By blog team member, Kiran. To learn more about Kiran, check out our team page or her blog!
I recently had the chance to hear one of my idols, Mark Bittman, speak at a conference that I was attending. I’ve always been a big fan, and I love his recipes. I find them to be completely doable, and they have minimal ingredients – both wins in my book.
I am also fond of some of the articles I’ve read in his column for The New York Times. So when I heard that he was one of the speakers, I was giddy, to say the least.
Though I loved his whole talk, a few points stuck with me. One of them was the fact that he had researched it and found that it is actually cheaper for families to cook at home than it is for them to buy dinner at McDonald’s. I missed his article on this one, but hearing him mention it certainly got me thinking.
Like many others, I have always been under the assumption that fast food is cheaper than home cooked meals. I’ve figured that was part of the excuse for why so many people buy fast food. Seems logical, right? I decided to put his theory to the test, and I have findings below to support his theory.
Though I’m fortunate to live in an area with a slew of grocery stores around – everything from Bi-Lo to Fresh Market to Food Lion to Whole Foods – I realize that these are not as accessible to everyone. And I wanted to be sensitive to budgets of all levels, so I headed to the one store that most people have access to – Walmart.
Before I share my findings below, I need to preface with a few things:
- Not everything is organic because it is not always feasible for everyone.
- There is not meat in every meal. Budget-wise, this makes sense and it’s also actually a good choice health-wise.
- Everything may not be non-GMO. It is what it is, so please save your comments regarding GMO’s. Let’s first focus on getting people to cook at home.
- There are no directions for cooking below. I’ll include links to recipes when available, but eggs for dinner could mean scrambled, poached, or fried. You do what works for your family.
- The meals should provide ample food for a family of four. If your family size differs, obviously you’d need to make adjustments (as you would when buying a fast food meal).
- I am assuming that you have a few basics on hand such as oil, butter, salt, and pepper. The total costs provided do not include the price of those pantry items. If you have to purchase these, the cost would obviously be slightly higher. All of the meals require oil or butter, so you could essentially use this as a meal plan for a week. Purchase two sticks of butter (for $1.99) and split the cost evenly across all five meals.
Spaghetti and Meat Sauce with Spinach on the Side
A staple, for sure. This is such a good go-to meal for when you either don’t have much time or don’t feel like spending hours in the kitchen. And it’s also fairly economical – bonus!
Items to Purchase:
- Whole wheat noodles – $1.24
- Marinara sauce – $1.95
- 1 pound ground beef – $4.37
- Organic spinach (with optional oil/balsamic vinegar as dressing) – $2.98
Pantry Items:
- Oil or butter to brown ground beef
Total Cost: $10.54
Note: 2 pounds of ground beef was $8.74. Purchase this to get the lower cost and use 1 pound in your Spaghetti, and also 1 pound in your Taco Salad (below) – hence the $4.37 per pound rate.
Breakfast for Dinner
I don’t know about you, but I’ve never had a complaint about this type of dinner! Once again, it’s economical, and my kids love it. Get creative with your eggs and try poaching or simply fry them.
Cube the potatoes and sauté them with a little oil, salt, and pepper for some yummy home fries. Or shred them and make hash browns. If your budget allows, you may be able to add a little cheese into the potatoes and/or eggs.
Items to Purchase:
- 1 dozen eggs $4.48
- 1 melon $1.98
- 2 pounds potatoes $2.97
Pantry Items:
- Butter to cook eggs and potatoes
Total Cost: $9.43
Simple Stir Fry
Stir Fry is another great go-to meal. It’s so versatile, and you can add in random vegetables if you have them. I priced a frozen version of vegetables, which is rather large. Between the large quantity of rice and vegetables here, you should definitely have enough for two meals (or some to take for lunch, etc.)
Items to Purchase:
- Frozen vegetables – $5.98 for a 58 ounce bag
- Brown rice – $0.82 for a 1 pound bag
- Chicken tenderloins – $6.80 (1.24 pounds – use less to cut down on cost)
- Soy sauce – $2.12 for a 15-ounce bottle
Pantry Items:
- Oil or butter to cook chicken
Total Cost: $15.72
Slow Cooker Black Bean Soup with Carrots and Celery
Don’t let the dried beans scare you. This Slow Cooker Black Bean Soup is simple to prepare and a winner with most. To beef this meal up a bit, feel free to add in some nut butter with the celery sticks (if budget and allergies allow).
