Is it really cheaper cooking at home compared to eating out?
I would like to answer from the perspective of someone who ALWAYS eats my meals out of home; not because I'm wealthy, but because I live in a country with a huge variety of cheap, healthy dishes that I can't make on my own.Eating out is a question of outsourcing. Restaurants, given that they serve in bulk, will always have lower operating and input costs than an at-home cook. On the other hand, they will take extra in labor and profit.Operating costs: When you eat out, you don't need to maintain a kitchen full of appliances and the electricity to run them. However, it's an overhead cost, so if you have them, you should use them as much as possible to get the cheapest /per meal cost. Restaurants utilize theirs throughout the whole day and can afford to buy better ones which last longer or are more efficient.Input costs: The only way you could match a restaurant's food costs is to buy in bulk. But if you buy in bulk, you'll have to store leftovers which requires a larger refrigerator (and more electricity) and the downside of not having fresh food. If you want fresh, you'll have to shop everyday, costing you your time.Labor: Related to the previous point. Do I have time to cook 2 hours and spend 30 minutes eating? Or do I want to use that time for something else? The restaurants labor costs will be based on the supply of basic labor in the market.Profit: Fair is fair. The restaurant is taking the risk, and I am willing to support them to do so, especially if they can create something much better than I can on my own (and yes, they can!) However, their profit must also take into account competitors.The last two are what impact whether eating out can be cheaper than cooking at home. If the restaurant's labor and profit are low, while you have high operating and input costs, it will be cheaper to eat out (and if you do so, you might as well cut your operating costs by not even maintaining a kitchen except for the bare essentials like a small grill or microwave).
I want to do some renovations on a home I just purchased. What room makes the most sense to start with?
After years of doing remodeling projects for clients and five homes of our own, I suggest two things:Live in the house for a few months before you do anything. You need to get a feel for how you live in it before you make costly changes. Take notes on things that annoy you (light switches in the wrong place, not enough lighting, too hot or cold, not enough space). Also note the things that work.Come up with an entire plan before you do anything. We learned this the hard way, by renovating a bathroom and then a few months later realizing we needed to move that bathroom entirely. But you can lose money on smaller projects, too, if you don’t have the big picture in mind.If you might want to change the layout of even one room, I always suggest measuring each and every room, window, and doorway, and sketching them on graph paper. Note the placement of switches, outlets, plumbing, etc. Then make 20 copies of your sketch. Yes, 20!Start fiddling with the design. As you live in the house, you’ll come up with changes that didn’t occur to you at first. Ceiling fans in the bedrooms. USB outlets near the bedside. Moving the kitchen door to have better access to trashcans.Eventually, the design will come together. Find a competent professional you trust, and get advice on where to start. You might be surprised. A professional contractor can tell you how to save money by “batching” certain tasks, or telling you where two tasks should be done concurrently to save on materials and labor. You don’t want to have to rip out new flooring to later move a wall, or paint only to later rip out that drywall for new electrical. Even if you do the work yourself, a consult with a professional will give you direction.If you’re just doing finish upgrades, take all the measurements you need and keep them on your phone or tablet. You need window sizes to buy new curtains. You need the vanity size or the faucet configuration. You need flooring square footages. That way, when you’re out shopping or you see something you like (and is hopefully on sale!), you have the measurements on hand to make the purchase.Good luck in your new home!
I can't afford to eat everything healthy, what can I do?
The healthiest foods are also the least expensive like rice, beans, fruit, veggies. Watch for sales and buy frozen fruit and veggies if fresh costs more or is not available. Beans, brown rice, dried peas and lentils are cheap from bulk bins. Nuts and almond milk or soy milk are at walmart and on sale at the grocery stores all the time. Oatmeal is cheap and healthy. Do some research, eat healthy, stay hydrated, get adequate sleep, walk at least 30 minutes every day. You can do it!
Is it worth upgrading your kitchen when you already have a decent kitchen and new appliances?
I don't think that spending 15 to 20k on new kitchen cabinets is necessarily a wise decision if your intention is primarily to make money on the resale. As you've mentioned, the appliances are new and the kitchen is decent... which means that although it may not have a "wow factor", it is certainly move-in ready and not something that a potential buyer will need to consider replacing anytime soon. Having said that, you may want to think about spending several hundred to a couple thousand on some upgrades to the existing kitchen that will provide some visual appeal and value. There are some things that are relatively easy to replace, and the changes can sometimes provide a dramatic difference to the overall look of the kitchen. Handles or knobs are usually one of the easiest things to replace, and choosing something more contemporary can instantly transform the kitchen's appearance. Perhaps consider the addition of one or two glass doors, or an open shelf unit painted in a fashionable colour, or some new pendant lights over the island or peninsula. These changes could provide some design flair and a feeling of being more up to date. If the kitchen is somewhat dark, adding some new well placed lighting is one way to make everything brighter and more user friendly. And of course, a new coat of paint on the walls is one of the quickest, simplest, and most cost effective ways to update the look of the kitchen. If you want to spend some time to do a bit of research yourself to get some ideas, an excellent place to check out is http://houzz.com . And if you don't have the time or inclination to do it yourself, you can always hire an interior designer who understands that you have a budget and a mandate to spend it wisely for imminent resale. You might even want to consider spending that 15 to 20k selectively throughout the entire house... with some good professional advice, it may be possible to do something in the other rooms that will make it all feel updated, refreshed, and looking good for that new potential buyer.
