 times a month. We try to cook at home most of the time so we can control what we eat and how it's cooked.

 

[njdevilsfan87]

I only cook myself breakfast... pancakes or omelets. And to answer the question as to how unhealthy I am - my cholesterol level is... wait for it... 146!!! And my base line blood sugar level in the morning is... wait for it... 75-85!!!

So yeah, take out isn't necessary unhealthy.

 

[Baked]

Eat breakfast at home, and make lunch sammich for work, then cook dinner at home. Sometimes I buy fast food and take home if I don't feel like cooking.