{"id":17850,"date":"2023-01-19T11:00:04","date_gmt":"2023-01-19T16:00:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/frugal-living\/?p=17850"},"modified":"2023-01-25T16:22:58","modified_gmt":"2023-01-25T21:22:58","slug":"simple-ways-to-eat-at-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/frugal-living\/simple-ways-to-eat-at-home\/","title":{"rendered":"Simple Ways to Eat at Home"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>I know for some people it can be hard to break the habit of eating out, especially if cooking is not your passion or speciality. If you are struggling financially, or working towards a financial goal <strong>eating at home is a great way to save money.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>How do you start a habit of eating at home? When we were working to get out of debt I did a few things that made eating at home easier for our family.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Simple_Ways_to_Eat_at_Home\"><\/span>Simple Ways to Eat at Home<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-69e1b6995202a\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-69e1b6995202a\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/frugal-living\/simple-ways-to-eat-at-home\/#Simple_Ways_to_Eat_at_Home\" >Simple Ways to Eat at Home<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/frugal-living\/simple-ways-to-eat-at-home\/#Create_a_menu_plan\" >Create a menu plan.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/frugal-living\/simple-ways-to-eat-at-home\/#Have_a_few_fast_food_meals_available\" >Have a few fast food meals available.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/frugal-living\/simple-ways-to-eat-at-home\/#Stock_your_pantry_with_staples\" >Stock your pantry with staples.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/frugal-living\/simple-ways-to-eat-at-home\/#Find_copycat_recipes_of_your_favorite_meals\" >Find copycat recipes of your favorite meals.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/frugal-living\/simple-ways-to-eat-at-home\/#Use_paper_plates\" >Use paper plates.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/frugal-living\/simple-ways-to-eat-at-home\/#Be_realistic\" >Be realistic.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/frugal-living\/simple-ways-to-eat-at-home\/#Keep_your_eye_on_the_prize\" >Keep your eye on the prize!<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p>It doesn&#8217;t hurt that taking a large family out to dinner is kind of a pain, but it was the take out and fast food that was breaking the budget in our house. Here are some of my tips for making eating at home easier.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Create_a_menu_plan\"><\/span>Create a menu plan.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If you don&#8217;t have a plan it is really difficult to eat at home. Without a plan you probably don&#8217;t have the groceries available to make meals or once dinner time rolls around you might not know what to make. A menu plan is great because it tells you what to do! If you are new to menu planning read my<a href=\"http:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/cooking\/5-simple-ways-to-menu-plan\/\" rel=\"noopener\"> 5 Simple Ways to Menu Plan <\/a>article for tips on how to get started.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Have_a_few_fast_food_meals_available\"><\/span>Have a few fast food meals available.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Last week our house was torn apart due to painting the living room, dining room and entry. There were a few nights that getting dinner on the table was a real challenge. We managed to eat at home thanks to frozen pizzas, pasta, and sandwiches.<\/p>\n<p>While my family doesn&#8217;t want to eat those meals every night, having them available on those crazy evenings kept us from ordering pizza (more expensive) or grabbing take out.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Stock_your_pantry_with_staples\"><\/span>Stock your pantry with staples.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Similar to fast food meals, but a little healthier I always keep a few staples on hand for those crazy evenings. Some of my staples are tuna, spaghetti sauce, pasta, flour, rice, and beans.<\/p>\n<p>In my fridge I always have cheese and tortillas. I usually have least one frozen vegetable in my freezer as well as a bag of frozen chicken from a <a href=\"http:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/cooking\/whole-chicken-in-a-crock-pot\/\" rel=\"noopener\">whole chicken<\/a>. With these few ingredients I can throw together <a href=\"http:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/cooking\/homemade-pizza-vs-kfcs-10-challenge\/\" rel=\"noopener\">pizza<\/a>, chicken and rice casserole, <a href=\"http:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/cooking\/bean-burritoes\/\" rel=\"noopener\">bean burritos<\/a>, or <a href=\"http:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/cooking\/tuna-noodle-casserole\/\" rel=\"noopener\">tuna casserole<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>These meals can be made in about 30-40 minutes and are much less expensive than going through the drive-thru.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-22982\" src=\"https:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/frugal-living\/files\/2011\/07\/what-to-eat-at-home-easy-1.jpg\" alt=\"Simple ways to eat at home.\" width=\"733\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/frugal-living\/files\/2011\/07\/what-to-eat-at-home-easy-1.jpg 733w, https:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/frugal-living\/files\/2011\/07\/what-to-eat-at-home-easy-1-300x205.jpg 300w, https:\/\/thehappyhousewife.com\/frugal-living\/files\/2011\/07\/what-to-eat-at-home-easy-1-600x409.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 733px) 100vw, 733px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Find_copycat_recipes_of_your_favorite_meals\"><\/span>Find copycat recipes of your favorite meals.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If you find yourself wanting to eat out because you love the recipes try making a copycat version. Lynn has some copycat recipes for <a target = \"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.5dollardinners.com\/2010\/10\/lynns-panera-copycat-soups-broccoli-soup-potato-soup.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Panera soups<\/a>, Kari has a recipe for Outback&#8217;s<a target = \"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/kariscooking.blogspot.com\/2011\/02\/alice-springs-chicken-outback.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> Alice Springs chicken<\/a>, there&#8217;s even an entire website dedicated to <a target = \"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.copykat.com\/category\/copykat-recipes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">copycat recipes<\/a>!<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Use_paper_plates\"><\/span>Use paper plates.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If dirty dishes are tempting you to go out use paper plates. While I don&#8217;t recommend using them for every meal, if it will help you reach your financial goals by eating at home then use them!<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Be_realistic\"><\/span>Be realistic.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If you aren&#8217;t a master chef, don&#8217;t start your menu planning with a Julia Child&#8217;s cookbook. If eating at home is a new thing for your family try to find meals that are simple.<\/p>\n<p>If you plan an elaborate menu with exotic ingredients and you only know how to cook macaroni and cheese from the box you might be in trouble. Biting off more than you can chew will probably lead to failure and you want to set yourself up for success. If grilled cheese is your specialty, put it on the menu!<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Keep_your_eye_on_the_prize\"><\/span>Keep your eye on the prize!<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>When you are tempted to go out think of the long term cost. Will going out mean it will take an extra week or month to pay that last credit card payment?<\/p>\n<p>Will going out mean you are one step farther away from replacing something in your home? If you have to chose between going out and a long term financial goal pick the goal! While eating out might be fun and convenient it will be more fun when you aren&#8217;t sacrificing something else to do it.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>What is your best tip for eating at home? <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I know for some people it can be hard to break the habit of eating out, especially if cooking is not your passion or speciality. If you are struggling financially, or working towards a financial goal eating at home is a great way to save money. How do you start a habit of eating at [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":22982,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":"","_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-17850","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-frugal-living","8":"entry"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v15.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Simple Ways to Eat at Home - The Happy Housewife\u2122 :: Frugal Living<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Are you busting the budget by eating out regularly. 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