Is cooking at home worth it? See the main advantages
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Cooking at home has its advantages, such as saving money and eating healthier . However, it is an option that scares many people due to the time it takes to prepare a meal in the midst of the rush of everyday life.
This is why Brazilians have been eating out more and buying more ready-made food than preparing meals to eat at home, according to research by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) .
The problem is that this habit has taken a toll on people's budgets. According to the IBGE, the Household Budget Survey (POF) shows that eating out currently accounts for a third of families' food expenses.
With inflation on the rise, in addition to the increase in fuel prices, prices in restaurants and other food establishments are also rising.
After all, in addition to paying more for the ingredients, there are also delivery and labor costs to prepare the food, serve it or deliver it.
This makes some people rethink spending money on going out to eat or ordering ready-made food.
Benefits
And that's where the option of cooking at home comes in as an attractive alternative. Two of the important benefits are:
Economy: cooking at home means you don't have to pay for the service and other expenses charged by establishments.
Health: When you prepare your own food, you are responsible for choosing quality ingredients and how they are prepared. This is something you cannot do when eating outside food.
Additionally, it can be a great opportunity to learn how to cook or improve your culinary skills.
There are always practical and easy recipes that can help those who are just starting out, for example. And for those who know how to cook, it can be a new hobby.
Another advantage is the flavor. Sometimes, food prepared in large quantities doesn't have that homemade flavor.
When you prepare your own food, you can do it the way you prefer, with the seasonings you like. In other words, satisfaction guaranteed.
Time can still be a problem for many. In addition to the time it takes to prepare meals, it is also important to consider that it takes time to buy the ingredients, wash the dishes and clean the kitchen.
Tips
For those who have a very busy routine during the week, the tip is to try to organize everything on the weekend.
Doing the shopping, having some ingredients ready to use or even preparing food for the week are some things that can help.
Some people prepare rice, beans and protein for the week, separate them into containers and freeze them. They use these portions throughout the week.
You can also leave some vegetables and greens already washed and cut, well stored in the refrigerator, ready to use, for a salad, for example.
This way you won't have to spend a lot of time throughout the week, you'll save money and you'll still be able to eat healthier food.
Other alternatives
If cooking is not really your forte and you have a really busy schedule, it is still possible to eat more homemade, healthy food that doesn't cost as much.
It takes planning and research to know at least on average how much of your budget can be used without it weighing too much on your pocket.
You should also be aware of establishments that serve healthy food at a good price. Sometimes, you can even find a person or small service that provides meals near your home or work.
So, considering all this, it is possible to say that cooking at home is worth it. It may not be the most viable option for everyone, but with good budgeting it is still possible to save money on food.
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