I have a feeling that this one’s going to bring a lot of people to tears – takeout and restaurant bills are one of the first things to stop buying if you really want to start saving money!
It’s a real eye opening moment when you discover just how much money you’re wasting on other people prepping your food.
For the sake of time (and how long this post already is), we’ll only cover a fast food example.
It’s kind of scary how fast food chains and apps like SkipTheDishes have made takeout super convenient, isn’t it?Â
Hungry and don’t want to think about your next meal? A quick fix is just a few taps away!
Fast Food
How much are tips and delivery fees costing you? Let’s say we’re ordering sushi:Â
Teriyaki Bento Box = $10.95 + GST
+ 10% driver tip = $1.10 – we’re tipping on the low end too!
+ $3.99 for delivery
$10.95 + $1.10 + $3.99 = $16.59
But wait, you say!
I can get free delivery if I order over $20!
And while it might seem like good value to pay for additional items over a delivery fee, you just doubled the cost of your order!
That chicken teriyaki could actually pay for a couple of days worth of meals.
What to Do Instead
I’ll split this part into three sections:Â
- On the go
- Prep and materials
- Grocery shopping
On the Go
Lucky for us, J’s lunches are provided by work!
When M and I go on day trips, I like to bring this cooler lunch bag and a stainless steel flask* for her drinks – they keep them cold for 12+ hours so, I don’t have to worry about whether or not her milk, etc. is still good.
*I’ve tried practically every stainless steel for toddlers and the Thermos Funtainer and Munchkin Miracle cups are the most leakproof I’ve come across (I prefer using the Funtainer for day trips though).
In the past, we’ve also tried the Skip Hop Bottle, Thermos Foogo, and Kleen Kanteen – they’re great at keeping liquids cold but not as leak proof, in my experience.
I bring a stainless steel water bottle with a straw for myself as well – in case M has one of those days where she drinks all of her liquid in a matter of moments, it’s nice to be able to offer her some fresh water from a toddler friendly container!
In our cooler bag, I pack a keto bar for me, cheese, crackers or a sandwich for M, and some fresh fruit and veggies – like strawberries, apple slices, cucumbers, baby carrots, or cherry tomatoes.
You could even throw in an individual sized dip like hummus or guacamole, if you want!
I like to pack snacks rather than a meal when we’re running errands – its easier to snack and makes eating on the go less of an event.Â
Prep and Materials
Once, we’re home, I reheat pre-made food or start meal prep for that day/evening.Â
These glass containers for tots are one of the best investment I’ve ever made for toddler meal prep! I’ve been using them to make homemade food since M started solids.Â
They’re also perfect for meals and snacks like:Â
- overnight oats
- pre-chopped fruits and veggies
- mac and cheese
- plus other toddler favourites!
I opted for glass storage containers when it comes to family meal prep too.Â
Like we talked about with coffee, it’s a small investment upfront but you’ll end up saving hundreds on Ziploc bags and cling wrap in the long run!
Plus, you can pack lunches to go for work or a day trip in the smaller sizes and throw them into your cooler bag 🙂Â
I opted for glass when I started getting frustrated with our food waste situation.Â
Things often got hidden behind one another, are in dark packages you can’t see through, or aren’t as resealable as they claim.
We’d end up throwing out much more than we should as a result.
Glass is great for organizing, repackaging, and stacking so you can actually see what you have – and it even helps some foods last longer.Â
Glass storage containers make the serving and reheating process so much easier for us too.Â