Unless you’re living off the McDonald’s dollar menu, chances are you’re spending more money than you realize eating out.
A casual session of pigging out between classes at Chipotle Mexican Grill can cost $7 to $9.
Taco Tuesdaze at Tijuana Flats costs $5 at least.
And a middle-of-the night pizza slice at Pizza by the Slice robs you of $3.
Heck, even Krishna Lunch is $5 and you can pay with a credit card now.
These may seem like cheap meals, all under $10, but the money you spend eating out can easily add up to a three digit number without a second thought.
Gainesville isn’t exactly home to the best variety of restaurants, so we have no excuse for why we are robbing ourselves over the same mediocre food options, over and over again.
How many times can we order Domino’s to our apartment? How many times can we get Panda Express in between classes at the Reitz Union? It doesn’t even taste good at this point.
We don’t know why we do it, but we still do it.
Why do we eat out again and again when we’re saving up to pay our rent? Our car insurance bills? Our tuition?
In order for us to refrain from the easiness of someone creating our meals, we must find time for cooking and we must find joy in it.
A quick cup of Ramen noodles or Nutella and bread is not going to help us find our inner chef.
Take a trip to Publix or the farmers market. Explore it, and find something that inspires you.
Is it the basil leaves? Is it the grated parmesan cheese?
Find something that’s of higher quality and taste than something at a fast food restaurant.
Try to make what you normally order or recipes for foods you’ve wanted to try.
Google “easy food recipes” if you’re nervous.
Always take photos. Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook them.
In fact, invite people who support your change of lifestyle. People who would help you cook or at least accompany you as you cry chopping onions.
After experimenting with a few recipes, you will have found things that you really like. You will learn how to cook properly and your style and preference in food.
Do you like your pasta al dente or over cooked? That’s an option Italian restaurants don’t give you.
I love onions in my food. Almost every day I chop an onion and put it in whatever I am cooking.
One I had a phase where I was infatuated with green beans. I ate them every day as a side dish along with everything I cooked. I ended up inventing so many ways to eat green beans.
Cooking your own food makes you feel independent and free.
You can cook however you want to and you have the power to add as much or as little of an ingredient you like.
Make it as healthy or unhealthy and your portions as little or as big as possible.
Some of my friends constantly eat out and spend about $100 on a week without even realizing it and by the end of the month they don’t have enough money to spend on anything else.
Skip a greasy over-priced meal and cook one at home. You won’t regret it!
