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?

and me, unless it is fish and chips!

Once a month maybe? Had one two weeks ago when we were on holiday and got a takeaway pizza from a restaurant. Before that was end of May for dd’s birthday.

Once a week usually!

I really feel for you. I only really learnt how to cook post kids.

I’d channel all the money you’re spending into a big M&S shop of healthy prepped meals, and maybe a subscription box to give you some more ideas and practice cooking from scratch - maybe make it a social thing and invite a friend over on that night and you both cook it together.

Quick, easy ideas

1. microwaved sweet potato, feta, salad
2. breaded fish fillet and veg / salad
3. chicken fillet and veg /salad
4. beans / egg on toast
5. batch cook soup (can freeze in cleaned out take away containers, do a different one each week, and you’ll soon end up with a nice healthy selection)

And make sure you have some nice pizza / chips / protein in the freezer. If you look on Ocado they have lots of the French Picard range - good quality frozen food and veg - worth stocking up on!

Once every couple of months. When we were both working longer hours it was most Fridays though. I now don't have chips more than once a month unless I'm on holiday and that helps as a rule to focus on healthier food! I agree with PP the Cook food is good to buy to have in the freezer, and @Whatjemimadid 's tips are good. Even if you are not putting on visible fat at the moment you are probably adding visceral fat and storing problems for the future. Not to mention if all that money was going into a pension you'd feel much better in retirement!

Once a month ish. We usually have a McDonald's breakfast on a Sunday but for dinner it's around once a month.

Never really. We eat simple fresh food and we both work more than 9-10 hours a day. Chop a quick salad with simple olive oil - 5 minutes, prawns on a pan - 2 minutes. The other day I sautéed red peppers and that was my dinner. I don't overcomplicate during the week, but can spend a bit more time cooking something interesting at the weekend. We prefer freshly cut vegetables and just keep it simple, no fancy (unhealthy) sauces etc. I like to know what ingredients and oils are used, I don't think takeaways typically offer the healthiest choice in that regard (bad oils, salt, sugar..) I think it would take me more time to think what to order, wait for the order etc. But this won't work for those who don't like bland food.

Basically never. I have a supermarket close by, so if I'm having a real work crisis type situation I'd grab something ready made for there.

I hate delivery app culture; so much bad behavior, bad riding, bad driving, illegal parking, restaurant service being negatively affected by all the hordes of delivery people.

Never. Cost and quality being the main reasons. We used to eat out once a week but do that rarely now due to cost.

This thread has been an eye opener - didn't realise most people had takeaways so often.

The couple of times in the past (5+ years ago) that we had a takeaway the food was a bit congealed and cold by the time it came so not worth the quite high cost.

Once or twice a month.

About 2-3 times a week. Sadly I just don’t have the time to cook or the energy for that matter, life is too busy these days, we take too much on with demanding jobs and long commutes.

Around 3-4x a year. I dont really do takeouts ...so expensive

we have not had take away delivery, if we do get a take away, i drive to get it.
i would imagine the delivery makes it more tempting.
but the expense of a takeaway puts me off

1-2x a month on average.

At home I tend to cook meals that will last for several days. Curry, pasta, chili, Spanish omelette, etc. Most of the time I don't even freeze them, I just eat the same thing for dinner 2-3 days in a row.

And then I usually have a supply of quick cook stuff in the freezer, like salmon fillets, veggie burgers, frozen potato wedges, frozen peas/veg. Some of the cooking-from-scratch people might turn their nose up at a veggie burger with potato wedges & frozen veg, but it's quick and cheaper and healthier than a takeaway.

Also, I do my meal planning and food shopping once a week. If the ingredients are already in the fridge I feel obliged to use them / am much less tempted by a takeaway.

Edit: didn't mean to quote the pp, but can't seem to remove the quote now.

A couple of times a month, less in the summer. Had ribs last Thursday at work but work paid for it.

It's a few times a year for us these days. I don't really enjoy them that much. I've lost a lot of weight and have lost the taste for processed or high fat food.

Pretty much never. We do eat out a fair amount though, if someone else is cooking they can do the washing up too! Mainly at independent cafes/restaurants rather than chain/takeaway style places.

Once a month ish. We cook from scratch virtually all the time. It does help that dh really enjoys cooking- he does more of it than me. I don't dislike it, but don't enjoy it as much as he does!

That's once a week! It doesn't not count because it's in the morning.

Almost never. Sometimes once a year.
I think that when you have children it is not so affordable for a whole family and you are more conscious that you ought to be cooking healthy food for your children.

Surely as one person, you can put together a quick meal.

When my husband was alive we often had a takeaway Friday night. We stopped for a while to save money but missed it - it was a mark to end the week any we enjoyed it.
Now (I'm a widow with one child still at home), it's once a month or so? I am trying to eat healthy and not spend excess money.

I don’t have any food delivery nearby. Its a 4 mile drive to my nearest chippy and chinese/Indian. So we rarely get them. Last one was in march. Before that i was NYE

Not even once a month. I do go out for meals a few times a month with friends, but rarely order a takeaway in. I sometimes batch cook a few days of food for myself, or get easy prepared things. I also find it easier to start making my dinner earlier on, when working from home so I might prep before i start or on a lunch break. My daughter is 16 and cooks her own food, when my son is home from Uni I cook for him, mainly pasta and home made sauces, they only take 20 mins or so. It really is very unhealthy eating so many takeaways. Have a look for some easily prepared meals and meal plan. Start with 2-3 home cooked meals. Even a pizza thrown in the oven is better than a takeaway and that takes less time than it does to order. Have it with a salad

About twice a week. Yes i’m overweight! But most of the time one takeaway will do 2 dinners and it’s usually Nando’s (chicken and veg) or a Mexican salad. Hello Fresh is alright but I always miss the choice deadline so end up with stuff the kids won’t eat and there is sooooo much plastic waste!

Also that’s not for the kids. They’ll get a pizza takeaway once in a blue moon. But generally they eat jacket potato, pasta, salmon & potatoes & veg, roast etc (we’ll eat that with them). But it’s a lot easier for me to make them what they’ll eat and then make us what we want, or get it delivered. The kids hate square meals like curry, shepherd pie, stir fry etc. Last night they had pasta with homemade veg sauce but I really don’t like pasta 😅

Once or twice a week.

It doesn’t affect our weights in the slightest because we split portions. We used to order sushi a lot but started making our own.

Rarely maybe twice three times a year. I have a coeliac daughter and would rarely trust that they can provide safe gluten free food.

I think though for your age group it is very common as it has got so much easier to order food for delivery from practically anywhere. I have colleagues that would order just eat or Deliveroo for breakfast lunch and dinner.