Going Out To Eat

We go out to eat way too much. It's not that I don't like cooking and I do a lot of cooking and meal preparation but there are days that by the time I get home from work, I just don't feel like cooking and cleaning. There are a lot of reasons why going out to eat isn't good for our families. First off, restaurants are expensive. For what a family of four pays to eat in a restaurant, they could eat 3 square meals a day for two to three days. Second, portions are way too large in restaurants. Some restaurants market themselves as serving the "largest", the "most", etc. and we just don't need that much food at one meal. Third, it is difficult to eat healthy when dining out. It's not that most restaurants don't offer a couple of healthy choices, it's just difficult to choose something healthy when there are so many delicious unhealthy options.

The greatest benefit to going out to dinner is that the whole family can sit down, be served a meal and not worry about cleaning up. It allows for good conversation, a chance to learn about everyone's day, and relaxation.

Overall, the benefits probably don't outweigh the downsides to eating out but if we can follow a few simple guidelines, we can reduce the negative impact of eating out and enjoy the benefits. Some ideas that we practice include: order water rather than soft drink, share meals, substitute french fries for steamed vegetables, salads, or a baked potato, and take leftovers home to eat as another meal. Ordering water rather than soft drinks will decrease your tab by over $7.00 for a family of 4. Water is better for you and if you have small children, it is much better to have water spill on you than something sticky and sweet. Sharing meals cuts the portions down to a more reasonable amount of food and substituting french fries with vegetables speaks for itself. French fries can be used a "treat" for families who eat out more often. Another benefit of using these guidelines help families with younger children learn to make healthier choices and develop better eating habits for their adult life.