14 of 76

Write now Article Tools

Eating out is simple, fun and seems like a treat to most of us. In my family, however, eating in is where true happiness is. Here are a few reasons why eating in can and should be much more fun than visiting the local Cracker Barrel.

1) It's a family affair. Eating in, especially on the weekends, involves the entire family. If you live in close proximity to your extended family, as I do, eating in means everyone's invited.

2) It's healthier. How many of you actually deep fry things at home? Not many, I bet. Instead, do like we do and grill your food over a hardwood fire. It's environmentally friendly, cuts the fat and the food tastes much better.

3) It's cheaper. In my house, we have one extravagant meal a week - Saturday nights. And it's usually filet mignon or mahi-mahi. These cuts of meat are very expensive ($20 and up per person) in the restaurants. I pay sometimes as little as $4 per person. What a deal!

4) There's no such thing as being 'cut off.' Eating at home means you can drink as much as you want. There's not much more I can say about that. Bottoms up!

5) It's fun. In restaurants, the place can be crowded, the food can be bad, the service can be terrible and the atmosphere can be lacking. At home, everyone is comfortable, there is no pressure to get up from the table quickly, I don't have to tip anyone and we can be as loud as we want without bothering anybody.

A few tips for a great Family Eat In: grill out, even in the summer, use wood, not charcoal or gas, spend most of your money on the meat, divide up the cooking (men on the meat, women on the sides, kids on the dessert), use paper plates to minimize mess, don't forget the beer and wine, start your fire early and don't be afraid to grill everything from the meat to the veggies (even cornbread!).

Learn more about this author, Jessica Kaaz.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Why eat out instead of eating in?
We want to hear your view. Write now!