Workaround: Order groceries instead of takeout

cooking
Written By Judy Doherty, MPS, PCII

With all of the delivery apps on the market, it is so tempting to order dinner now. Pizza, dessert, soda? It is delivered in 30 minutes flat. It is so tempting to pick up the smart phone and order dinner.

A great workaround is to use a grocery delivery app and get dinner now (roasted chicken, salad, baked potatoes) PLUS groceries for the rest of the week. Chances are, the cost is the same and you can get a lot more food for the same price as dinner for four!Scenario one, dinner for two, $65:

  • 11" Pizza to share
  • Dessert to share
  • Salad to share
  • Drinks

Scenario two, groceries for 3 days for two: $69

  • Tilapia
  • Bread crumbs
  • Chicken thighs
  • BBQ sauce
  • Salad mix
  • Bag of rice
  • Veggies
  • Soup
  • Yogurt
  • Chips
  • Cereal
  • Cupcake

Groceries can often be delivered in the same time frame as dinner if you are using an app like Instacart!Take the test! Download the meal delivery app DoorDash or GrubHub. Place enough items in the cart for you and your family for dinner. Take a screenshot.Next download a grocery delivery app like Amazon Prime or Instacart. Load as many groceries as you can for the same price. Now compare! See how fast it can all be delivered. The closer the store the faster the service as a general rule.Of course, the best thing is to plan ahead and shop in the stores so you can compare food labels and take advantage of items in the season but it is comforting to know that groceries can be delivered just as fast as takeout meals in many areas.   

Judy Doherty, MPS, PCII

Judy Doherty, MPS, PCII discovered her love of cooking at her grandmother's side, stirring raisin oatmeal on a Saturday morning. By 15 she had her first food service job. At 18 she was accepted to the Culinary Institute of America, where she graduated second in her class, then went on to the Fachschule Richemont in Switzerland to study pastry arts and baking. A decade with Hyatt Hotels followed before she founded Food and Health Communications with a single conviction: food that is good for you should taste extraordinary.

Judy holds a Master of Professional Studies in Food Business from the Culinary Institute of America, a Bachelor of Science in Culinary Arts from Johnson and Wales University (Summa Cum Laude), two art certificates from UC Berkeley Extension, and the CIA's Pro Chef II certification. She has earned the American Culinary Federation Bronze Medal, Gold Medal, and ACF Chef of the Year award.

Today she develops every recipe on this site, shoots and styles food through her food photography and motion studio, and publishes nutrition education materials for dietitians, schools, extension offices, and health professionals through nutritioneducationstore.com. She uses the latest nutritional science and Dietary Guidelines to drive her creativity — whether that means a new twist on fajitas or Italian brownies made with toasted nuts and cooked honey. Her mission has never changed: help everyone make food that tastes as good as it is for them.

https://nutritioneducationstore.com
Previous

Family Meal Ideas - Tapas Style Dishes and Veggies for Dessert!
Next

Family Fun At Home - Mealtime Bucket List