One of the reasons why people remodel their homes is to make the most out of their living space. For instance, a person may contact a kitchen remodeling contractor to ensure that their kitchen provides a suitable environment to prepare meals. Also, they can do this to ensure that appliances are correctly installed and that their counter top and cabinets are properly fitted.
According to an NPD Group Inc. report, approximately 82% of American meals are prepared at home. This figure denotes a significant increase compared to ten years ago. Most of those who eat out do not have time to cook or may not know or like to cook. For others, it may be the need to try out new food or restaurants. Irrespective of the reason, home-prepared meals have existed far longer than those served in restaurants or hotels.
Both cooking at home and dining out have pros and cons. However, there is an age-old debate about which one is better. Is cooking at home better than eating out? What benefits can one get from preparing meals at home? You will be surprised that there are several benefits you can enjoy by embracing homemade meals. Below are some.
It’s Healthier
General studies have shown that homemade meals are generally healthier than those served at restaurants, hotels, or fast food shops. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report indicates that many restaurant meals have high amounts of sodium compared to home-cooked meals. Sodium solution is injected into ingredients such as beef or chicken to preserve food, so it does not go bad. However, too much sodium in food can lead to diseases such as stroke, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disorders.
On the contrary, home-cooked meals contain fresher, less processed products. This means they are often more nutritious and are less likely to contain preservatives and unhealthy additives like trans fats and sodium. Consuming too much of these chemical ingredients can lead to diseases above and other severe health conditions like diabetes.
Why else is cooking at home better than eating out? Julia A. Wolfson, a fellow at Public Health Research School at Johns Hopkins, indicates that home-cooked meals contain fewer calories than those served at restaurants. If you consume more calories than you require, the body will convert the excess calories to fat. Excessive fat can result in weight gain and other health issues such as obesity. This is why more cases of obesity have been attributed to food served in fast-food restaurants.
Also, eating homemade meals may help lower your body mass index. These meals are typically lower in sugar and fat than those eating out. They contain more vegetables and fruits, which are essential to help you maintain the required BMI. A good BMI ratio can provide various health benefits, including preventing heart diseases and certain types of cancer. It can also mean that you are less likely to be obese.
Home Cooking Is Economical
One of the reasons why some people decide to eat out is because of the increased utility bills associated with home cooking. Cooking appliances may consume much electricity if your electrical system is faulty. Moreover, most individuals might not know how to reduce their energy consumption. If you have a faulty electric system, it is often wise to schedule maintenance with electrical service to find the source of the problem and get it fixed.
An electrician can repair your faulty system and advise you on how to use your appliances to reduce energy consumption. Therefore, you can save a little money to fix your appliances and enjoy the benefits of cooking at home rather than spend money eating out.
How then is cooking at home better than eating out? In the long run, cooking at home is more economical than eating out. You can save money when cooking at home by investing in a good meal plan and energy-saving appliances. Remember that when you eat out, you do not only pay for the food but also for the expenses needed to run the restaurant.
If you are wondering how you can save money when cooking at home, here are a few ways:
- Buy Groceries On Discount: Taking advantage of sales and deals can significantly save money on your weekly grocery bill.
- Buy Food in Bulk: The more you buy, the cheaper it gets. You will likely get better deals when buying ingredients and food in bulk. However, be careful not to buy too much food that stays long enough to go bad.
- Have a Grocery List When Shopping: Having a list helps you avoid unnecessary spending by sticking to your budget.
- Use Leftovers in New Meals: Rather than dispose of leftovers, learn how to creatively use them in new meals. This will save you money on your grocery bills and help reduce food wastage
It’s Fun
Is cooking at home better than eating out? Yes, cooking at home can be much fun and foster creativity. Sometimes, you may not find cooking at home enjoyable because of the bad state of your kitchen. Maybe you have a plumbing issue, a faulty heating unit, or other problems that may make it inconvenient for you to prepare meals at home. However, you can fix these problems by contacting professionals and making cooking very enjoyable.
If you are experiencing a plumbing problem, it would be best to contact a plumber for plumbing repair and maintenance. This will help fix your home’s drainage system and improve water quality. Consequently, you can enjoy cooking at home without having to worry about a drainage issue or leaks in your plumbing system.
