How often do you get a takeaway?

yourdeadwright · 09-09-2022 11:15am

Once every two weeks or so we will get a big family Chinese's

Beef black bean with green pepper ,boiled rice, Salt & chilli prawns, Honey Ribs, Singapore noddle's & Chips , & just share it all out .

But I'm going out for a few pints tonight first time in months, So i will defo get a burger on the way home

Thelonious Monk · 09-09-2022 11:16am

If you stopped getting take away you'd be healthier and it would compensate for rising energy bills that everyone is complaining about - win win! I thought everyone was broke but this thread would make you think otherwise.

09-09-2022 11:31am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119594591#Comment_119594591

I suspect - though I do this with little more than instinct and anecdote - that food is a strange economy for many people.

Cooking well involves a certain level of initial outlay in expenses and time. When one is low on cash there is a tendency not to have the money for this outlay. Or to have time to invest as you may be working longer hours to get what money you have.

So while "take out" is more expensive in the long run it is still easier and "cheaper" than the economics of transitioning to cooking better at home.

In a small way it reminds me of the "economics of washing powder" as I like to call it. If you buy the most massive portion of washing powder going you will spend significantly less money over time than buying smaller packages. (I just always use washing powder here. Pick a better product if you can think of one).

But poorer people do not have the cash in hand to buy this huge box. So they spend money on the smaller portion because they need the washing powder here and now. Over time they spend and lose significantly more money for their powder. It's like poverty is designed to trap you in poverty in this way.

I am sure there is some reason I am ignorant of for why we do not make it illegal to charge more per unit of a product in smaller portions than we do for larger portions that some how justifies this. But it is a shame for the sake of the poor that we can't. But it irks me that I with more cash in hand get charged less for things I happen to be able to buy more of - while people with less money are forced to pay more Euro/Unit than me.

I cook elaborate tasty and varied meals and friends and family are often surprised at how little it costs me to do so now. But it took time and effort and money to get that machine operating and functioning efficiently. I can imagine how people struggling to make ends meet counter intuitively therefore find themselves spending their money on take out or quick but horrifically processed meals in the supermarkets.

Worse as you rightly say eating well makes you healthier. You therefore have more drive, motivation, energy and so on. Which means the worse you eat - the less you have in the tank to get up and change things. I have the luxury for example of being able to bake my own bread. If I ever make the mistake of making something using shop bought sliced pan for example - I achieve less. Somewhere my energy and output tanks. And often as I said in my post above I might not be aware of this in the moment. Only by looking back on it do I notice I could do less and achieve less and output less because I put worse crap into my system than I normally would.

So all in all it's a self perpetuating situation of energy and economics and I do not envy anyone trapped in it. I wish I was in a position in my life to help others with this and go in and help individuals or groups get the process running right and efficiently and economically - where you leave them ultimately with more time and money and well being and energy for relatively less input overall.

Thelonious Monk · 09-09-2022 11:46am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119594656#Comment_119594656

You can buy a reasonably healthy meal for a couple of Euro that can be thrown together in minutes if you were tight on funds

freshpopcorn · 09-09-2022 11:52am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119594591#Comment_119594591

From my understand this thread is about How often do you get a take away.

It's not one for people looking for money saving advice or healthy eating tips.

09-09-2022 11:58am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119594726#Comment_119594726

I know. And it sounds so easy. But I wonder how much of that is our privilege. As I said above time - money - and the levels of energy we have - when we are poor and in a bad cycle all make what you say a lot harder than you might think for people. So I know you are right. But getting some people from that A to that B is harder than writing it on paper.

When you get in a good cycle however not only is it cheaper but much easier in terms of time and effort too. Especially if you get good at meals that follow into each other.

For a random example any time I am making a Shakshuka for dinner I make pizza dough at the same time.

The next day all I have to do is roll out the pastry - which takes seconds - and splat the left over Shakshuka sauce onto it - which takes seconds. There you have 75% of the work of making a good pizza done in seconds and it'll be healthier and taste much better than any frozen or take out pizza. Minimal effort and minimal cost.

So like you - I know how easy and cheap it can be. You're not wrong! But getting to this point took me time effort money learning and experience. It's a process. And when that process runs smoothly it can be easy to fall into the trap of wondering why everyone isn't doing it the same way. I try to "check my privilege" as the saying goes and not fall into that trap.

Thelonious Monk · 09-09-2022 12:09pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119594761#Comment_119594761

I just want people to reflect on their slovenly habits

Thelonious Monk · 09-09-2022 12:10pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119594790#Comment_119594790

I was thinking more like frozen veg a packet of noodles and a can of tuna, no effort or skill involved and probably costs less than 3 euros

freshpopcorn · 09-09-2022 12:15pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119594846#Comment_119594846

It's sort of hard for people to take you seriously or listen to your advice when you can't answer the question asked.

