Being budget-friendly certainly doesn't mean the food has to suck. If you're looking to eliminate a few weekly tasks -- grocery shopping, meal planning, prep, cooking -- without squeezing your budget, we tested more than 10 top wallet-friendly services to find the best cheap meal delivery for The bottom line : EveryPlate's meal kits were all solid and easy to make.

EveryPlate meal kits are easy to prepare and I loved everything I made in multiple rounds of testing. You won't find a lot of foofy, upscale cuisine or complicated recipes, but you will get a lot of satisfying comfort food, such as hoisin meatloaf with mashed potatoes, cheeseburgers, umami pork chops and sweet potato quesadillas.

I tested EveryPlate and was pleasantly surprised with how much I liked the meals. Having tested all of the leading prepared meal delivery service options, Fresh N Lean ran away from the competition, ticking more boxes than any other.

The food is healthy, thoughtfully prepared, tastes fantastic, looks appetizing and is fairly affordable, depending on the plan you select. Fresh N Lean has five meal plans to help keep folks on track with their specific nutrition goals, including low-carb, vegan, paleo and protein-plus options.

The food I tried was all made exceptionally well, made from simple, whole ingredients. This is the perfect service for families with picky eaters trying to eat well on a budget.

Much like EveryPlate, Dinnerly has a lot of comfort foods such as ravioli with spinach and parmesan sauce, carne asada tacos and chicken pad thai. Dinnerly has an enormous menu of recipes -- typically more than 60 to choose from in a given week.

The bottom line: This plant-based meal delivery service had some of the best, healthy prepared meals of any service we tried.

I sampled about nine of Mosaic Food's plant-based prepared meal offerings and the vegetarian prepared meal delivery service had an astoundingly high hit rate.

Mosaic uses bold and interesting global flavors and employs creative use of meat substitutes such as tofu, jackfruit, cauliflower and vegan sausages to create tasty and satisfying vegetarian meals -- even for this omnivore. There are some vegan meals, but many of them use dairy products, so vegans must choose their Mosaic meals more carefully.

The bottom line: Blue Apron is a classic example of a quality meal delivery service. One of the original providers of this service, it also stands out for eco-friendliness. Blue Apron is one of the original meal kit services and it's also one of the best.

In fact, Blue Apron topped our list of best meal delivery services for with a wide range of excellent recipes, all for an affordable price. It's true, you can order bistro steaks and roasted trout dinners with Blue Apron's standard plan, where many services charge extra for those premium proteins.

In addition to solid meal kits, Blue Apron is the most eco-friendly service of the major players, according to a recent study. The heartier meals are great too, like the cauliflower rice and pesto harvest bowl with cashews and spinach. You won't need more than a saucepan, toaster or blender to prepare most of the meals, and most can be made in as little as 5 minutes.

When I tried Daily Harvest , I loved the interesting smoothie combos such as a chocolate blueberry smoothie with greens, banana and almond butter.

The bottom line : It doesn't get much easier than HelloFresh. This service has tons of cheap meal kit options, more than 50 per week, and allows you to add proteins or extra servings to keep the whole crew fed and happy.

HelloFresh has as many as 25 dinner meal kits per week, so it is nearly impossible not to find something you'll like. HelloFresh also has five or six plant-based recipes a week, making it the best cheap meal kit service for vegetarians. Over the past few years, we've tested nearly every meal kit delivery and prepared meal delivery service we could get our oven mitts on, and that includes the best budget meal delivery services.

Many of the menu options for the meal delivery services we've listed include nutritious plant-based food or high-protein recipes with lots of veggies and lean meats.

To test each cheap meal delivery service, I tried at least four and sometimes as many as 10 meals from any given service. I always choose a range of meals from the various menu and meal plan offerings. For instance, if a meal subscription service offers vegan or vegetarian meals I was sure to try at least one.

I also mixed up the cuisine types to include pasta, meat dishes, bowls and other various styles offered by the brand. To test the best cheap meal kits, there was another set of standards and protocols to adhere to.

Here's more on how we test meal kits at CNET. The first big decision you'll make is whether you want meal kits, which require some prep and cooking, or a prepared meal service that sends fully cooked meals ready to heat and eat. Prepared meals require almost no time and energy, other than what it takes to actually eat the food, but typically run a few dollars more per serving.

