Cooking at Home vs. Eating OutThe Fiscal Times took a (virtual) trip to some large restaurant chains and compared the prices of meals there to the costs of preparing the same meals at home. Admittedly, our methodology was highly unscientific. We didn’t go hunting for the best deals we could find on groceries. We also didn’t factor in whether one meal or another would be healthier. But that’s part of the point: Finding the savings that could be had by comparison shopping comes with a time trade-off that many families can’t afford to make these days. The comparisons that follow at least offer some food for thought.

OutBack Steakhouse10oz Ribeye Dinner(includes soup, salad and asparagus)Total Price: $17.99

$20.5

WINNER: OUTBACK Grocery store items were calculated using prices at Fresh Direct. Ribeyeprices were calculated using a 10 oz. cut of meat.

Olive GardenSeafood Alfredo (unlimited salad and breadsticks)Total Price: $15.50

Grocery storeFresh Shrimp: $5.33; Scallops: $3.99; Pasta: $1.99; Bag Salad: $3.99; Breadsticks: $3.99Total: $19.29

WINNER: Olive GardenGrocery store items were calculated using prices at Fresh Direct. Seafood estimates based on 1/3 pound of shrimp and 1/3 pound of scallops.

Red Lobster10 piece Garlic-Grilled Jumbo Shrimp (served with broccoli, mashed potatoes, salad, pilaf rice)Total Price: $18.99

Grocery store Jumbo Shrimp (10 pcs): $7.99; Boxed Wild Rice: $2.79; Mashed Potatoes: $2.99; Broccoli: $2.99 Total: $17.76

WINNER: Eat at Home ( barely)Grocery store items were calculated using prices at Fresh Direct. Seafood estimates based on 1/2 lb of shrimp. Mashed Potatoes sold as finished dish at Fresh Direct.

P.F. Chang'sBeef and Broccoli (includes white rice)Total Price: $12.75

Grocery store Flank Steak: $9.79; Broccoli: $2.99; Rice: $2.79Total: $13.04

WINNER: P.F. ChangsGrocery store items were calculated using prices at Fresh Direct. Beef price based on a 7 oz. portion of flank steak.

The Cheesecake FactoryLemon Roasted Herb Chicken(half) (served with mashed potatoes and carrots)Total Price: $16.95

Grocery storeFresh Organic 1/2 Chicken: $9.18; Potatoes: $2.99; Carrots: $2.99Total: $15.16

WINNER: Cooking at HomeGrocery store items were calculated using prices at Fresh Direct. 1/2 chicken price calculated using half of a full chicken price.

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