The Benefits of Eating at Home

The benefits of eating at home are myriad as shown in study after study.  Yet, less than 1/3 of American families sit down for meals more than twice per week and almost half of adults eat their meals alone, a screen and/or work desk usually their only company.  That last statistic just makes me sad.

For most of our existence, meals have been shared experiences between friends and families that take place within the comforts of home, be it a cave, log cabin, or suburban home.  For numerous reasons (the rise of fast food, our ultra-busy lives) we have gotten away from the dynamic of the family gathering together to share food in the home.  And that fact is having detrimental effects on our health and quality of life.

I placed the benefits derived from eating at home under a single category because all secondary benefits stem from one thing…control.

• You’re in control…of everything. As I was researching for this post, I realized that the primary benefit from eating at home is that you’re in control of all, from the cleanliness of the kitchen to when your food arrives at the table to the setting in which you eat.  Whether you cook your own meals or avail yourself of our services here at MagicKitchen and have our delicious meals delivered, eating at home puts you in charge at mealtime.

YOU control the specific ingredients that are used to create your meals as MagicKitchen lists them all as well as their nutritional values.  When you eat out, that’s not the case.  For example, did you know that McDonald’s French fries have 19 ingredients, to include natural beef flavor and dimethylpolysiloxane?  In other words, food that you consume at restaurants and fast food joints contain hidden ingredients, such as high amounts of salt, sugar, saturated fats, and unpronounceable chemicals.

YOU control the setting.  No eating in an uncomfortable, plastic chair with crinkly napkins, rude strangers, and a trash receptacle right next door.  No eating while being interrupted by waitstaff, a drafty door, or loud neighbors at the next table.  You get to eat in the comfort of your own dining room with people of your choice, usually the ones you love.  Secondarily, you also get to control the music, lighting, place settings, and generally get to set the mood of the meal.

YOU get to choose foods that meet your dietary and nutritional needs and those of your family and guests.  Got a vegetarian or vegan in the family?  Have a diabetic on your guest list or someone who’s lactose intolerant?  Not to worry, you can deal with their dietary needs on your own or with the help of MagicKitchen.  We offer a variety of meals that meet a variety of dietary and nutritional needs.

YOU control portion size.  Many restaurants, primarily those of the chain variety (Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Cracker Barrel, etc.) serve massive, high calorie portions to their patrons and we tend to feel obligated to consume the entire portion.  While in the comfort of your own home, you control the size of the meal you prepare for yourself and your friends and family.  And at MagicKitchen we also offer portion-controlled meals.   You can also choose healthy desserts to conclude your meal, rather than double-chocolate lava cake.

YOU control how much money you spend.  Whether you shop for your own ingredients or order meals from us, you’ll save money, especially when compared to those chain restaurants.  A study conducted by the Boston Globe in 2013 determined that a typical at-home meal for two cost $11.84 per person, while a meal for two at a chain restaurant averaged $23.84.

Control is a good thing, whether it’s over your young children or when, what, where and with whom you eat your meals.  And while we can’t choose the company you keep, we can help with what you eat in the comfort of your own home, just give us a chance.