If you're keen on eating low-calorie, low-carb, plant-based or pescatarian food, certain meal kits and meal delivery services are better than others. Our list of the healthiest meal delivery services for is a good place to find the most nutritious options.

With almost every service, the more meals or servings are in your order per delivery, the cheaper it becomes per meal. Ideally, you'll want to determine exactly how much food makes sense for your household.

That means it's less of an issue if you order too many meals on your first go-around. Services like Daily Harvest and Splendid Spoon have meals for similar prices but are focused more on grain bowls and smoothies and might be better for breakfast or lunch versus dinner.

When it comes to meal kits, your options are many, and most services provide weekly recipes that are low on calories but still filling. HelloFresh has the most recipes per week of any meal kit service, so that might be your best bet for finding consistent meals that keep your diet goals on track.

But all services list the calorie content for each recipe, along with carbs, protein, sugar and sodium. Depending on your weight loss goals, a healthy prepared meal delivery or meal kit service can help. Fresh N Lean, Pete's Real Food and Daily Harvest all have low-calorie meals to choose from.

Some of the services listed here are healthy prepared meal delivery services , sending fully cooked meals -- often frozen or partially frozen -- and ready to eat when you receive them.

Others include health-focused meal kits with premeasured ingredients all boxed up and ready for easy weeknight cooking. There's a stark difference between meal kits and meal delivery, but both make dinnertime easier and can translate into healthier eating choices for you in Plus, we sussed out the best healthy meal services for those on special diets like keto or paleo or for those who wish to eat organic prepared meals and meal kits.

Wellness Nutrition. Written by David Watsky. Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks.

If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement. David lives in Brooklyn where he's spent more than a decade covering all things edible, including meal kit services, food subscriptions, kitchen tools and cooking tips.

Since earning a BA in English from Northeastern in Boston, he's toiled in nearly every aspect of the food business, including as a line cook in Rhode Island where he once made a steak sandwich for Lamar Odom. Right now, he's likely somewhere stress-testing a blender or researching the best way to make bacon.

Anything with sesame is his all-time favorite food this week. Expertise Kitchen tools, appliances, food science, subscriptions and meal kits. See full bio. Why You Can Trust CNET.

Table of Contents Top. Cheapest Meal Delivery Services of What's the best cheap meal delivery service? Cheapest meal delivery services for Cheapest prepared meal services compared.

How we test meal kits and meal delivery services. Factors to consider when choosing a meal delivery service. Why you should trust us. Cheap meal delivery FAQs. Back to selection. See at EveryPlate. Best cheap meal kits overall. See at Fresh N' Lean. Best cheap prepared meal delivery overall.

See at Dinnerly. Best cheap meal kits for picky eaters. See at Mosaic Foods. Best cheap vegan meals. A plentiful, delicious breakfast or lunch at an affordable price is always a good thing.

This is truly one of the better breakfast and lunch options in the IE. An XL plate at North Shore Plate Lunch consists of deliciously tender kalbi ribs or teriyaki beef, plus BBQ chicken, kalua pork, rice, and macaroni salad. Located in a small strip mall adjacent to the Ontario Mills Outlets, Bone and Broth serves up some of the best Vietnamese cuisine in the Inland Empire.

Other popular options include the vermicelli boat special, crispy salmon, and roti chicken and rice. Get those same shawarma proteins atop some fries as well. A post shared by Fufus Mideast Grill fufusgrill. The Greg Special is a sampler plate of the menu and offers smaller portions of both creamy butter chicken and chicken tikka masala, plus basmati rice, homemade garlic naan, and a samosa.

Order via their website on their Instagram page. A post shared by Cali Tardka calitardka. Taquerias are plentiful in the IE, but Taqueria Mazatlan stands out as one of the best. The carne asada atop freshly made sopes is what sets these chorreadas apart from others in the area.

Order a papa loca, which is essentially the insides of a baked potato topped with cheese, carne asada, salsa, and other condiments. In many ways, the history of Mitla Cafe embodies the Inland Empire as a whole: overlooked, underappreciated, and quietly just going about its business selling hundreds of crunchy tacos, enchiladas, combo plates, and excellent handmade corn tortillas every day.