Is the practice of cooking at home diminishing day by day? If yes, what are the reasons?
Yes , the practice of cooking at home is vanishing day day, at least in the big metropolitan cities and other large cities.Reasons ( from a metropolitan teen's view) :Fast food services at every nook and corner (at least in the big metropolitan cities)Food delivery apps like Uber eats , swiggy, zomato offering crazy discounts every day on some bullshit reason or the other.People's craze over Facebook and Instagram : when you see your friends eating fancy stuff whenever you open your social media at some point or the other you'll definitely want to eat it to satisfy your mental craving.The rapidly evolving Indian lifestyle which is eating away all our spare time and time for cooking or spending any quality time.The latest fads in the market , advertisments , discounts , crazy deals and all other bs prompting people to fall into the fast food web , and once you fall into it there's no coming back.I'm fully agreeing to the fact that our lifestyles are changing radically especially for us , the ones living metropolitan cities but if you truly care for your health and your family you can find some time to cook your own meal at home, with latest appliances it's practically effortless on your part to cook up delicious dishes. Eating out when you can't make a gap in your schedule is acceptable but please try to eat healthier stuff like instant oats or if a restaurant opt for the healthier choices .
Is eating dalia at night for weight loss good or bad?
Eating Dalia at Night For Weight Loss Good Or BadIf you are a weight conscious person, you may have heard about people using Dalia for weight loss. Before we go into the benefits of Dalia for weight loss[1], let’s take a look at Dalia. Dalia or bulgur wheat, as it is known in English, is broken wheat. These coarsely ground grains are quite popular in India and in the Middle East. In the West too, eating Dalia for weight loss has gained popularity. High in fibre, proteins and B vitamins, Dalia is a wonderful option not only if you are seeking to lose weight, but also if you are concerned about your health. It is believed to have more benefits than many grains such as oats.Dalia can be lightly boiled and used in salads or as a rice substitute, tossed with a touch of oil and vegetables. It is an important ingredient in the Middle Eastern salad, Tabouleh. Many people choose to have it as breakfast porridge, similar to oats, cooked either in milk or water. It also tastes wonderful with yogurt. The benefits of Dalia for weight loss[2] are many. Let’s take a look at why so many people opt for Dalia for weight loss.Low calorie What's so great about Dalia for weight loss is that one serving contains very little calories. This means that you are adding very little to your total calorie count. At the same time, its nutritional benefits and fibre mean that you are deriving plenty of benefits in terms of health.High fibre The benefits of a high fibre diet for weight loss cannot be overemphasised. Fibre aids in digestion and ensures that your body functions optimally and stays in good health. Moreover, fibre in your food cannot be converted to sugar, and therefore eating Dalia for weight loss[3] makes a lot of sense.Slow to process You might think that foods which process and burn faster in your body are more beneficial for weight loss, but this is not true. Foods which process quickly make you hungry faster. It also causes more sugar to be stored in the body. One of the benefits of Dalia for weight loss is that the body breaks it down and absorbs it slowly.It is recommended that you look at some useful information for you. Please Click Here.[4]Footnotes[1] Eating Dalia at Night For Weight Loss Good Or Bad[2] Eating Dalia at Night For Weight Loss Good Or Bad[3] Eating Dalia at Night For Weight Loss Good Or Bad[4] Eating Dalia at Night For Weight Loss Good Or Bad
Is eating sprouts at dinner healthy?
Eating Sprouts at dinner is completely Healthy. You can eat it anytime but just keep in mind that you should not overload it.Following points have been explained by experts :Experts estimate that there can be up to 100 times more enzymes in sprouts than uncooked fruits and vegetables. Enzymes are special types of proteins that act as catalysts for all your body’s functions. Extracting more vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and essential fatty acids from the foods you eat ensures that your body has the nutritional building blocks of life to ensure every process works more effectively.The amino acid lysine, for example, which is needed to prevent cold sores and to maintain a healthy immune system increases significantly during the sprouting process.The fiber content of the beans, nuts, seeds, or grains increases substantially. It not only binds to fats and toxins in our body to escort them out, it ensures that any fat our body breaks down is moved quickly out of the body before it can resorb through the walls of the intestines (which is the main place for nutrient absorption into the blood).Essential fatty acid content increases during the sprouting process. Most of us are deficient in these fat-burning essential fats because they are not common in our diet. Eating more sprouts is an excellent way to get more of these important nutrients.During sprouting, minerals bind to protein in the seed, grain, nut, or bean, making them more useable in the body. This is true of alkaline minerals like calcium, magnesium, and others than help us to balance our body chemistry for weight loss and better health.Sprouts are the ultimate locally-grown food. When you grow them yourself you are helping the environment and ensuring that you are not getting unwanted pesticides, food additives, and other harmful fat-bolstering chemicals that thwart your weight loss efforts.The energy contained in the seed, grain, nut, or legume is ignited through soaking and sprouting.Sprouts are alkalizing to your body. Many illnesses including cancer have been linked to excess acidity in the body.Sprouts are inexpensive. People frequently use the cost of healthy foods as an excuse for not eating healthy. But, with sprouts being so cheap, there really is no excuse for not eating healthier.