You can see the garlic clinging to the wonderful wings.
Posted on 01/27/2022 10:40:12 AM PST by nickcarraway
Home is where the heart is — especially the healthy heart. Just by way of cooking your own food, you’re likely enjoying a healthier diet than those who rely on eating out, a new study finds.
Researchers at the University of Washington interviewed 437 residents of nearby King County, asking them to fill out a questionnaire detailing their eating experiences. They compared this data to a metric devised by the USDA called the Healthy Eating Index.
The index, which evaluates one’s compliance with federal guidelines set for a healthy diet, is weighted on a 100-point scale.
The study showed that those who cooked at home about three times a week had an index score of 67. That score rose to 74, however, for individuals who doubled their at-home cooking rate to about six times a week.
The home-cooked meals saw families enjoying diets lower in calories, sugar, and fat, the study determined, without adding any extra weight to a monthly food budget.
🔇4 “By cooking more often at home, you have a better diet at no significant cost increase, while if you go out more, you have a less healthy diet at a higher cost,” notes Adam Drewnowski, the study’s lead researcher and a professor of epidemiology, in a university release. “The differences were significant, even with a relatively small study sample.”
With about half of all food expenditures being spent on food prepared outside the house, this study may help illuminate a potential cause for high rates of obesity and malnutrition— more than a third of Americans are obese, while only one-fifth meet the USDA’s dietary guidelines.
Americans generally work more than individuals from other Western nations, which may lead to what epidemiologists call “time poverty,” making the habit of cooking a luxury. Interestingly, the researchers didn’t find a correlation between income or education level and one’s propensity to eat out. Common wisdom would suggest that those who are poorer might resort to eating fast food.
While the study involved self-reporting— a methodology prone to faulty memory— Drewnowski explained that the vast majority of nutritional research is done this way.
The study’s relatively small sample size also warrants further examination. The findings are published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
Well duh. Everybody has long known restaurant food is loaded in sugar, fat and salt.
In addition to being healthier, eating at home saves you money. The average Gen Xer (which I am) household spends a little over $4200 per year eating out. I spend way less than that. And I mean WAY less....as in I eat out easily less than 10 times per year. Yes, that includes fast food. You can spend more on high quality groceries (which I insist on) and still save several thousand per year AND be healthier if you will just cook for yourself.
I spend $2k/yr on vino. Can’t stop. As for the young folks spending $4k a year on eating out-those folks are living life. They could put it all in an IRA but life would be boring. Having people over for dinner doesn’t do it enough. Conversations are better/less noise but it’s a big production-no spur of the moment activity when restaurants are always open. Dealing with waiters who are in a work-mode is a trade off-convenience over less depth in the talking.
My conclusion? I dunno-you tell me.
The only “eating out” I do is occasional chicken wings at the Thirsty Turtle (because their sauce is amazing, and I can’t replicate it), and McDonalds breakfast sandwiches.
This was one of my resolutions...to cook more at home. I have a gorgeous kitchen. I am not the greatest cook but I am getting better. I lack the patience to be a great cook. I am attempting to bake a 4 layer cake this weekend...note to self let it cool after baking before attempting the next steps. Patience!
What if I am eating at home with Marie Callender?
Same here. Some months it’s 28 days. I enjoy cooking fresh, homemade meals, and my husband does the grilling. We are a great team. We are pretty good at changing things up with leftovers, too. Recently we made roasted pork with sauerkraut and dumplings. Leftover pork was turned into Cuban sandwiches. You just have to be a bit creative and/or adventurous. Planning ahead helps, too. Next time we have BBQ, I’m planning to use the leftovers to make Brunswick stew. That’s good in any season!
recipe for Thirsty Turtle Wing Sauce -
https://www.reddit.com/r/TopSecretRecipes/comments/fznl48/thirsty_turtle_wing_sauce/
MC’s doesn’t count as home cooking. Look at the ingredients (sugars, fats, salt) and the preservatives. You’ll see what I mean. However, those are helpful when you don’t have the means to cook for yourself. When Mama got older, we didn’t want her to cook on the stove or oven much, and she would use microwave meals more often. Eventually, even that had to end. It filled a need at the time though.
You can see the garlic clinging to the wonderful wings.
“With about half of all food expenditures being spent on food prepared outside the house”
Crazy!
No wonder most people are fat and stupid, though you have to wonder which came first.
Even while working as a professional in a tech environment, I ALWAYS took my lunch to work, and half the time it was a salad with protein.
Good luck with the cake! Seems like an ambitious goal.
looks delish and yes I see the garlic
I don’t think this is a novel concept. Seems I’ve heard it before. For 50 years.
Yet, people believe it less and less.
If you ever find yourself in Juno Beach, GO! Great food in a laid back atmosphere real close to a beautiful beach.
slim chance but thanks
Thank you! The last 2 layer cake came out ugly buy wow did it ever taste delicious. Learning from my mistakes this time I just need to add patience and precision. Plus there is a big blizzard coming so why not cook and bake!
yes, the old lady there knew my mother in-law back in the 70’s. my wifey is a local..
Do you remember the one in Los Gatos. It was where the Diner is now, I think, then it moved to Los Gatos Boulevard?
no i have not, ive only been to the blossom hill.
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