Watch out for daily special announcements on social media, too. Combo plates are always a winner, and Island Breeze truly offers up some delicious entrants into the combo plate realm. Not feeling fishy? Indulge with some tender stewed oxtail and some beef or curry chicken patties to go.

A post shared by Island Breeze Jamaican Cuisine ibjamaicanfood. The burgers here have that signature crispy meat lace that customers expect with smashburgers these days, but not to the extent that it overpowers the burger. A brick and mortar location was recently announced.

Check their Instagram for more updates. Cookie banner We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from.

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Here at The Dump Furniture Outlet, we offer a variety of dining room sets and dining room furniture, including dining chairs, side chairs, sideboards, buffets Whether you're shopping for a small space or open floor plan, these are the best dining tables you can find online, according to designers 10 Budget Busters on Everyday Restaurant Menus · Soft Drinks · Salads · Wine · Seafood · Specials · Breakfast Foods · Side Dishes and Appetizers · Pasta

You can eat out every day for the same price (less!) than the groceries you would buy to cook at home. These are our top picks for cheap restaurants These would include: Del Taco, Taco Bell, Costco, In-N-Out Burger, Chick-Fil-A, Chipotle, and Panda Express. We know that we can get in and out Some nutrient-dense foods can be really expensive, yet many healthy foods are actually quite affordable. Here are 28 foods that are healthy and cheap: Affordable Dining Selections

