Modern living is all about convenience. The simpler a process is the more it appeals to our hectic lifestyles. This includes the meals we prepare or buy for ourselves and our families. Unfortunately, this has led to an increase in junk food consumption.
To combat the negative effects of nutrition-less food, many Australians are opting to ditch the take-outs and cook their own meals. Another way is to have the home cooked meals delivered Melbourne residents are relying on for a nutrition boost to their daily menus.
Here’s Why Home Cooked Meals are Best
Whether you’re clearing time on your schedule to cook for your family, or you’re opting for the convenience of a home cooked meal delivery service, the reality is that you and your family will benefit!
If you’re thinking of ordering out tonight, here are a few reasons why you should rather opt for a delivered home cooked option.
1. Nutrition is Maintained
It’s no secret that home cooked meals have more nutritional value than the burgers and chips that are so easy to pick up on your way home. Preparing your own food or ordering a few meals from a local food service is the ideal way to retain as much nutrition as possible.
2. Better Choice of Foods
One of the best ways that home cooked meals benefit your health is that you can choose the types of food you want. For instance, it’s easier to substitute one vegetable for another, or even replace meat with vegan choices. Using a food service also makes it easy for you to get a wide variety of fruits and vegetables without having to prepare or cook them.
3. Easier to Control Allergens
Food allergens are a lot more common these days as a result of the way many fast foods are prepared. Cooking your own meals means you can decide what oils, flavourants and additives are added, reducing the exposure to allergens.
Additionally, food service companies also prepare foods in the most allergen-free way possible. This makes it an excellent way to enjoy a healthy meal without the allergens or the prep time.
4. Bigger Variety
When you’re stopping at the drive-thru on the way home, you often don’t have much choice. While toppings and sauces may differ, the general food is the same. Opting for home cooked meals offers you and your family a larger variety to choose from.
5. Control of Children’s Food Choices
When your weekly meal plan consists of more takeaways than home cooked meals, your children don’t have the opportunity to learn how to make healthy food choices. It’s also harder to have conversations about nutrition that will help them learn good food habits.
When you don’t have the time to cook at home, a food delivery service from which each person can order their own preference—with your guidance—is a good alternative.
6. Better Value for Money
While fast food may be convenient, it can be quite expensive. Especially if you have a large family. And if you consider the nutritional value versus the cost, it really isn’t worth it!
Opting for home cooked options is not only budget-friendly but you can be assured that it’s money well spent. The top ways to make home cooking more cost-effective include the following:
- Shopping for seasonal ingredients.
- Choosing cheaper fruits and vegetables.
- Foods from local farmers’ markets are often cheaper than their store-bought counterparts.
- Ingredients can be refrigerated for use in another meal.
- Casseroles, soups and stews can be prepared in advance, creating meals for a few days whereas most fast food options have to be consumed on the same day.
Modern food delivery services—not the traditional fast food establishment—also use some of these strategies. This helps them provide healthy food at affordable prices.
7. More Control Over Food Hygiene and Safety
Statistics show that an estimated 4.1 million Australians will experience a foodborne illness every year. A large variety of these stem from foods that are bought as takeaways. After all, in most instances, you can’t actually see the state of the kitchen in which your food is being prepared. You also have no way of knowing how fresh the ingredients are that are being used.
Cooking your own food gives you better control over factors such as hygiene and food safety. Food service companies generally use professional chefs who understand the importance of fresh ingredients and clean kitchens. You can also ask about their processes and because they are passionate about expanding their brand and getting good reputations, they’ll be happy to provide feedback.
8. It’s Healthier
We’ve already highlighted the nutritional value of fresh ingredients. However, home cooked meals are also considerably healthier for people trying to control their weight or avoid food-related illnesses such as diabetes, high cholesterol and heart disease.
Moreover, with home cooked options, you can regulate the oil, salt and sugar that’s added to each meal or plate. It’s also easier to substitute spices for healthier herbs, low-fat oils and kinds of milk.
And once again, modern food delivery services tend to provide health options on the menu, as they know how important it has become for modern society.
Final Thoughts
With so many quality food service companies around, there really is no excuse to expose your family to fast food often!
If you don’t think of yourself as a good cook, or your schedule is too hectic, the good news is that you can still provide your family with a home cooked meal every day. All you have to do is look for a food service that has the variety that your family will enjoy!
