Haven’t you wondered how much more it costs when you eat out instead of a home-cooked meal? We’ve done some research to shed some light, and to help inform your mealtime decisions.
The Process
We’ve used the seven entrees in the Once-A-Month Cooking Menu Sampler 01 [Free download here (link)] as the home-cooked meals. Our imaginary eaters are a dad, a mom, son Alex (9), and daughter Lulu (6).
In this week menu sampler, the average cost per serving, per meal is $2.24. Since the recipes vary in number of servings (most of them serve 6), we’ve used the average cost per serving, times four servings, for each of these meals. Then we’ve added the cost of side dishes (look below to see our selections*) to round out the meals. Bottom line: we’re trying to compare full meals to full meals. We’ve disregarded beverages. Many of the “out” meal combos include a beverage, but then beverages “in” are usually not expensive.
Both the groceries and all restaurant menu were priced in Littleton, Colorado, in July and August 2009. The groceries were purchased at a chain supermarket.
The Results (see full menu comparisons HERE)*
Chili’s $32.36 total
Chicken and Dumplings $12.64 total
$19.72 Less
61% savings
Wu’s Garden (take out) $26.30 total
Sweet-and-Sour Chicken $11.96 total
$14.34 Less
55% savings
Chick-fil-A $20.04 total
Lemon Chicken $14.96 total
$5.08 Less
25% savings
Del Taco $21.66 total
South-of-the-Border Ground Beef and Corn Pie $10.96 total
$10.70 Less
49% savings
Fazoli’s $19.04 total
Country-Style Ribs $13.13 total
$5.91 Less
31% savings
Red Robin $32.86 total
Pineapple Burgers $15.25 total
$17.61 Less
54% savings
Noodles $23.70 total
Penne in Cream Sauce with Sausage $10.75 total
$12.95 less
55% savings
Some Considerations and Conclusions
Intangibles
Eating out can be fun! It offers the family chef a break and takes the fam to an environment that appeals to them. Evening logistics sometimes make eating out the obvious choice.
The home-cooked meal lends toward more relaxed table conversation, which is healthy for families, particularly when they eat dinner together at least four or five times per week.
Nutrition
Restaurants provide nutrition information, but do you read it? If none of you is on a special diet?
At home, you have a better grasp on what went into the dishes you prepared.
Choice
Exposure to new foods can be a plus at a restaurant, if you’re adventuresome with food. (But do your children really make lots of different choices at restaurants, or do they fall back on the same favorites?)
Restaurants that provide choices for special diets can be a help to the family chef who typically has to prepare two different meals. [Note: Once-A-Month Cooking Family Favorites includes a two-week menu cycle that is family-friendly and gluten-free. (Add link to buy it.)]
The at-home OAMC menu sampler offers good variety, even for non-adventuresome family members.
Side dishes take on greater variety at home.
Value
Nearly all the home-cooked meals in this OAMC menu sampler would provide left-overs (figuring additional price). Some restaurant entrees would – but they wouldn’t look as appetizing the next day as leftovers taken straight from the table to the refrigerator.
We haven’t calculated sales tax or compared drinks or desserts. These would all boost restaurant costs, comparatively.
*Full Menu Comparisons HERE
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