I want to stop eating out !!!

On 4/20/2014 gazelle77 said: Gosh, I worked in the restaurant industry for years and the filth and gross things that go on in the kitchen and to the food you eat would turn your stomach if you only knew. I will not eat out knowing what I know! I have not eaten out for at least 20 years...I love eating healthy food I make at home, and save lots of money!

I know this has to be so true. It only makes sense, restaurants hire just about anybody. When I was younger we rarely ate out, and my Mom said sit with your back to the kitchen.

My husband wanted to eat out at least 4 times a week. Nothing could change his mind. I brought my own salad dressing, and ordered something broiled.

It's easy in our house. My dh doesn't like to eat out. His idea of eating out is swinging through a burger place and bringing something home. Personally, I like to eat out, so I go out to lunch with my girlfriends to get my fix.

Our local college did a report on the area restaurants (including chain restaurants) and posted many of their health inspection reports. Once I took a look at the reports, that was all it took. Rodent feces in the ceiling, raw meat juices dripping onto lettuce and then being served, not cleaning cutting boards and more...

We eat at home most of the time and rarely go out to eat anymore. We will only go to a few select places.

It is much healthier to eat at home. You know what is in your food.

"they hire just about anybody"....really? Hope you don't have that attitude towards your server or bartender! I can about imagine what has done to your food! LOL!!!!!!! Just sayin!
And yes, it's easy. Just don't do it! We don't enjoy going out to eat so it's a very very rare occasion that we do. Have to take us kickin and screamin! I get a lot of gift cards and give them away to family members that do enjoy going out to eat.

On 4/20/2014 gazelle77 said: Gosh, I worked in the restaurant industry for years and the filth and gross things that go on in the kitchen and to the food you eat would turn your stomach if you only knew. I will not eat out knowing what I know! I have not eaten out for at least 20 years...I love eating healthy food I make at home, and save lots of money!

I worked in the restaurant industry for years, and while there are poorly managed, unsanitary restaurants, there are even more that have ServSafe certified managers and run professional kitchens.

As far as breaking the eating out habit - learn to cook! There are many wonderful cookbooks out there, and limitless websites. Try Epicurious, David Lebovitz, or a subscription to Cooks Illustrated. There are many simple nutritious meals that can be made, and served for 2-3 meals. One of my favorites is a simple roast chicken. Throw some onion, carrot and celery in the roasting pan. After it's cooked, remove the meat from the bones, put the bones and contents of the roasting pan in a pot, add cold water and some herbs and simmer for a couple of hours to make stock. This can be used for soups or sauces. I like to strain, reduce by half and freeze in ice cube trays, to have the concentrate on hand for sauces.

If there are particular ethnic cuisines you enjoy, stock your pantry with ingredients from that country (i.e: Italian, canned tomatoes, roasted peppers, olives, EV olive oil, good parmesan, garlic, pastas, dried porcini, etc.) This makes it so easy to throw a good meal together.