How often do you eat takeaways?

[Freyaaaa]

I work in a pretty stressful job and often have to work overtime. Lately, I've noticed that I'm eating 4-5 takeaways a week and sticking to simple foods like sandwiches when I'm at home.

While I haven't put on weight yet (I'm still in my mid-20s). Using "Just Eat" is so easy and convenient, but I'm becoming increasingly concerned about my health.

I came to this realisation when the takeaway driver said the staff at the shop were surprised when they found out I was a female in my 20's apparently they thought I'd be a bloke in my 40's.

Now I'm too ashamed to order from them again. 😭😂

How often do you eat takeaways & how do you make time to prepare your own food?

Once a week as a treat, but I don't have to juggle full-time work with child care, and my 35 hour a week job is exactly that. If I choose to work extra then that is my choice, but I'm not expected to.

So, for anyone that is working 50+ hours a week, or working full-time and then being a parent, you have my utmost respect, and I wouldn't judge anyone for eating takeaways more often than not.

Virtually never , however we live very near a Waitrose and we go there and pick up a ready meal. We can be there and back and meal in the oven in 10 minutes so probably quicker than a takeaway

Occasionally, less than once a month. Consider it very much a treat.

Second slow cookers, Ninja and batch cooking. I have found Rukmini Iyer's cookbooks, where you chuck everything together to cook in a roasting tin, helpful during busy times - could then divide it up and freeze.

In my experience it's always young people buying delivery food. At work they spend pounds each day. At £15 a pop they don't think it's much and regularly do it. And, yes, they are all overweight and don't care either!

Twice in a year. Never really been a takeaway fan.

Far too often, averaging two to three times a week. I get embarrassed when I open my credit card statement and have so many transactions for the delivery app.

We do get a Korean take away fairly often which is healthyish but I also get burgers, kebabs and pizza.

My problem is that I end up too hungry and my reflex is to open the app. I do try to have things like noodle soup packets where I can add protein and veg. I do start with good intentions where I bought stuff to make shepherd pie last week but the mince is still in the freezer.

I've been making soups recently too, lentil and bacon, tomato and potato and leek are all really filling meals with some bread.

Same here. I can't remember the last one but it was definitely years ago.

Hardly ever. I think they're a complete waste of money and the very odd occasion I do have one I always wonder why I wasted my money on that shite, when the money I'd just spent could've been spent on stuff from the supermarket to make enough Bolognese, cottage pies and curries to last me a good couple of weeks. For me the worst part of cooking is all the peeling and chopping of the veg, but once that's done I either shove everything in my slow cooker or spend a few hours batch cooking things on the hob. I can't do a slow cooker meal and a hob meal at the same time because the slow cooker needs to sit on top of the cooker as that is the only place there is a spare plug socket

Exactly.

It couldn't be easier, then you have leftovers to reheat, or for sandwiches, etc.

Turkey crown is so easy and lovely for club sandwiches, or in salads.

If there's too much meat you can slice and freeze. Very healthy protein. No brainer to roast in oven.

Also, do you eat eggs? Scrambled eggs or omelette takes 10 min. With purchased ham if you like and fruit or salad or toast.

Jacket potatoes are another 10-min go-to.

I've* never made a Sunday roast. I live alone so I always think what's the point
*
I live alone, but I'll cook a roast dinner. Usually just a whole chicken with roast potatoes, stuffing and vegetables. I plate one dinner up that night, put enough chicken to a side to have a cold chicken sandwich the following day and the rest of the chicken gets portioned off into Tupperware containers along with the rest of veg and potatoes and into the freezer. If I don't use the legs I'll have them with a salad or something and then the carcass is boiled to make chicken soup with. You can also slow cook a whole chicken. Just sit it on top of halved onions and let the slow cooker do the rest. The skin doesn't get crispy but all you need to do then is take it out and just brown it off in the oven for 15-20 mins. The meat just literally falls off when it's cooked that way

I dot wish to be boring, but regular takeaways will be terrible for your long term health. You need fresh vegetables and fibre. The weight won't go on yet, but you will be storing up other worse problems.
We have had maybe 3 takeaways this year but live in weird locations so not relevant.
When we lived in a town we got maybe one a month, but it was expensive.

