How to stop eating out: I don’t know about you, but for me, happiness entails ordering delicious food at a restaurant and not having to do the dishes later. I actually experience a high after eating out. There is nothing that makes this girl happier than eating out. I’m not sure if it’s the fact that I can’t clean, cook, or get unlimited bread served to me, but dining out always makes me happy.
Sadly, our budget does not enjoy eating out as much as I do. We had to discover how to stop eating out.
Table of Contents
9 Tips To Stop Eating Out So Often
1. Meal Plan
Perhaps you’ve tried meal planning in the past, but it didn’t quite work out for you. I understand that not everyone enjoys planning their meals. Or so you may think.
But really, meal planning can be for everyone – and It’s the BEST way to get you out of the fast food line, in my opinion.
What should you do, then, if meal planning hasn’t been successful for you in the past? You try a new method.
I would still be the girl who spent over $1,000 per month on groceries for two people if I had given up on meal planning after my first attempt. (further expenditures on dining out.)
It was that bad. I didn’t give a damn about how much money I spent on groceries or going out to eat.
I tried meal planning, but shockingly, I hated it – and Less than a month later, I gave up.
Fortunately, however, my story doesn’t end there. A couple months after my failed attempt, I tried meal planning again, except this time I intended to approach it differently.
This time I researched and accepted help (I don’t always love accepting help from people) with my meal planning. And at that moment, it was effective.
If you’ve tried meal planning before and it hasn’t worked for you, or if you’ve never tried it and are looking for a simple way to meal plan, this is the meal planning method I make use of and advise everyone. It is very beginner friendly and will assist you in creating SIMPLE meal plans so you can avoid the long line at the fast food joint.
2. Make Simple Meals
As I said earlier, when you’re just starting out, stick to making simple meals. Cooking meals at home isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but sometimes it’s just something that has to be done – especially when you’re trying to stick to a budget.
Instead of making a ton of elaborate meals, which will not only add unnecessary work to your plate but also cause you to spend much more money on groceries than you should, prepare meals that are quick and easy.
One of the main reasons people eat out so frequently is that they don’t have enough time to prepare dinner at home (plus they don’t want to do the dishes, and sometimes it’s just a whole lot more convenient). Make a list of a few quick meals you can prepare during busy nights.
This meal planning bundle includes a variety of 15-minute dinners, which are my FAVORITE because when I follow those recipes, making dinner at home actually takes less time than packing the car and going out to eat.
3. Set A Goal
When you’re first learning how to stop eating out, set a goal for yourself. Make it a point to only eat out ONCE during the designated period of time.
Set a manageable goal, like one month, rather than a lofty one like one year (even though it IS possible and WOULD save you a lot of money).
Declare to your family as a whole that you will not purchase any food from a restaurant for the next month.
At the end of the month, the amount of money you have saved will help you see how much money you’ve been throwing away on fast foods and restaurants over your life – and it will be great encouragement to keep on going.
4. Keep Meals Interesting
To get everyone excited about eating at home, add some variety to your meals rather than making stir fry and spaghetti every single time.
Even though simple meals are fantastic, it’s a good idea to switch things up occasionally.
Consider cooking homemade pizzas (each member of the family should build their own pizza), theme dinners, breakfast for supper, fun food shapes made with cookie cutters, and other activities. By doing this, the entire family will participate in the dinner preparation process.
Additionally, you could occasionally serve specialty drinks with dinner and occasionally host entertaining dessert nights.
5. Use A Crock Pot
If you don’t already own a crock pot, get one right away. (You can purchase one right here.)
We have been able to eliminate frequent dining out from our lifestyle in large part because of our crock pot. Even on days when I’m busy, using my crockpot makes it possible for me to prepare a fresh, home-cooked meal.
We can still come home to a good, homemade dinner that is ready to eat even on the days when I’m out of the house ALL DAY, which is from 7 AM until 6 PM.
(Because, let’s face it, these are the days when, if I didn’t have my crockpot, we would definitely end up eating out.)
If I know I’m going to be out all day, I’ll throw one of my freezer meals into the crock pot before I leave in the morning, and when we get home, dinner is already prepared. There isn’t anything that makes you feel happier than that!
This is the crock pot I recommend (it’s programmable and comes complete with a temperature probe).
6. Make Freezer Meals
Meals that you prepare in advance and store in your freezer until you need them are known as freezer meals. (They pair perfectly with a crock pot.)
You can find hundreds of freezer meal recipes online, or you can sign up for this freezer cooking course to learn how to efficiently freezer cook (and how to make 10 freezer meals in less than an hour).
7. Make Your Favorite Restaurant Meals At Home
When my husband and I go out, if we discover a particular dish that is especially delicious, I make a note of the dish’s name and look it up online when we get home. Usually, you can find a recipe that is a close replica of the dish at the restaurant.
In this way, you can satisfy a particular craving whenever it arises without having to go to a restaurant because you can make it at home.
The Boston Pizza Baked Chipotle Bacon Penne is one of my favorite dishes, so I looked online to see if I could find a substitute. In fact, I was able to locate the precise recipe for it online and have since made it several times at home.
When you do this you don’t have to go to the restaurant anymore to get your favorite dishes, you can have them at home instead (make it a treat and eat it while watching a movie – and it will really be better than going to the restaurant).
8. Brings Snacks
Bring snacks and drinks with you if you know you’ll be away from home for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, or even if you’re just going to be gone for a while. This will prevent you from being tempted to stop at your favorite fast-food restaurant’s drive-thru.
When you get hungry and you’re driving past a restaurant, it can become really hard to convince yourself you don’t need to stop there to get a burger.
Everybody has experienced this state of “thinking with our stomachs.”
When you are well-prepared, you can grab a snack and start munching on it to keep you satisfied until you get home.
9. Eat Out Sometimes
If you go completely cold turkey on eating out, if you do cave to the cravings eventually it will make things a whole lot worse (we’re talking ordering everything on the menu, here).
Unless you have to completely cut eating out out of your life due to finances or other reasons, if you can afford to treat yourself every once in a while (we’re talking, twice a month), do treat yourself.
To avoid being tempted to eat out frequently throughout the month, set yourself a clear limit.
What are your go-to suggestions for reducing the frequency of eating out? I would adore hearing from you! Did you frequently eat out in the past? I’d love to hear how you curbed the craving and gave up the habit.
If you’re just starting to try to quit eating out so much, remember to cut yourself some slack – it’s okay to want to eat out still – but be strict with yourself – don’t give in to the temptations!
Final Thoughts
No matter why you frequently eat at your neighborhood restaurants, you can break the habit, eat healthier food, and save a lot of money.
Choosing to eat at home rather than getting takeout will actually save you about $3,000 a year if you’re anything like the average American. We’re all busy, and while eating out is convenient, the cost quickly adds up.
Since eating at home more frequently can require more time and effort, making the switch from dining out occasionally to doing so may prove to be challenging.
You don’t have to be the best chef in the world or make every ingredient from scratch. Meal planning and food preparation can help you get on track to lower your meal costs while also enhancing the quality of your diet.