Cooking at home is fun because it allows you to experiment with different flavors and ingredients and be creative. You can decide to try out new recipes from the internet or culinary books and see how they work out for you. Most often, you will find that you spend less money on your entire cooking than you would when eating out. Also, you can make food similar to those found in a restaurant that is fresh and much healthier
It Helps Avoid Food Sensitivity and Allergic Reactions
You wonder how is cooking at home better than eating out. If so, you should know that preparing homemade meals protects you from certain health conditions. If you are sensitive to certain food additives or ingredients, you are better off preparing food at home. Remember, what you put in your pot is what you will get out of the pot.
When preparing meals at home, it is easier to control your food allergies by checking your ingredients and the quality of water you use. You can do this by using fresh ingredients and water treatment devices to ensure your water does not contain toxic substances or chemical pollutants that may potentially expose you to allergens. Alternatively, you can choose to entirely avoid using ingredients that cause allergic reactions.
On the contrary, you have no control over the ingredients used in making the food you eat at the restaurants. These places are known to use excessive ingredients to improve how the food tastes. Also, you are unable to ascertain the cleanliness of the food or the place you are eating in. Dirty handling of food can lead to severe food reactions.
It Provides an Opportunity to Connect With Family and Friends
If asked why is cooking at home better than eating out, you can cite that it gives you a chance to interact and connect with others. Most events that involve get-togethers for family and friends have home cooking as one of the core activities. Cooking provides a great way to bond with people in various ways.
To begin with, the food preparation process offers an excellent opportunity for kids to learn how to cook from their parents. They learn how to make different dishes and develop healthy eating habits. On the other hand, couples are likely to bond more when they learn to cook a new recipe together and spend time in the kitchen conversing. They are also likely to create more positive memories that can strengthen their relationship
Moreover, when you cook or eat with your family or friends, you get to catch up on many different things and develop different life skills. Through meals, people are able to share their culture and heritage. This can be very binding and encourage love, trust, and intimacy. Similarly, this opportunity helps your child gain a more comprehensive understanding of vocabulary, ratios, and math.
It’s Safer
Your safety is far more essential than several other things in your life. That is why you may call maintenance professionals or a remodeling contractor to ensure that your home is a safe place for you to stay. Likewise, it is important to ensure the safety of the food you eat. With this said, is cooking at home better than eating out, and does it guarantee food safety?
You are likely to be safer when you eat at home than when you eat out. A recent study by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) discovered that restaurants were responsible for 44% of foodborne illness outbreaks, compared to 24% at home. That indicated that eating out puts you at risk of food poisoning twice as much as eating at home.
When else is cooking at home better than eating out? Cooking at home is recommended when you want to ensure the cleanliness of your food and your cooking environment. This allows you to ensure that the water you use for cooking is clean by treating it or calling a drain service. These experts will conduct professional drain cleaning for your sewer system and ensure the water flowing into your home is safe for consumption.
Also, by eating out, you put the safety of your health in the hands of those working at the restaurants. This can mean poor hygiene and cooking procedures that result in food contamination. However, when you cook at home, you clean your hands and surfaces often and cook and store food at the correct temperature. This ensures food is cooked safely by killing germs and preventing bacteria from growing and multiplying.
You Get Your Desired Portion
Apparently, the portion of food served to people is very important. So, how is cooking at home better than eating out? When you cook at home, you can decide the food quantity to eat. Getting the right food portion can be incredibly challenging when ordering takeout or eating in a restaurant. Sometimes, you will get a small portion because that is what you can afford. Other times, you can get a portion that is too large to finish and cannot be stored.
However, when you make a homemade meal, you can ensure that the food portion is where you desire it to be. Consequently, you can watch your calories by regulating the portion of food you eat. On the contrary, when you eat out, you are unable to control your food portion because you may feel the need to finish the food. Cooking meals at home also allows you the convenience of keeping the leftovers to eat later.
Final Words
Eating at home and dining out can be suitable for different situations. Dining out may be convenient if you do not have time or the knowledge to cook at home. So, how is cooking at home better than eating out? Cooking at home allows you to enjoy a sumptuous homemade meal. Compared to eating out, it is healthier, safer, more economical and fun and allows people to connect and bond.