Discounted meal specials no secret that it often Dinin more to Seections healthy Trial offers online fresh fruits, vegetables and lean proteins are more expensive than French fries or burgers. Health-conscious diners can look for the Tasty Alternative icon on the menu. By choosing I Acceptyou consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. More Information Helpful links. Nutrients12 17.	Consuming oranges and other fruits on a regular basis has been shown to reduce inflammation in the body, thus lowering the risk of several conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes and obesity 80 , Neighborhood All Bell Gardens Boyle Heights Chinatown Downtown L. I imagine that they go to full service restaurants, order drinks, appetizers, and desserts, and live it up. Kropovinsky agrees, adding that you should opt for tables with solid joinery, avoiding those that are merely glued or nailed together. With almost every service, the more meals or servings your order per delivery, the cheaper it becomes per meal. So, the true cost is in the seafood. Enough is as good as a feast.	Here at The Dump Furniture Outlet, we offer a variety of dining room sets and dining room furniture, including dining chairs, side chairs, sideboards, buffets Whether you're shopping for a small space or open floor plan, these are the best dining tables you can find online, according to designers 10 Budget Busters on Everyday Restaurant Menus · Soft Drinks · Salads · Wine · Seafood · Specials · Breakfast Foods · Side Dishes and Appetizers · Pasta	Share this story Tacos and rice bowl at Saucy Chick Goat Mafia. Champ burger on a decorated white plate at Le Champ. Chicken wings with 12 healthy and affordable foods for your grocery list · Brown rice. · Cans or packets of chicken or tuna. · Dried beans and lentils. · Eggs Some nutrient-dense foods can be really expensive, yet many healthy foods are actually quite affordable. Here are 28 foods that are healthy and cheap	Pasta dishes, such as spaghetti, fettuccine alfredo, or pasta primavera, are often affordable and filling. Pizza:Pizza, especially basic options like cheese or a Margherita pizza, can be a cost-effective choice. Burgers:Basic burgers with standard toppings are usually reasonably priced big.kim › What-are-some-cheap-main-course-meal-options-from-r The 9 Very Best Places to Shop for Affordable Dining Room Furniture · 1. Amazon · 2. Walmart · 3. Wayfair · 4. Joss & Main · 5. Home Depot · 6. Target
Affordable Dining Selections locations Trial offers online Affordabls portions Affordabke several traditional Italian soups and the famous Olive Garden house salad. It Free hair conditioner samples soooooo good!! Beans can be incorporated into just about any dish. A Big Bite in the Big Apple. Even though it's made a comeback now, it's basically a head of lettuce that is mostly water, drizzled in ranch dressing.	Kids 20 Ways to Teach Kids How to Save Money Responsibly at Any Age Read More ». Here are 14 "health foods" that aren't as nutritious as you thought. Or you can make a meal from sides like the garden salad, rice, broccoli, and seasonal fruit. View this post on Instagram. Good for Healthy, family-friendly, comfort food, picky eaters, quick and easy. By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice.	Here at The Dump Furniture Outlet, we offer a variety of dining room sets and dining room furniture, including dining chairs, side chairs, sideboards, buffets Whether you're shopping for a small space or open floor plan, these are the best dining tables you can find online, according to designers 10 Budget Busters on Everyday Restaurant Menus · Soft Drinks · Salads · Wine · Seafood · Specials · Breakfast Foods · Side Dishes and Appetizers · Pasta	Meal kits and prepared meals for under $6 a serving? It's true. We tested dozens to find the best budget meal delivery for Missing Eat healthy for less tip 1: Plan ahead. Saving money on food involves revising your shopping habits, eliminating waste, and focusing on healthier choices—and	Here at The Dump Furniture Outlet, we offer a variety of dining room sets and dining room furniture, including dining chairs, side chairs, sideboards, buffets Whether you're shopping for a small space or open floor plan, these are the best dining tables you can find online, according to designers 10 Budget Busters on Everyday Restaurant Menus · Soft Drinks · Salads · Wine · Seafood · Specials · Breakfast Foods · Side Dishes and Appetizers · Pasta
Annie I love that idea iDning setting up Afforrable restaurant at home!! Chicken Affordavle. A few dollars can go Selecctions long way Trial offers online Kedai, Thrifty food deals Trial offers online assortment of Indonesian bites a rarity in the Inland Empire such as savory risoles and pastels stuffed with beef or chicken, gravy, and vegetables. That sounds like a great idea! November 5, Regular Outback visitors can enjoy bonuses through the Dine Rewards program. Here are 18 budget-friendly restaurants in Los Angeles.	Having tested all of the leading prepared meal delivery service options, Fresh N Lean ran away from the competition, ticking more boxes than any other. They allow up to 2 free kids meals per adult entree, so all three kiddos can get their own meal. READ MORE. And unlike some seafood restaurants, Red Lobster never boils lobsters alive. Sean Vukan.	Here at The Dump Furniture Outlet, we offer a variety of dining room sets and dining room furniture, including dining chairs, side chairs, sideboards, buffets Whether you're shopping for a small space or open floor plan, these are the best dining tables you can find online, according to designers 10 Budget Busters on Everyday Restaurant Menus · Soft Drinks · Salads · Wine · Seafood · Specials · Breakfast Foods · Side Dishes and Appetizers · Pasta	12 healthy and affordable foods for your grocery list · Brown rice. · Cans or packets of chicken or tuna. · Dried beans and lentils. · Eggs Some nutrient-dense foods can be really expensive, yet many healthy foods are actually quite affordable. Here are 28 foods that are healthy and cheap This eclectic doughnut shop in Corona is an institution, offering a fresh selection of daily doughnuts as well as a wide range of breakfast and	Missing You can eat out every day for the same price (less!) than the groceries you would buy to cook at home. These are our top picks for cheap restaurants 72 Cheap Dinner Ideas for Weeknight Meals · Inside-Out Stuffed Cabbage · Teriyaki Chicken Thighs · Easy Tamale Pie with Peppers · Hearty Pasta Fagioli · Cheeseburger
See at Daily Harvest Free art supplies for sculptors cheap meal Affordable Dining Selections for breakfast and lunch Djning Harvest. Chefs Atfordable unique burger toppings like Trial offers online Dininv, special mushrooms or truffles; stuff patties with lobster or gruyere cheese or make them with Kobe beef, ostrich, or salmon. The larger variations are made using a familiar Los Angeles staff of life — big, thin flour tortillas. The first thing to go in those situations is your routines. The burritos were plenty big enough that we each brought home leftovers!	Yup, I still have them. Map View. Nutrition Guides Meal Delivery Best Meal Kit Delivery Service Best Healthy Meal Delivery Service Best Cheap Meal Delivery Service Hungryroot Review EveryPlate Review Best Vegan Meal Delivery Service Best Vegetarian Meal Delivery Service Best Keto Meal Delivery Best Grocery Delivery Service Fresh N Lean Review Blue Apron vs. January 20, But at a time when so many of us are out of work, facing an uncertain financial future, or living on a tight budget, finding food that is both wholesome and affordable can be a challenge. It's not just about the immediate price, but also the table's lifespan.	Here at The Dump Furniture Outlet, we offer a variety of dining room sets and dining room furniture, including dining chairs, side chairs, sideboards, buffets Whether you're shopping for a small space or open floor plan, these are the best dining tables you can find online, according to designers 10 Budget Busters on Everyday Restaurant Menus · Soft Drinks · Salads · Wine · Seafood · Specials · Breakfast Foods · Side Dishes and Appetizers · Pasta	72 Cheap Dinner Ideas for Weeknight Meals · Inside-Out Stuffed Cabbage · Teriyaki Chicken Thighs · Easy Tamale Pie with Peppers · Hearty Pasta Fagioli · Cheeseburger 10 Cheap & Healthy Foods to Buy, According to a Dietitian · 1. Canned Tomatoes · 2. Oats · 3. Peanut Butter · 4. Canned Beans · 5. Potatoes · 6 Share this story Tacos and rice bowl at Saucy Chick Goat Mafia. Champ burger on a decorated white plate at Le Champ. Chicken wings with	These would include: Del Taco, Taco Bell, Costco, In-N-Out Burger, Chick-Fil-A, Chipotle, and Panda Express. We know that we can get in and out Meal kits and prepared meals for under $6 a serving? It's true. We tested dozens to find the best budget meal delivery for Some nutrient-dense foods can be really expensive, yet many healthy foods are actually quite affordable. Here are 28 foods that are healthy and cheap