Once a year at most. I'm retired now, but when I was working and had kids I made time to cook by doing everything fast. I mean that quite literally. I would speed shop for groceries, speed clean the house, etcetera. I was a whirling dervish. Now I get to laze around and it's such a relief. I figure I've earned it.

About once a month. I understand that your stressed but diet can exacerbate that. I want ti help not judge because I understand and I've been there.

Pasta sauce can be quick especially with a good quality passata like Mutti polpa.

Crush a clove of garlic in olive oil in the pan for a minute.aff the passata. A drop of vinegar and the trendiest pinch of sugar if you have it. Simmer 5-10 mins and add to tortellini or any pasta with a protein and you're done. Can be quicker than waiting for the takeaway.

Jacket potato in the microwave plus a grilled protein plus microwaved frozen peas. V quick. Frozen is fresher than you think.

Get frozen chopped onion and veg and turn it into a decent veg soup or curry in a rush. No chopping.

Make curry soup or chilli in a batch and freeze some.

Do this on busy days and use fresh when you can. You get in the routine after a while

Many supermarkets do pre chopped veg which can make cooking so quick. Add to a soup or curry or boil to add with grilled protein and new potatoes or jacket or a wrap or rice or ready rice or frozen wedges or whatever.

Sorry please don't think I'm preachy.

Nothing preachy about this comment whatsoever. The OP asked for advice and you gave some.

Only when we're too tired to cook. It's expensive here and my cooking tastes so much better! 😝

Normally me and my boy will get a chippy after his football training as he doesn't like eating before training and it's too late to cook by the time we get home. Otherwise hardly ever. Maybe a pizza on birthday's.

I’m having chemo so it’s just so much easier and I know it’s wrong. Sometimes I just feel like I want food there and then. I’m very fortunate to live in London so I can’t say the quality is rubbish because the choice of food is immense. Today at 230 am I’m already thinking I might order Sunday lunch. You see I wouldn’t cook to types of beef at home, I’m on my own so it works out for me. This month I have ordered loads of Cook meals for the freezer so I’m going to see how that goes.

I have a takeaway at least once a week something I look forward too and no dishes
(Sometimes)😂 life's to short eat that food it's all about balance I've seen me have 2 takeaways in 1 day after being out the night before but 2 days later I'm back at gym class / slimming world. Don't worry to much if you are meal prep is maybe a good idea

Also meant to add I take the day I'm off which happens to be a Monday and use that as meal prep so batch cook anything I can use for lunch especially or teas lasange spag Bol hunters chicken (my go to right now) I normally do 3 meals and that will do my lunches and teas if I cba that night. Pasta takes 10 minutes to boil I just chuck it in microwave some might disagree but I've always been fine

Once every couple of months. Could afford more but it’s just not a habit I have.
I use Simply Cook quite a lot, don’t have to worry about food waste the same way as other food subscriptions. I always choose things that can freeze or make enough for 2 and be put in the fridge for the next day.

P.S. @Freyaaaa a recent discovery that has added another quick and easy meal prep to my repertoire is Merchant Gourmet grain/rice packs.

I bought one recently on impulse as it was on sale, Spanish grains. I stir fried red pepper, courgette and spring onion then added the grains plus a few prawns and bits of leftover chicken. A real winner and very very quick to make.
https://www.merchant-gourmet.com/

Is there a ‘Cook’ near you?

Look into it, you can get pre made healthy home made food

You just have to warm it through (follow instructions)

Once or twice a month. I struggle to cook currently soo am using Cook food ready meals a fair bit as they are pretty decent in the scheme of things.

Less often than once a month. Maybe once every 6 weeks or so.

almost never. Nobody delivers round here.