Eating in Vs. Eating Out - Having a meal in a restaurant can be an enjoyable and celebratory event, an occasional break from the tedium of cooking at home. However, Americans now eat out routinely, with restaurant meals making up about half of all food expenditures in 2004, according to a report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In addition, dining out often means convenient but less-healthy foods such as burgers, pizza and fries. Fortunately, a 2012 poll by Rasmussen Reports found that more people are heading back to their kitchens to eat, a trend that is better for both your health and your wallet.
Convenience - With hectic work and family schedules, many Americans find it hard to carve out the time to prepare meals at home. If you compare eating in to eating out in terms of convenience alone, restaurant food wins the contest. When convenience is your main criterion, you are likely to eat out every few days, says the USDA. In addition, when looking for convenience, you are 17 percent more likely to purchase unhealthy fast food. You can make eating in more convenient by cooking main dishes like stews and roasts on the weekend to use throughout the week, or investing in a slow-cooker that prepares your dinner while you’re at work.
Nutrition - The convenience of eating out is overshadowed by the poor nutrition offered at most chain restaurants. A 2013 report by Center for Science in the Public Interest found that 97 percent of kids’ meals at top chain restaurants failed to meet basic nutrition standards. Restaurant meals are loaded with unhealthy trans fats, sodium and sugar. A survey by the New York City Health Department in 2010 found that 57 percent of meals at chain restaurants exceeded the 1,500-milligram per day recommendation of the American Heart Association – advice designed to prevent hypertension and heart disease. In addition, a single meal at fast food restaurants can supersize you with 1,000 calories or more, says HelpGuide.org – half of what most people need in a day. Excess calories can lead to weight gain, which can have health repercussions down the road.
Considerations - Bring your lunch to work and save lunches out for special occasions. When you eat out for dinner, choose a restaurant that has healthy options on the menu – for example, a place with an array of salads or one that serves heart-healthy grilled or broiled fish. To limit calories, ask for salad dressings on the side, and forgo the basket of bread the server brings to your table. Eat slowly and mindfully, enjoying each bite, and stop when you feel full; bring home the leftovers for another meal. Beware of buffet-style, all-you-can-eat restaurants, where it’s easy to overeat. If you save room for dessert, share it with one of your fellow diners.
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