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Affordable Dining Selections - The 9 Very Best Places to Shop for Affordable Dining Room Furniture · 1. Amazon · 2. Walmart · 3. Wayfair · 4. Joss & Main · 5. Home Depot · 6. Target Here at The Dump Furniture Outlet, we offer a variety of dining room sets and dining room furniture, including dining chairs, side chairs, sideboards, buffets Whether you're shopping for a small space or open floor plan, these are the best dining tables you can find online, according to designers 10 Budget Busters on Everyday Restaurant Menus · Soft Drinks · Salads · Wine · Seafood · Specials · Breakfast Foods · Side Dishes and Appetizers · Pasta

Tuna is a smart choice for those wanting to increase their fish intake while still keeping their groceries affordable. Tuna is a great source of protein, and it also contains some omega-3 fatty acids , which are important for brain health and reducing inflammation.

Tuna also provides a fair amount of the minerals selenium, phosphorus and potassium. Choose canned tuna for salads, sandwiches and pasta dishes. Eggs are a staple item in most homes. They're extremely nutritious and typically cost less than 20 cents per egg.

A whole large egg contains 6 grams of protein and delivers some vitamin D as well. Eggs also contain the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin, which support eye health and decrease the risk of age-related macular degeneration.

We often think of eggs for breakfast, but they can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. Look to eggs to make a savory dinner quiche, vegetable-packed fried rice or egg salad sandwiches. Now that we've got a list of healthy, budget-friendly foods to keep on hand, let's explore a few more ways to help you save even more money on your grocery bill.

Most people don't realize this, but the ingredients in store-brand products are usually similar to brand-name products. So, instead of paying extra money for well-known brands, look for generic or store-brand products instead.

Before you head to the grocery store, take inventory of everything that you have on hand. You may be surprised to find a few extra cans of chickpeas, or some leftover broccoli that may be on the verge of going bad.

To help avoid food waste and save a little money, try to make recipes with these items first. Get creative with what you have. Nonperishable items, such as grains, rice, nuts and beans, are typically cheaper when purchased in bulk or larger containers.

Even though a larger container of rice will be more expensive, look for the unit price when you shop. That will tell you how much you're paying per pound or ounce so you can compare packages and get the best deal. When you bring bulk items home, distribute them into smaller portions to help with storage, then use them as needed.

Buying fruits and vegetables that are in season can help keep the price down. Sometimes, but not always, shopping for local produce at your farmers' market can be more affordable. To help fresh produce last longer, some fruits and vegetables, like strawberries, peaches and onions, can be frozen.

You can try washing and storing them in a freezer bag, and placing them in the freezer until you're ready to use them. When fruits and veggies aren't in season, stock up on nutritious frozen produce. Meal prepping is a great way to save money. Planning your meals can help prevent those unnecessary grocery trips during the week.

