Have the stuff in the house, KNOW what you are going to eat and skip the darn drive-thru! Of course, if you don’t have one of the items, your up front cost to purchase a spice or condiment you don’t have will be more than what is calculated. Sign of the times: Consumer behaviorists find that ânaturalnessâ impacts the success of new products to the food market. Just 8 minutes with some broth or water in the Instant Pot and you’ll be ready to shred. Learn about our Clean Plate Club and see if it’s for you. I won’t pretend that it’s always, or even often, “easier” AND cheaper to cook at home. I’ll be starting my first real job soon so I’m setting up a list of monthly expenses. Organic spinach (with optional oil/balsamic vinegar as dressing) – $2.98, Frozen vegetables – $5.98 for a 58 ounce bag, Chicken tenderloins – $6.80 (1.24 pounds – use less to cut down on cost), 1 cup salsa (I even found organic!) We're a nonprofit (so it's tax-deductible), and reader support makes up about two-thirds of our budget. By signing up, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of use, and to receive messages from Mother Jones and our partners. And if you can beat the lowest common denominator in fast food, you can easily beat the price point of most anything else you would eat out. The app connects you to your closest store, so these prices may vary based on your area (as do the grocery prices). Interest in it is growing, but probably not fast enough. DISCLAIMER: This article may contain affiliate links and we may earn a small commission if you purchase through one of our affiliate links. You could save significantly by making your rice in a rice cooker, Instant Pot, or on the stove (RECIPE HERE). Copyright © 2020 Mother Jones and the Foundation for National Progress. That’s the message of Slow Food USA’s ongoing $5 Challenge, and of a recent column by New York Times recipe wizard/food politics columnist Mark Bittman. For pricing, I used the carrot fries as a pairing rather than the veggies shown in the picture. In other words, you could definitely save even more on many of these meals. So, I hopped on the McDonald’s app (yes, I now have that app on my phone), made up a meal for 4, and then went to my local Safeway to check prices on ingredients. Yet that bargain seems deeply problematic. For vegetable and pasta-based meals, frankly, it’s really cheap to make them at home while meal kits still charge a lot for them. you say. For making burgers, especially if grilling them, you don’t want the cheapest meat unless you want a very dry burger. Also, the store bought Tzatziki sauce is usually not too hard to find without sugar and junk ingredients but make sure you watch the ingredients closely. This entrée typically costs about $13 at a restaurant. Using the global grocery list and other online sources, I obtained some prices for the materials you would need to construct 16 such cheeseburgers. Best, Will Multiple Credit The Times calculated the cost of its $14 chicken dinner by summing the price of the individual ingredients: a $6 raw whole chicken, $3 worth of potatoes, a nickel for salt and pepper, etc. I missed his article on this one, but hearing him mention it certainly got me thinking. Yes, because you may have leftovers, which you usually don't have with drive through places.