09-09-2022 12:16pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119594851#Comment_119594851

Again you are not wrong. I guess I have just seen (as I said this is mostly instinct and anecdote) more and watched people suffer and fail to get a good food system going in their lives. I think for many people there is a bigger picture involved. That is one single meal you describe.

Some people depending on life style or family size need to be making 21 to 28 meals a week. Not to mention how fussy kids can be as eaters when one does not have the energy after hours of work and commute to fight with them and give them what you should rather than what they want.

Only so much Tuna one can eat :) Though Tuna Pasta Sweetcorn and mayo did make up 75% of what I ate in my college years :)

BobDole22 · 09-09-2022 12:25pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119594591#Comment_119594591

Sure you could just heat your house with the warm glow of self righteous smugness that you are exuding.

Esse85 · 09-09-2022 12:31pm

Hardly ever, I prefer to eat in somewhere. Do that maybe twice a month.

Thelonious Monk · 09-09-2022 12:34pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119594932#Comment_119594932

I heat it by looking at my beautiful physique in the mirror every time I pass it, gets me all hot and bothered. You too could look like me if you lay off the junk food and exercised all the time, like me, the way I do.

Greyfox · 09-09-2022 5:51pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119594851#Comment_119594851

But that would be bland and tasteless compared to a take away, I'd rather enjoy my life

ballyargus · 09-09-2022 5:54pm

this thread has me craving a fish supper. I would have had one per week until I learned that they pack about 1700 cals, which is not far off a day's eating.

bmc58 · 09-09-2022 5:58pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058262448/how-often-do-you-get-a-takeaway

Once a week for my dinner.McDonalds,Double cheese burger (with extra pickels )and a chicken mayo burger.I make some chips at home to go with them.Does for me.

bmc58 · 09-09-2022 6:01pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119587892#Comment_119587892

Agree.I make a pizza once a fortnight for myself and my wife and its eaten almost straight out of the oven.I'ts nicer than any pizza i ever bought.

SuperBowserWorld · 09-09-2022 6:14pm

Getting chips now.

Had McDonald's on Monday.

This is very unusual for me.

Maybe cause it's wet and cold out.

raxy · 09-09-2022 6:29pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119594537#Comment_119594537

Thats a dangerous statement to make!

Find yourself a can of Surströmming or anduille sausage & come back & let us know if you still think that.

trashcan · 09-09-2022 6:34pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119587892#Comment_119587892

I much prefer to make my own pizza. You can buy good bases in the Supermarket, then jus5 apply tomato sauce and toppings of your choice. I find it far nicer.

PsychoPete · 09-09-2022 6:38pm

I'd have takeaway maybe once or twice a year

McGrath5 · 09-09-2022 6:38pm

Once a month, there is a nice Thai spot a couple of mins from us.

All of those Italian chippers and “Chinese” food places are disgusting and the food is just as offensive, so much easier and cheaper to put together a healthy, tasty meal at home rather than a calorific/ diabetes inducing meal in a brown bag.

Badly Drunk Boy · 09-09-2022 6:46pm

Lately I've been getting a takeaway about once a week, which is too much. Usually Thai or Indian. A few months ago there was only one Indian in my town but now there are three. I was going to order from the newest one tonight because I haven't tried them yet, but seeing that the delivery is €4.50 has put me off.

It's not like I can't afford it but there's something psychological telling me that it's too much for a place that's nearly 2km away, and I'm not cycling to collect it. I think I'll just make my own healthier curry instead. I've a nice bit of fish that I have to use up, so now I just need the energy to get up and make it...

JackieChang · 10-09-2022 1:04am

About once a month, maybe once every 6 weeks. If I'm super hungover I might get a bag of chips somewhere for lunch but I don't really count that as takeaway even though it is.

Potential-Monke · 10-09-2022 7:51am

These days, once or twice a week. Once a week was gospel for about a year, every Friday, pizza n chips. Or chips n battered sausages. But I'd eat a takeaway for every meal if I could. In fact, for about a month I did. 2 to 3 takeaways a day due to pure laziness and borderline depression. Wake up around 11am, Apache was usually a good one for opening at 12. Waste away my life for the afternoon, then either a chinese or chipper for dinner around 6/7pm. Get a kebab meal delivered then around 2/3am. Sleep around 6/7am. Repeat. Very little cannabis use but as it was early days I didn't need much, so was still smoking most days all day/night. Put on quite a bit of weight. Loved every second and would do it again in a heartbeat, but moving into the country from the city basically put a stop to it, and thankfully so.

My problem is, aside from 1 or 2 dishes, I don't like my own cooking. It's not bad, it's just meh, no matter how fancy I try to make it. At the same time, if I make something that simply not going to be healthy in any way, I like it. So can't do that either. Takeaways hit all the right receptors in my mouth and brain, as they're designed to do.