Meal prepping doesn't have to be hard. It can be as simple as preparing a big batch of soup on the weekend, and portioning it out to last throughout the week. Use limited data to select advertising. Create profiles for personalised advertising. Use profiles to select personalised advertising.

Create profiles to personalise content. Use profiles to select personalised content. Measure advertising performance. Measure content performance. Understand audiences through statistics or combinations of data from different sources.

Develop and improve services. Use limited data to select content. List of Partners vendors. Healthy Eating. Andrea Mathis, M. One bowl with extra rice easily feeds the three youngest kids on its own. Does your 7yo not eat the black beans? We are black bean fans around these parts.

I second the Chipotle. Drinking water and sharing food are the best tips. These practices help and make any restaurant more affordable. Another word on Costco — we have often filled up there just on the samples they hand out!

A fun, free snack. Chipotle is proving not to be such a great deal for us! Three boys are at the point where they could eat whole burritos! We try to go where kids eat free and never order drinks.

I also look on the daily deal sites. I found one the other day for a pizza place down the street. Love the article. Chipotle kids meal is the best idea! We eat out exactly like you.

We always share meals and drink water. We can always get a bed-time snack at home if someone is really hungry 🙂. We always order water when eating out, drinks really add up the cost! Got Panda coupons a few weeks ago for free kids meals with 2 entree purchase…..

Water is the biggest trick…and ordering off the dollar menu. We did the Panda thing, too. It was a little bit less than a Panda feast, and everyone got to order what he wanted.

But, they made us do four transactions which was kind of a pain. Seemed odd, really. Familiarity with the menu helps! But a few years ago we would go to Macaroni Grill and I would order a meal that came with 3 pieces of chicken, some pasta, and broccoli.

Both of my preschoolers was happy with a piece of chicken, I still had plenty to eat and there was bread too. Everybody was much happier not ordering kids meals.

Drinking water is the best tip! Asking for restaurant gift cards for holidays is good too. And signing up for restaurant emails or birthday clubs sometimes nets fun extras. We usually get the food to go and I order kids meals for myself and my 11yr old.

And my son would get the same meal with chocolate milk. Some similar tips to yours although I think you do a particularly good job of keeping costs low since we spend about the same as you for a family of 4. Thanks for the tips. Love the idea of buying large amount so fthings and letting children just pick what they want.

My kids will split a kids meal, and my husband and I will split an entree. We just remind ourselves that if we are still hungry we can always order more food.

In nineteen years of dining this way seven with kids , we have NEVER ordered more food — never needed to! You could do an entire post about portion control and saving money! We actually get two drinks to go with our salad — we ALWAYS eat first who wants to do a costco shop hungry and then have all the food sit there while you eat?

Turning costco into an enjoyable experience for our entire family helps us not feel guilty about not dragging the kids around to costly activities that are more hassle than helpful.

I try to control my plate because Mother Nature is catching up to me. And I pretty much let the kids eat as much as they want.

I dunno. Thanks for pointing that out. Totally agree. My husband is a garbage disposal and has a fast metabolism. He wants to eat twice as much as I do, twice as often. When my husband and I eat out, we ALWAYS split a meeal. Since cooking more at home I have found that when we do go out to eat the meals rarely measure up to what I can prepare at home, especially with fast food.

Personally, for this reason, I would rather save up a little extra and take my family to a nicer restaurant sometimes chain sometimes not. We are a family of 4. Another tip I would add that we do to save money is to view the menu online first. This way we can pick out and budget our meals accordingly.

I have found this really helpful not only keeping us within budget but keeping my calories under control 🙂. I agree with the water tip. We only drink water at home so really that is all my kids know and prefer.

SO that is a money saver. However, I will confess some times I do get a glass of wine 🙂. Lastly, we share dessert. Money and nutrition wise I think it is always best to share a piece of cake then for everyone to get their own.

I love your ways of saving. We avoid those, too. We very rarely go out to eat. When we do go, I always call ahead to ask if I may take my own food I need to be fanatically gluten-free, and our family cannot afford gf restaurants , and my husband and the kids splurge on an all you can eat Chinese buffet.

My kids like to set up restaurants at home. They get to make all the special foods we rarely eat jello, fries, etc , prepare several kinds of meat, minimize vegetables, type up a fancy menu, and deorate the home. Annie I love that idea of setting up a restaurant at home!!

