Striking a balance between eating in and dining out

ALTHOUGH “There’s nothing like eating at home” ( The Star, June 25), many working people may have little choice but to eat out. If their house is far from their workplace, going home for lunch and then driving back to the office would be very tedious.

A lot of time would be wasted due to traffic jams and the trip back and forth would also incur extra expenses in fuel. In addition, lunchtime isn’t very long.

We must also not forget that there are many working people who cannot make it home in time for dinner. For those who are single, eating out or buying packed food is the preferred alternative.

In families, both husband and wife may be working, or the spouse may not be able to cook well. In such a situation, the family may have to eat out more often than having their meals at home.

There’s no doubt that eating out would not be so healthy if the food consumed contains excessive spices or is prepared with inferior or poor quality raw materials that have not been cleaned properly. Due to unhygienic practices in the food outlet’s kitchen, many customers may end up paying expensively for tasty food – and probably medical bills too.

Eating out is costly as well. Although our financial resources are very limited, my wife and I have been practising this manner of eating in and dining out all these years.

We maintain a somewhat holistic balance by having breakfast at home (hot drinks plus bread), lunch in a restaurant where the food is affordable, and eating in for dinner prepared by my wife who is a very good cook. We do not have supper as we find it unnecessary and unhealthy.

Eating out also has its good points as we get to enjoy the atmosphere outside while we have our meals, the cook is given time off from the kitchen, and we also provide business to the eateries. K. K. Yong Ipoh