Just a quick post today because we still have SOOO much left to do to prepare for our Halloween party tonight! Since we are super busy with all of that I decided not to make a production out of dinner last night, and we didn’t have enough leftovers to make a meal. So we ordered some takeout for the first time in (what felt like) years. I actually heard myself explaining to my 5-year-old that “take-out is when you go pick the food up from the restaurant and eat it at home.”
We got the idea from some coupons that my daughter brought home from school. After quickly sifting through the stack I threw away a bunch of discounts to fast food and ice cream places. But, one coupon to a place called “Noodles & Company” stood out to me because I wondered if they had any dishes made with 100% whole grain noodles. I gave them a call and was somewhat surprised (but pleased) to learn that you could substitute whole-wheat linguini in any dish. So we decided to give them a shot. When I went to pick up our order I realized it was not a very formal place, and that it was basically set up like a Moe’s or Qdoba except serving noodles. It didn’t have a drive-thru or anything like that, but I wondered if this was more of a “fast food” type place than I originally 
thought.
I got home and soon after we dug right into our Pad Thai and Curry dishes we were quickly reminded why we never get take-out. The food was just okay and my husband and 3-year-old actually didn’t like it at all. The noodles were whole grain like they said, but the sauces and toppings were probably not made with the freshest of ingredients (my husband claims the sauces tasted like a mix of corn starch and corn syrup, which would make this one of the rare occasions we’ve broken our original rules while on a budget). I must blame our food snobiness (is that a word?) on the fact that we’ve been doing nothing but spoiling ourselves with real, fresh, delicious, and wholesome food ever since we started our first 100-day pledge. I guess some might see it as a downside that the low quality stuff just doesn’t taste good anymore, but we of course would not change a thing (now that we have seen the light)!
With our coupon dinner was only $8.19 so at least it was a small investment to figure out their restaurant wasn’t a good fit for us. Without the coupon it would have been twice as much. So this is where we stand at the close of week 4 with our $20/week eating out budget so far…
- Week 1: Dinner at Earth Fare Kids Night $7.59
- Week 2: A smoothie from Earth Fare while shopping one day $4.68
- Week 3: Noodles & Company $8.19
Amount left in eating out envelope = $59.54 I think I am going to save up so we can enjoy a nice, high quality meal at a local restaurant sometime soon.
I wholly endorse eating whole foods and love the approach you’ve taken here – especially showing how a family can eat real food on a budget. I eat healthy – 5 veggies a day, all whole grains, etc and cook almost all my own meals.
However, I tried Noodles & Co. last night and it was great! I had the Indonesian Peanut Saute. The veggies were fresh, they had appropriate portions (the ‘small’ size was perfect) and the sauce was perfectly spicy without being too sweet.
I do think a lot of fast food isn’t good anymore, but I think you were hasty in condemning Noodles like this. I’ve “seen the light” of healthy eating but still think there’s room for enjoying a meal out of the house.
Maybe things have changed then because this post was written in October 2010.
@Sherry, would you might sharing that sauce recipe?? It sounds great and I am trying to cute out all the processed foods I can!! Thank you!! :)
I love your website and it is so inspiring! I am changing my cupboards!! :) I already get organic eggs, tomatoes (when in season), lettuce (when in season), and am going to start buying organic milk from a local shop that just started selling it :) Thanks for so much inspiration!!!
I find that most of the time we get carry out, I am disgusted that we spent that much money on something that would have tasted better made at home. Cookinglight.com has a number of what they call Superfast recipes, instead of carryout, I have taken to looking for one that can be made in one pan and fixing that for dinner. One pan, wipe off the stove, put four plates, silverware and a chopping board in the dishwasher–faster, cheaper, healthier than carryout and I dont have the aggravation of saying “meh” to what we bought!
Also, a friend in Canada gave me the basic “sauce” recipe for something very similar to Hamburger Helper, and the instructions for making various versions with it, such as Skillet Lasagna, Potato Stroganoff, Cheeseburger Macaroni, and one more I believe. Nothing fake, no science experiments, real ingredients used and the basic sauce mix keeps for weeks and weeks in a covered container in the cupboard. Thats my “go-to” fast food!
I totally agree that a lot of the “convenience” dishes like that can be easily reinvented!
That has happened to me just about every time I get take out instead of just cooking! haha. Even if it’s only 75% as good as what I expected, I feel disappointed!
2 things in this post made me happy: that your daughter didn’t know what take-out is, and that your take-out wasn’t very good. Even more reason for more people to follow your great lead- as a mother and as a person who cares about her health (and your family’s health)! Good for you Lisa!
Thank you Melissa! :)
Isn’t that the truth?!? My 13 year old daughter told me the other day that she “accidentally” got french fries and they tasted like sand. I was on the road WAYYY to long last week and settled for a quick snack at a local fast food joint. It tasted ok at first, but the after taste was that of sour grit. My/our taste buds have definitely changed. Odd, and sometimes annoying…but would never go back!!!
It is amazing to me when I hear of kids experiencing a change in palette as well…unfortunately my kids had a few pieces of their Halloween candy and loved it. I was hoping for the opposite!
I couldn’t agree more with the comment above. My son tried a kool aid “juice box” and immediatly told me it was disgusting and threw it away.Funny how your tastebuds do actually change.Keep doing what your doing, as I have said before you are such an inspiration.
Thank you so much!
I find it shocking to eat out or eat anything not following the real food rules, because it tastes so bad! How did we ever like it? I let my son (2) try a Butterfinger bar and he spit it right out, as did I when I tried it and found it to be gross. I used to like them! Definitely have seen the light!
That certainly makes it easy to get your son to stop eating the junk! Good for you guys.