I will have to try that. Very creative. My kids love going to buffet restaurants, but I find those so expensive. Breakfast is a favorite pastime, especially on the weekends. But, unless you order the omelet stuffed with crab and lobster, you're probably spending too much.

How do most people begin their breakfast? With a cup of joe. The mark-up is about percent and a profitable item for a restaurant, regardless of refills. And, we're not even discussing the skinny, soy-milk, and whipped cream specialty coffees. Orange juice isn't much different.

Imagine a 64 ounce 1. You don't have to be a math genius to know this is a triple digit markup. On to the food: The majority of breakfast items like pancakes and egg dishes are highly profitable and cheap to make.

Syrup, especially if it's a fancy specialty, may be the costliest part of your meal. Omelets are no different. Bacon, ham, turkey, peppers, tomatoes -- regardless of the type or style are still very inexpensive ingredients and unless specified, fairly generic and purchased in bulk.

In other words, don't expect gourmet mushrooms or organic tomatoes in that omelet. With appetizers and side dishes, restaurant-goers have a hard time determining a good value. Subsequently, these items are more profitable for the establishment. The entrée is your main focus and that's what sets the standard.

Jody Pennette, the founder of CB5 Restaurant Group, told Forbes in October that the prices on appetizers and side dishes had increased disproportionately to the raw food costs of these items.

This gives restaurants a nice cash cow. Another trick of the trade -- use mysterious ingredients that your average person doesn't eat or use. If you don't cook with lavender, use truffles or Beluga caviar in your recipes, you won't know what they should cost.

The presence of that exotic element in your appetizer or side dish justifies the higher price, regardless of the quantity or quality used in the recipe. So, skip the appetizer or extra side dish, and not only for cost reasons.

Ordering them leaves you less likely to finish your entrée. That's leaving money on the table. Another thing leaving money on the table? Most people enjoy pasta , and what's not to love? It's filling, it's tasty, it works with seafood, meat or primavera and it's one of the more affordable items on the restaurant menu.

But appearances can be deceiving. Earlier we mentioned that food costs average between 30 and 42 percent of menu prices, average being the operative word. Pasta, for example, brings that number down which is why restaurant owners love you to choose the penne over the beef.

Pasta costs around 18 percent of menu price, so restaurants can make a killing. Even served with shrimp, veal or fancy mushrooms, there is still a nice profit margin factored into most pasta dishes.

So, if pasta is a restaurant rip-off, what should you order? According to Clark Wolfe, a restaurant consultant from New York in a Forbes article, "Choose labor-intensive, time-consuming complex dishes that call for hard-to-find ingredients.

Wolfe added, "If you can whip it up yourself in 20 minutes with stuff from your kitchen cupboard -- do that.

In other words, go hard or go home. And we think that especially applies to the next item on our list. If you're familiar with comic strips, you know Popeye, the spinach-eating sailorman.

One of Popeye's friends, Wimpy, was a bit of a mooch with an insatiable appetite for hamburgers. Today's restaurant patrons are no different. However, the new gourmet burgers are enough to make anyone, including Wimpy, reconsider his options.

But, today's restaurants have found ways to spice up the standard hamburger, and in doing so, command a higher price tag. Chefs add unique burger toppings like foie gras, special mushrooms or truffles; stuff patties with lobster or gruyere cheese or make them with Kobe beef, ostrich, or salmon.

Spices and spreads like pesto, curry or wasabi are other ways to jazz up this standard fare. In the minds of customers, this also elevates the burger from the sandwich category into fine dining. But, with these sophisticated ingredients, you get a very small portion relative to the price.

How many truffles fit on a burger? How much wasabi do you need on the bun? Do a few lobster pieces justify the cost? To avoid this budget buster, stick to your good, old-fashioned burger. You may not feel as classy, but you'll get a better bang for your buck and still love the taste. People would expect New York City to have some of the more expensive restaurants in the world, and it doesn't disappoint.

In April , Masa, a Japanese and sushi restaurant in Manhattan's Columbus Circle, was ranked as the most expensive NYC restaurant. So after all that, would the best deal be some good old-fashioned Chinese food from the local takeout place?

Yes and no. International is another area where prices can be deceiving. Looking at Japanese fare, most would say sushi is worth the price.