Eating Cheap Doesn’t Have to Be Fast

My husband, kids, and I like to travel, and we like to eat well when we travel. We’re willing to pay for good food, but it’s possible to eat well and not pay a fortune for it, which is good if we’re all traveling together. Even if we go to a fast-food restaurant, unless we just want something off their dollar menus, the average cost of the meal, per person, is $8-9. Since we don’t consider fast food “eating well,” here are some other places you can go that aren’t fast-food restaurants, and they won’t break your bank.

1. Cheddars – You can get a variety of foods at Cheddars. They have a long list of appetizers. Two of my favorites are their Texas Cheese Fries and the Onion Rings. You can get pasta dishes, sandwiches, cheeseburgers, and salads. Most of these choices are less than $8. Add your drink, and you can have a meal for $10-11.

2. Five Guys – If you want something besides a hamburger and French fries, go somewhere else, but if you’re in the mood for a great hamburger and fries, go to Five Guys. The hamburgers at Five Guys are made fresh and put those of fast-food restaurants to shame. You can add a variety of toppings to your burger, and you can get your fries regular or with Cajun seasoning. Again, you can get your total meal for about $10-11.

3. Johnny Carino’s – Here you can get a variety of Italian dishes, and if you go during their lunch hours, you can get an entree with a soup or salad for $7.95. They have a rather large selection of menu items available for this great lunch price. I’m particularly happy because my favorite dish, bowtie festival, is available, and the lunch portion is just the right size that I can finish it all without having to get a to-go box. And, once again, even with your drink added in, you have a meal for abour $10-11.

There’s nothing wrong with having fast food every once in a while. But if I’m given the choice, when I consider I’m only going to be paying another $2-3 for my meal and will be able to enjoy much better food, then I’m going to go to one of the three restaurants listed above. And if anybody has other choices where I could get a meal for around $10-11, please share with me. I’d love to give them a try.

Add a Little Spice to Your Life

Here are a few things I recommend you try and/or check out, if you haven’t already.

1. Cherry 7-Up. I actually prefer Diet Cherry 7-Up, but that’s just because in general I prefer diet drinks. Whether you decide to go with the original or the diet version, you will enjoy this drink. I like Cherry Coke as well, but the taste of Cherry 7-Up is a lot cleaner.

2. Gone with the Wind. You might suspect that given my penchant for reading that I would recommend only the book, but I actually recommend both the book and the movie. Yes, the book is better than the movie, but that’s mainly because the movie had to cut so much from the book, and it’s still 238 minutes long (on the restored DVD version, according to IMDB). While the movie does cut a lot from the book, it remains true to the character development and basic plot, which is rare but nice. If you want the full story, read the book; if you want the abbreviated story, watch the movie. If you want the best of both worlds, read the book and watch the movie. Many of you have heard of Scarlett and Rhett, but you don’t know the whole story; check it out and meet two of the most selfish characters in literary history.

3. Criminal Minds. I’ll confess I haven’t watched it from the beginning, and I’ve mainly been catching reruns on ION television, but I’m hooked. I’ll also confess that I prefer the episodes with Rossi over those with Gideon, and I like Emily Prentiss better than Elle Greenaway. The concept of a Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) is very intriguing, and if nothing else, you should gain an appreciation for the people who do those kinds of jobs every day. And besides, could a show with Shemar Moore be bad?

4. Cooking. That doesn’t sound like such a huge leap as many of you are already cooking every day. However, why not try something new? Be good to your taste buds. Find new recipes and try them out. I suggest trying to make a dish similar to Johnny Carino’s Bowtie Festival. Obviously, that’s my favorite Carino’s dish, but it’s even better when my husband cooks it. I’ll be glad to share the recipe; just send me a message. Even if you’re not a pasta person (though I cannot figure out why some people don’t like pasta), find another recipe, one you might not normally prepare, and give it a shot.

5. Bungee Jumping. If you know me at all, you’re asking yourself right now why in the world I have bungee jumping on the list. The answer is simple: I’m just seeing if you’re paying attention. I don’t recommend bungee jumping to anybody. I see no reason to jump off a perfectly good bridge (or out of a perfectly good airplane). But even though bungee jumping isn’t my thing, I can recommend that you find something that’s a little “out there” and give it a try. Don’t be stupid about it. Use your head, and be smart. But there’s nothing wrong with every once in a while doing something a little out of character. It’ll keep your friends and family guessing.