Tom Mann Centuria · 10-09-2022 8:14am

I live 4 miles from the nearest town which has a horrible Chinese, a chip van (which does decent chips) and a pizza place which was rank last time I went in. So we rarely get takeaway as a result.

mcgragger · 10-09-2022 9:55am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119598556#Comment_119598556

How's your weight ?

mcgragger · 10-09-2022 9:59am

I used to get Chinese about 2 or 3 times a month.

The order was the same every time. 2 special curry with fried rice and portion spring roll.

That was €22 delivered one year ago.

The food was good and ingredients good quality.

Now it's €30 delivered. Lots more onion. Way less premium ingredients.

Haven't had it since May and won't bother. For what it is 30 quid is far too much money

We make our own now

Hippodrome Song Owl · 10-09-2022 3:48pm

Excluding being on holidays, probably around 3 times a year. Most likely order Dominos a couple of times, then maybe a bag of chips at the seaside once a year.

If I go on holidays to an Irish or British seaside place, then I may have a few more bags of chips.

I feel huge guilt when I have a takeaway so I could never get into a habit of ordering frequently.

Potential-Monke · 10-09-2022 9:24pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119598892#Comment_119598892

Right now? Good, thank you. Probably the best "shape" I've been in since my teens. Not saying I'm fit, but I'm no longer fat. Benefit of mammy dinners (which I cook, but they're still mammy dinners) and 2 takeaways within delivery reach, only 1 delivers. At the time of the 1 month of takeaways, I was 3.5 stone overweight, which on someone 5'6" is quite a lot! Checking a BMI calculator, I'm about 25.5 now, the .5 over is my stomach. I'll never have a flat stomach as I just like food too much. I'm also quite close to starting back into at-home resistance band training, so BMI goes out the window when muscles start to come into play.

Burkerking is testing me these last few months though, from the previous Cheese Lovers special to the current Texas Bacon Lovers special... them some mighty tasty burgers! And I've developed a love for the Texas Bacon Lovers fries too. Thankfully I only find myself being near a Burgerking once a week.

Ush1 · 10-09-2022 9:58pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119598556#Comment_119598556

Fair play for the honesty but how can you have loved every minute of being clearly depressed?

eggy81 · 10-09-2022 9:59pm

3 times a week on average.

too many I know but it’s just too damn nice.

rarely get chipper. Chinese pizza or Indian here. Or Thai sometimes.

10-09-2022 10:23pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119601297#Comment_119601297

Oh I dunno. Loving food and a good flat stomach are not mutually exclusive. You just have to work harder for it. And be semi selective about the food. Just for example this is a dish I made this week. Four kinds of cheese in it (I added a blue cheese to the base recipe) all melty and hot and a lovely pastry around it:

https://smittenkitchen.com/2010/06/zucchini-and-ricotta-galette/

I love my food more than life itself. But you can do it and keep a body shape. Just needs some work is all :)

Potential-Monke · 10-09-2022 11:01pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119601426#Comment_119601426

Let me clarify, I loved every minute of eating. Not so much the inbetween or the body it gave me. But the eating was awesome. And borderline depressed. Never went fully into it. Managed to keep my mind out of going too deep, but it took a lot of work and sacrifice, which i'm still feeling today and will be for years to come. But my mental health, along with physical, is better for it.

@[Deleted User] I'm too picky to obtain that. Don't like fish, barely eat veg, stick to chicken and beef (mince/burgers) mainly. I just can't develop a taste for healthy food. Plain water gives me indigestion, as does fruit. I genuinely reckon my body is the opposite to most people! Saying that, i'm hitting 40 next year and that's apparantly when it'll all come crashing down.

bb1234567 · 11-09-2022 7:25pm

About once a month but it would have been a lot more than that a few years ago when I didn't know how to cook and hated cooking for that reason. Now I love cooking and it's such a blessing, but I know how hard it is to motivate yourself to do when you dislike the activity. So I feel blessed to have developed an actual love for experimenting with food and recipes.

Irish_rat · 11-09-2022 10:44pm

Twice a year. If we want pizza we'll eat out in a proper Italian pizza with fresh ingredients unlike the dross at domino's. Takeaway pizza is just not good.

Same for Thai or Japanese, well just visit the restaurant and eat out. I'd order a takeaway if I was really badly stuck which is barely ever

Akrasia · 11-09-2022 10:50pm

We never ordered takeaway, but then things changed. Working from home, you'd think this means you can plan meals better, but actually, you finially finish replying to emails at 6pm and it's too late to start cooking dinner.

So we did the 'big pot' thing, where you cook a dinner that lasts 2 or 3 days. that's great except one child 'I don't like spaghetti' doesn't eat the dinner...

It's hard with young kids and 2 working parents. This is new. When I was a kid, most households had 1 parent in full time work.