Fast Food

Fast food is considered cheap food and, while this may have some substantiation, it is rarely as cheap, or as healthy, as preparing the same items at home.


Let's take the example of a cheeseburger, fries, and soft drink. On average, a meal of this type purchased at a fast food restaurant costs about $5.50. If the same ingredients are purchased in a grocery store and the meal prepared at home, the cost is about $2.00 less, even figuring in the energy costs involved in preparing the food. (Transportation costs between driving to and from the grocery store and the restaurant likely balance each other out.)

Naturally, preparing food from scratch takes longer, but the result generally tastes better, is more economical, and is healthier (the home cook has more control over the ingredients). However, even a hamburger and fries will likely take less than 45 minutes to fully prepare.

Some fast foods do not translate to the home cook quite so easily. Pizza, for example, is time consuming (the dough must rise) and difficult to reproduce (high oven temperature and proper pans). However, tacos, hamburgers, baked potatoes, and pasta dishes can be prepared at home for less money than needed to purchase these meals.

Cooking at home has advantages in addition to the economic ones. Children in the household may show interest in cooking, more food variety is available, and families eat together without the distraction of background noise, other conversations, and the temptation to purchase other food items.