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DEL.ICIO.USA novel idea: Cooking and eating at home!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
My old eating-out buddies (including my very own family) think I’ve become a boring fuddy-duddy because I never want to go out anymore. I used to love eating out. The food in any restaurant tasted better than anything from my own kitchen. So why do I suddenly want to stay home and cook? I’ts just too difficult to make a healthy balanced meal out of restaurant food.
First, restaurants typically don’t serve whole grains. You don’t see brown rice, whole wheat pasta or whole grain bread on many restaurant tables. Second, have you noticed how much stuff that you wouldn’t put on your food at home is on restaurant food?
I just had fish at a business luncheon (at a very expensive, white-tablecloth restaurant that specializes in seafood). It was coated in sauce, and piled on top were some sort of buttered bread crumbs. Yes, it was quite tasty, but as I let the sauce puddle up on the side of my plate, I noticed it glistening with grease (as were the steamed green beans).
To be honest, a lot of restaurant food seems to be coated in some sort of greasy goodness - I’m not really even sure what it is. But I do know that it makes the food somehow tastier and I believe it’s actually what makes eating out so addictive. What do you think it is about restaurant food that seems to make it taste better than things we cook at home?
l’ll admit that some well-known restaurant chains have healthy choices like a baked chicken breast with broccoli, and maybe even brown rice. I can cook this at home!! What’s the sense in going out just to have something I eat twice a week at my own table? Plus, get me into a restaurant and I immediately want a piece of bread from the basket, a glass of wine, a few french fries off my kid’s plate … well, you get the picture.
I’ve been making some wonderful fresh seafood, serving delicious whole grains, trying new vegetables, and making more salads at home. No wonder my new mantra is “No, let’s just stay home to eat tonight.”
Permalink | Comments (7) | Post your comment | Categories: Jennifer
Comments
By Laura Kay
April 12, 2007 4:41 PM | Link to this
Yes several of my friends think I have become anti-social because I try not to go out to eat. Try Seasons52 it is delicious. A wide range of choices and all entrees are under 500 calories. I love eating there. Doc Greens salads are pretty tasty and good for you as well. Seasons52 is by the Perimeter and in Buckhead. Keep up the GREAT Work!
By Sheila
April 13, 2007 9:55 AM | Link to this
Way to go. We eat at home most every night. I eat better when I don’t go out to dinner, And just think of all the money you are saving. Lose weight and save money. It doesn’t get better than that. Keep up the good work. Sheila
By Kristi
April 13, 2007 10:45 AM | Link to this
Great article, Jen! When my eating-out buddy was here for the last 2 years, we ate out EVERY NIGHT OF THE WEEK… no wonder I gained weight. Now that he’s moved to the Great White North, just eating at home has allowed me to shed all kinds of weight. I have a belt on today that I haven’t worn in 3 years! So I’m feeling good about my progress. Your articles are GREAT and inspiring… Keep up the great work. Can’t wait to see a picture!!
By Maggie
April 13, 2007 12:47 PM | Link to this
My office is “weighing in” again on this heavy subject. What a dilemma you have put us in! We know you are right, but we have been trying to figure out how to “have our cake and eat it, too.” One suggestion is the time-worn one of immediately putting half the food you order into a to-go box and taking it home for another meal. Some of us actually do that. Others vow to eat only half of the oversized servings of most restaurants and leave the other half on the plate. But that seems like such a waste. One suggestion is to have all the sauces, dressings, etc. served on the side and only use about a teaspoonful instead of the cupful the restaurant serves. My husband and I sometimes order a salad each and split a main course. Most waiters are very nice about this and some even have the kitchen divide the main course. Thanks for raising the question. It has given us something to “chew on.” Before the subject is closed somebody here will probably come up with some more “food for thought” about this problem.
The group in our office enjoys reading your “feast” of ideas. Keep them coming.
Maggie
By Jennifer A.
April 16, 2007 12:10 PM | Link to this
I wanted to give you all an update. A friend and I tried Seasons 52 on Saturday — well, we tried to try it! There was a 2-hour wait! We went to Applebees and ate off their “Weight Watchers Menu.” Not bad. Nothing had that buttered greasy feel to it. Nice to get away, socialize, have someone else cook and do the dishes, but I could have made a better meal at home! —Jennifer
By Gayle
April 16, 2007 1:35 PM | Link to this
I enjoyed eating with you at Applebee’s and look forward to getting our dinner RESERVATION at Seasons 52! You are a great cook, but it is so nice to have a night off from cooking. You look great- I can see you hard work paying off already! Keep up you great work- you’ve got an excellent trainer!
By Kelly
April 18, 2007 5:05 PM | Link to this
KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK JENN! You’re doin’ it!