Experts emphasize that while ready-made meals offer convenience and save time in today's conditions, they can lead to chronic diseases such as obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes. Nutrition and Dietetics specialist Nurseda Hatunoğlu warned, “One of the most fundamental differences between cooking at home and eating out is better food hygiene. In situations where hygiene cannot be ensured, food can become contaminated for various reasons, leading to food poisoning.”
Nurseda Hatunoğlu, Lecturer at Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, evaluated the effects of constantly eating out, both economically and in terms of health.
Hatunoğlu, a nutrition and diet specialist, noted the increasing habit of eating out today, stating, “The developing food industry and changes in lifestyle and socio-cultural structure lead individuals to benefit more from mass catering services and to an increase in the consumption of ready-made or semi-prepared foods. Our current environment provides easy access to readily available, very cheap, delicious, and high-energy foods.”
Eating out usually involves high-calorie, processed, and fatty foods
Hatunoğlu emphasized that, apart from genetic and hormonal factors, the most significant environmental factor causing obesity is eating habits, saying, “Therefore, constantly eating out is not suitable for maintaining proper eating behavior. Eating out often involves high-calorie, processed, and fatty fast food or restaurant meals. Excessive consumption of such foods can lead to chronic diseases like obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes. However, eating out can positively impact a healthy diet if healthy food choices are made. A healthy diet can be maintained even when eating out by choosing the right restaurant, controlling portions, and avoiding processed foods, excessive salt, and sugar. This way, individuals will both control their appetite and feel good socially.”
Ready-made meals can cause long-term health problems
Hatunoğlu pointed out that while ready-made meals offer convenience and save time in today's conditions, they can have unhealthy nutritional content, explaining that these foods can contain high amounts of additives, fat, salt, and sugar, and their long-term consumption can lead to various health problems.
Hatunoğlu, noting that most restaurant menus include healthy and balanced meal options, continued:
“However, no matter how healthy a meal is, it can lead to high calorie intake if portion control is not observed. Therefore, making conscious and balanced choices in both ready-made and restaurant meals is crucial for health. If proper preparation, storage, and cooking methods are not used, there can be a loss of nutrient content. Additionally, when methods like frying are used, harmful substances emerge. Processed foods also have less nutritional value.
Difficulties can be experienced in regulating appetite control
Hatunoğlu stated that eating out can meet a person's daily nutritional needs when correct choices are made, and attention is paid to portion control and food variety, adding, “Therefore, choosing restaurants with menus that include healthy meals is important. However, if the daily balance of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats is not established, individuals may experience difficulties in regulating their appetite control.”
Healthy eating is possible even when eating out, if the right choices are made
Hatunoğlu also noted that it is possible to choose a healthy meal when eating out, explaining that by examining restaurant menus, one can opt for salads prepared with fresh vegetables rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals, grilled or steamed meat and vegetable dishes, and soups.
Nurseda Hatunoğlu emphasized that while eating out can be an option to meet nutritional needs if balanced and healthy choices are made, preparing food at home takes precedence in preserving nutrient content and fostering healthy eating habits.
Cooking at home can be turned into an enjoyable activity
Hatunoğlu, stating that one of the most fundamental differences between cooking at home and eating out is better food hygiene, concluded by discussing the benefits of home cooking:
“In situations where hygiene cannot be ensured, food can become contaminated for various reasons, leading to food poisoning. In places where mass catering is provided, nutrient losses are greater during the preparation and storage of food. Moreover, cooking at home also offers a cost advantage. To encourage home cooking; it can be transformed into an enjoyable and practical activity rather than being seen as a chore. Weekly meal planning can be done by doing weekly grocery shopping. Delicious, budget-friendly, and practical recipes can be created. Frozen products without food additives can be preferred. Vegetables, especially greens, can be washed, dried, and stored in advance.”