For many, dining at a good restaurant is one of the pleasures of life and most do it every week. After staying indoors and coming home late from work, it’s a welcome reprieve to eat out on most weekends.
Our rationale is that we need a break, and while we are aware that staying in and cooking at home is cheaper and sometimes often more healthier, we look forward to eating out.
But that may be changing, thanks to many factors, mainly the economy.
Research had shown that an increasing number of us are opting to purchase convenience foods to entertain and dine at home with family and friends.
For many, dining out is a chance to relax or an opportunity to avoid the hassle of cooking and cleaning up afterwards.
This is a trend that has seen more supermarkets improve their ready-to-eat foods in store, with some even going so far as hiring chefs in house.
Ready made meal delivery companies like My Chef, The Frying Pan, Ginger Apple and Fit Chef, have also seen an increase in popularity in their services, due to being more reasonable than eating out.
The benefits of eating home-made meals
Healthier
- You know what you put into your meals so you can make sure you’ve used the freshest produce and best ingredients.
Affordability
- It’s much more affordable for those watching budgets but wanting to offer friends and family great entertainment.
Quality time can be spent with family and friends
. Nothing beats the family sitting down together and having a meal. It may take some effort to make it happen but it’s always worth it.
Variety
- You can either refine your culinary skills with prepared foods, or if you are short on time, the broad range of ready-made meals available can provide for friends and family within minutes.
Dietary preferences
- You can prepare or cook to your tastes and requirements. For example, if you are following a healthier meal plan option, home cooking can enable you to use more healthy, lower-fat cooking methods.