Items to Purchase:
- Carrots – $1.48 (a few used in soup)
- Celery – $2.24 (2 stalks used in soup)
- 2 cloves garlic – $0.98 for 2 heads
- 1 medium onion – $0.44
- 1 pound uncooked black beans – $1.48
- 1 cup salsa (I even found organic!) – $0.99
(Cost of the jar is $1.98. Use half in this recipe and half in the Taco Salad below.) - 4 cups vegetable broth (found organic) – $0.99
- Also need – 2 cups water
Pantry Items:
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1/2 tablespoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon oregano
Total Cost: $8.60
Taco Salad (based on this recipe)
Taco Salad is another winner in our house. I rarely get push back when this one’s on the menu. It’s so versatile that you can add/subtract ingredients as you please.
Items to Purchase:
- 1 package green lettuce – (organic!) $3.58
- 1/2 onion – $0.44 for a whole onion
- 1/2 cup black, kidney, or pinto beans – $0.72 for the can
- 1 pound ground beef – $4.37
- 4 ounces cheddar cheese – $2.48 for 8 ounces
- 2 tomatoes – $1.98
- 1/2 jar salsa – $0.99
- Tortilla chips for topping/etc. – $2.00 (for the bag)
Pantry Items:
- 3/4 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon oregano
Total Cost: $16.56*
*Note: The cost of this meal includes a full package of lettuce, a whole can of beans, and 8 ounces of cheese. Only half that much is used in the recipe. If you use the other half in other meals, the cost would technically be $11.35 for this meal.
McDonald’s Meal for Four (for comparison sake!)
Now for the eye opener. I priced out a meal at McDonald’s for four people. I chose “meals” since you would not have to include additional drinks, And no, I was not even opting for the “healthier” menu items, which actually may increase the overall price.
- Big Mac Extra Value Meal – $5.69
- Bacon and Cheese Quarter Pounder Meal – $5.79
- 4-Piece Chicken Nugget Meal – $3.19
- 6-Piece Chicken Nugget Meal – $3.99
Total Cost for McDonald’s Meal: $18.66
So there you have it. You could have one or the other, and I hope you agree your health is worth the extra effort to spend a little time preparing a simple meal. Which would you choose?!
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This is so helpful since I’ve been contemplating lately about my shopping trip for the next days. It gives me idea what to buy or what to eat especially when I want to save money too. McDonald’s meals are always expensive in my opinion, plus they’re like plastic after eating, sometimes I feel bloated, other times my stomach feels empty as if I didn’t eat anything.
Every time this is re-posted I think about how tone deaf it is. While we don’t eat fast food, I like your suggestions, and I don’t think you need to spend a fortune to eat real food I think you miss multiple points about why people who are poor often mostly eat fast food. If you’re going to McDonalds because you think you can’t afford anything else, you’re certainly not getting the food you listed. Don’t they have a dollar menu? Cheeseburgers for a dollar or a little more? So you could likely get a family of four enough calories to sustain them for the night for less than $10. And another major issue are food deserts. If you have no grocery store in your vicinity, no transportation, and only expensive (mostly nutrient deficient) food from a ‘corner store’ then fast food starts to look appealing. Like others have said, if you can afford a $20 fast food meal, then price is not the issue, convenience is.
So many things are so overpriced in this article.. When I’m going to McDonald’s, I’m not paying $20. I’m paying $5 for a couple big Macs or quarter pounders (always some promo going). Most of this stuff comes in bundle deals or sales. $14 for 2 big Macs, 2 medium fries, and a 20 PC nugget. Add a drink and use the $3 off $15. $12 and some change.
Ground beef is about $2.50 a pound at Walmart/Smith’s if you buy the 5 lbs thing. Chicken thighs/legs at the grocery store go on sale for 60-70 cents a pound. Leg quarters are about 60 cents a pound all the time and cutting them up yourself takes no time. Pork loin is about a buck a lbs on sale often. I put 33 lbs of chicken, ground beef, and pork in my fridge for about $30. That will last me most of the month, if not all. $10 for 20 lbs of rice. 4 jars of sauce, onions, and pasta for less than $10. Yeah, I could buy organic spinach or whatever, but $3 for 1 side for 1 night or $10 for sides for the month..
