It might!
Eating out is a fun way to socialize, try new foods, and learn about other cultures. It can also offer convenience for those days when you just don’t feel like cooking (because let’s face it, we all have them)!
But when it comes to eating out, doing it too frequently may be too much of a good thing. Swapping a few more dinners out each month for a home cooked meal is a simple, cost-effective way to improve your health. Eating home-cooked meals more often may help to:
1. Increase diet quality
People who eat more home meals consume more fruits, vegetables, and fiber, and less sugar, fat, and calories. As a result, they’re more likely to meet daily micronutrient needs.
Home-cooked meals also offer more control over ingredients, portion sizes, and cooking methods which can lead to healthier food choices.. When eating out, you may not know exactly what they’re adding, how much food you're receiving, or how it’s prepared.
2. Reduce chronic disease risk
Individuals who eat home-cooked meals more frequently have a lower risk of developing chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. Eating home-cooked meals can help maintain healthy blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and blood sugar levels.
3. Reduce spending on food
Eating home-cooked meals can be a cost-effective way to eat healthily and reduce the consumption of processed and fast foods.
Preparing meals at home can also help reduce food waste and save money on eating out.
4. Aid weight loss and inflammation
Individuals who eat more home-cooked meals tend to have lower BMI, lower waist circumference, and lower levels of inflammation.
5. Increase bonding
Preparing and eating meals together can be a great way to spend quality time with partners, families, and friends. It can also help children learn about healthy food choices and cooking skills.
6. Improve mental health
Preparing and eating home-cooked meals can have a positive impact on mental health by being a stress relief activity!
Eating more home-cooked meals is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. If you’re looking to swap out a couple nights of take out or restaurants but you’re not sure how to start, start small! Pick one meal a week to swap out and gradually add more. And during your meals out, try to make most of those a balanced plate.
Still not sure where to begin? Schedule a free discovery call to learn more about nutrition counseling and how working with a dietitian can help you to make sustainable and healthy changes to your diet. Need recipe ideas? Check out this website for some of Dana's healthy recipe ideas.
Sources: Mills S et al. Frequency of eating home cooked meals and potential benefits for diet and health: cross-sectional analysis of a population-based cohort study. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2017;14(1):109. doi:10.1186/s12966-017-0567-y
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