6 Proven Ways to Slash Your Takeout Spending and Eat Better at Home!

****All products/books recommended are my true opinion of what I use and what helps me, no one/company is paying me for them!

I’m going to tell you something that I really DON’T like to admit... I had takeout for dinner three times last week! Because I wasn’t cooking, I didn’t have my usual stash of snacks and leftovers for lunches, which left me feeling pretty depleted, not to mention bloated and a little ill (plus, hello allergies and a cold!).

The consequences?

—> Wasting good groceries, unnecessary spending on takeout, double spending on food, and overall just feeling gross. I was tired, sluggish, and couldn’t focus because I wasn’t feeding myself the right nutrients.

But this week? Oh, honey, I came in HOT, determined to not repeat last week’s disaster. If you’re looking to cut back on takeout, save money, and stay healthy and energized, here are my top 7 tips to keep yourself on track:

1. Take Inventory of Your Pantry, Fridge, and Freezer

You’d be amazed at the food you already have on hand that you’ve probably forgotten about! It might be ingredients you can use for a quick meal or items that are close to their expiration date and need to be eaten right away. Once you know what you have, meal planning becomes so much easier. Whether you make a quick list or plan mentally, knowing what meals you can throw together with what you already own cuts down on the temptation to go get takeout.

Need some meal prep inspo? Check Pinterest for free or look through cookbooks at your local library. I’ve been using Damn Delicious Meal Prep, and it’s been a game changer for helping me rethink what a budget-friendly meal can be!

2. Prep Your Fruits and Veggies Immediately

When you get home from the grocery store, wash and cut your fruit before you even put them away. I’d recommend doing a quick read on how to keep prepped produce from spoiling in the fridge. There are so many ways to keep produce fresh for the week, and it becomes super convenient for quick snacks (which make it easier to skip the drive-thru).

Bonus tip: Keep some frozen fruits on hand for quick smoothies when you’re craving something sweet but don’t want to “grab something quick” on the road.

3. Plan for Leftovers (tomorrow and for another day)

OK another secret: I can only eat leftovers for a max of one day. I’m not into the repeated meals for 5 days thing…no…just no. But when I plan my meals, I think about a portion that would allow me to have a second night of dinner or a couple of lunches, plus I freeze another portion to eat on a future week when there’s nothing fresh to eat in the fridge. When I do this for 2 to 3 meals, I usually have meals for the week plus meals in the freezer for the future. Easiest way to keep myself from ordering out!

I use silicone containers from a brand called Soupercubes (yes, I watch Shark Tank). These were worth every penny I paid for them. They are sold in stores, on Amazon, or through the retailer. I’m able to cook chili and freeze them in 1 cup/2cup/or half cup batches and pop them out individually as needed!

4. Freeze Your Extra Ingredients

OK now we spoke about freezing full meals, but let me tell you how freezing extra ingredients also helps me to save time and make cooking super convenient. I freeze tomato paste, the other half of a diced onion that was unused in a recipe, cut up tomatoes to have fresh diced tomatoes instead of using canned, extra coconut milk, chopped up pieces of squash, corn, literally anything! Don’t forget about meat! For example, if a recipe calls for 1.5 pounds of chicken but you bought 2 pounds, freeze the extra for a later date—even if it looks like a small amount it can come in handy for a quick meal.

Bonus points if you have a home garden and grow herbs like thyme or basil…I freeze those too!

These mini portions come in handy when my daughter falls sick on a day where we have no groceries, but I need to make soup, or a recipe calls for another tablespoon of tomato paste, and I don’t want to open up a can. Either way—fresh food and I won’t eat out when I have the stash.

When freezing food, it’s important to store it safely to keep it fresh. Check out this guide to safely freezing food to ensure your meals stay in peak condition. Again, I use Soupercubes or freezer bags for the small stuff, which makes them easy to pop out and use even without defrosting first.

5. Always Bring Snacks When You Leave the House

I can’t tell you how many times being out and about with no food has led me straight to the drive-thru. The trick? Always have snacks and water with you. My rule is to eat what I’ve packed first before buying anything on the go. Nine times out of ten, that snack will satisfy me, and I can stave off the temptation to purchase for a little while longer.

6. Try Cooking/Preparing One New Meal Each Week

This is the most important step if cooking makes you nervous or you feel that lacking the understanding of cooking makes you seek the convenience of ordering out. This is the slowest and simplest way to get used to the kitchen—one recipe at a time. This also works well if you are bored of the food you are eating! I like trying to make the meals that I loved at a restaurant. Not gonna lie, my mushroom chicken now beats my old fave from Milestones! 😉

How Much Are You Spending on Takeout?

Seriously, have you looked at your takeout bill recently? The numbers add up fast! Take the time to figure out how much you’re spending, and ask yourself: Is it really worth it when you could be making nutritious, delicious meals at home?

Let me know which tip you’re most excited to try! I’m feeling pumped to go back to the habits I’ve been practicing and eat/spend like a newwwww woman. Wish me luck!

xoxo,

Karina Winston

Principal, The Budget Doctor

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