Some people never had to stretch a buck and it shows.
Eggs $4.48 a dozen wow Aldi has them for .99 cents a dozen
It’s most likely the difference between cage-free/organic vs. not, but yes, you can definitely find eggs much cheaper! – Nicole
But now ad the cost of the energy used to cook the meals, and the cost to clean up after the meals. Is it still the same??
No, but now the cost of Mcdonalds is more. I eat fast food twice a week and pick cheap items but I would say that eating an egg sandwich and a banana at home would still be cheaper and better for me. We all make our own choices and food quality in at home cooking will always be better than McDonalds or Taco Bell both of which I enjoy from time to time.
When my kids were younger and involved in a lot of activities I have to admit as a family we did a lot of drive thru meals because it was faster and easier but it was adding up very quickly! Once I divorced this was no longer an option for us and I must admit I was in a panic on how I would get everyone fed and be in two places at one time. Once I “figured out” a game plan I was amazed at how much better we ate and felt and how much money was saved! My kids are now grown adults and I have my daughter and son-in-law staying with me for a bit while they are in search of a home to purchase, and have found that I can feed 3 adults for a week with balanced meals for around $50 (my son and fiancé also come to dinner once a week). Shop the sales and buy vegetables/fruit that is in season and you can not fail!
WAIT 65 meals for $50.00 and well balanced?
That’s what I was thinking! I can’t feed a family of 2 adults & 3 young children for less than $100/week. It’s simply not possible. In fact, I spend far more than that because we can’t eat bean soup & tuna sandwiches every meal. We eat at home so much that we need some variety (which is also healthier than repetitive meals). We eat 3 meals/day, 7 days/week at home nearly every week, which adds up quickly. The only snack food I buy is Larabars (in bulk off Amazon). No ice cream, no chips, no cookies or cakes.. We eat dessert once/week & I make it from scratch using natural ingredients & sweeteners (maple syrup, dates, honey, agave, etc – $$$$$!!) We are 100% whole food eaters (at home) but we do occasionally go out & then we eat processed foods (because it’s unavoidable). I buy organic produce on the Dirty Dozen list & the occasional org chicken or org grass-fed beef, but everything else is conventional. It has to be.. I spend a fortune on food. My motto has always been “Obesity is cheap.” And, unfortunately, an “appropriate human diet” is the new “extreme diet” with an extreme price tag, attainable only by the wealthy. It’s discouraging that I can’t feed my family untouched/uncontaminated/unprocessed foods for LESS than I can feed them stuff that’s been filled with other stuff & had more stuff done to it. The price of a bag of cacao nibs & a bag of store-brand chocolate chips is simply not comparable. It’s no wonder why our country is in such poor overall health. Sorry for the tirade, but it’s an obvious problem.
There’s not much cheaper than adding a can of tuna to a box of mac and cheese–organic, if preferred–and opening a can of organic green beans or peas and carrots. It’s not perfect by any means, but it’s cheap, it’s nourishing and it’s faster than getting in the car and driving to the nearest McD’s. That said, when my kids were growing up, sometimes we got pizza, Chinese or fast food just to keep the kitchen clean that night because of exhaustion. Most of us do it every now and then. Earth will keep turning, as the author pointed out, moderation is always the key to success in anything.
i wish ground beef was that cheap per pound but it is not here. some of these meals wouldnt feed my family, eggs potatoes and melon for dinner would simply not be enough. I enjoy reading the tips you provide but sometimes even though we dont really do a lot of fast food it would be cheaper for us. Ground beef here is up wards of 7 per pound and if we can ge to commissary it would be a little cheaper. But not having meat in our dinner every night is not an option either.
Not having meat is always an option. As for ground beef, if beef is pricey, choose an alternate meat like pork, chicken or turkey. Also mushrooms fried in Worcestershire sauce are a good substitute for meat. During lean times it was cheaper to buy a pound of mushrooms than a pound of meat. I would be saving on average $7 – 8 by using mushrooms instead.
you should try Zaycon Fresh for your meats, the prices are unbeatable! I just learned about them not to long ago on Noreens Kitchen on youtube. so far i have purchased their sausage links and hotdogs, both were of excellent quality and priced well below the stores.
Do you use many organic foods? I agree that it is more cost effective to cook at home organic or not. Just wanted to know your take.
Yes; we always recommend organic ingredients when feasible.
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