How much do you dine out? If you’re like most people, going to your favorite restaurants is likely a weekly occurrence. According to Business Insider, American’s eat out an average of 5.9 times per week.
You know that restaurant meals taste good. But are they good for your wallet? It doesn’t look promising.
The Cost of Dining Out
In 2019, Americans spent an average of $3,526 on food away from home. This dropped significantly in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the average expenditure falling to $2,375. This is likely because of the closure of many restaurants and the decrease in visits during this time. However, as of 2021, many restaurants reopened their doors, allowing diners to start returning to their favorite establishments in greater numbers.
Regardless of the anomaly in 2020, this amount of money is still shocking when you consider just how much food you actually get for the price you pay at restaurants. Most restaurant meals have a markup of around 300% or three times the wholesale cost.
“This means that any time you spend $15 on an entree, the food you’re eating only costs $5 to make,” explains Fox Business. So if the average American family spends around $3,000 a year on restaurant meals, they would be “cheating” themselves out of about $2,000.
Increased Food Costs
As we already mentioned, American’s eat out an average of 5.9 times per week. The average restaurant menu price ranges from $8.82 in Michigan to $13 in Hawaii. That means that if someone eats out or orders takeout from a restaurant five times a week, they could be spending up to $65 on just five meals. That’s about $260 a month, and doesn’t even cover every day or every meal occasion!
And that’s not even considering the recent increases in food costs. Your favorite restaurants are feeling the ripple effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain issues and increased labor costs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the index for food away from home has jumped 6.4% over the last year between January 2021 and January 2022. This is the largest 12-month increase seen since 1982. In fact, according to Business Insider, some of the most popular restaurant chains have admitted to increasing menu prices by up to 10% in 2021 to compensate for these higher costs.
The Convenience Factor
It’s no secret that one of the main reasons people dine out or order restaurant takeout is convenience. With busy schedules and little time to regularly cook full meals, it’s common to take the easy route by having restaurants and fast food joints do the work for you. While this can be a great time saver, it’s clear that it’s definitely not great for your wallet OR your waistline.
Restaurants don’t typically take your health into consideration when preparing their convenient options. They will load them up with fat, sugar and salt to satisfy your taste buds and cravings so you keep coming back for more. This is especially true at fast food joints. While it’s a cheaper option, it may come at a cost: Your health. The ingredients and calories aren’t always listed for consumers to make informed decisions. If you’re not careful on your restaurant dining endeavors, they can quickly lead to unhealthy weight gain.
A Simple Solution
Instead of relying on restaurants to provide you with quick, easy and delicious meals, consider an alternative that can help you save money while also keeping your health front of mind. A meal delivery service like Nutrisystem is designed to help you lose weight with healthier, perfectly portioned versions of all of your favorite foods.
The cost of Nutrisystem auto-delivery programs are just $9.99 a day to $14.64 a day, depending on your gender and the program you select. Our four-week programs provide you with breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks. You also get a simple meal plan to follow and an amazing support system to help you reach your goals. Considering that the average restaurant menu item ranges from $8.82 to $13 for just one meal, this is a definite savings!
You’ll also get to add in some of your favorite healthy grocery add-ins for added flexibility. We have lots of tips and tricks to help you save money at the grocery store and there are many budget-friendly PowerFuels and SmartCarbs that fit into your plan.
Not only can you save big bucks with Nutrisystem, but you’ll also lose weight while enjoying your favorite foods. Eat burgers, chicken sandwiches and pizza while you drop pounds and get healthy! We even launched a NEW line of meals called Restaurant Faves, so you can still eat your favorite restaurant menu items without the guilt. They are inspired by famous meals from popular restaurants and are portioned with half the calories.
Stop wasting your money on high-priced restaurant meals! Instead of ordering delivery from your local eatery, pick up the phone or head to our website to order delivery from Nutrisystem. Eat great, lose weight and save BIG! Get started today >
The post Can Nutrisystem Save You Money? The Answer May Surprise You appeared first on The Leaf.
