CNET Survey: Americans Are Dropping $4,300 a Year on Food. Here's How to Stop Wasting Food and Money

We're wasting months of mortgage payments on groceries and takeout. 

CNET's newest survey found that US adults spend nearly $3,000 per year on restaurants and takeout, and an additional $1,500 on groceries that aren't cooked or eaten. That's close to $4,500 down the drain. 

Even with busy schedules and no time to be in the kitchen, we have to eat. CNET's editors and meal kit experts, Anna Gragert and David Watsky, have a time- and money-saving solution: meal kits. The meals have pre-portioned ingredients, a recipe and the promise of quick prep and cook time.

"There is no doubt that grocery prices are disproportionately high, but meal kit costs haven't risen at the same rate, making them more of a budget-friendly option than ever," said Watsky.

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However, that's not persuading most US adults, who are still hesitant due to the high cost and subscription commitment. Here's what the survey findings show us about our meal habits and how experts recommend navigating meal kit barriers. 

US adults spend close to $3,000 a year on restaurants and takeout

Ordering food or dining out is convenient but expensive. The average adult spends $59.19 per week, which adds up to $236.76 per month and a whopping $2,832 a year. Some age groups spend even more.

Millennials spend the most on eating out 

Of all generations surveyed, millennials (born roughly between 1981 and 1996) spend the most on restaurants and takeout. The average millennial spends $86.55 per week on takeout, which comes out to $346.20 per month and $4,154.40 a year. Watsky finds it alarming, but not surprising. 

"Millennials were the first generation to come of age with ordering apps like Seamless and DoorDash, so it's not entirely surprising that some of their eating habits reflect all that choice and easy ordering," he said. 

He added that millennials are also the generation most likely to have young children now, which could explain the lack of time to grocery shop and cook. 

The average US adult wastes $1,500 a year on food that isn't cooked or eaten

The average US adult wastes a significant amount of money on food from the grocery store that never gets used. An average of $31.25 weekly is spent on groceries that aren't cooked or eaten, amounting to $125 per month and $1,500 a year. 

Here's a look at the average amount wasted on grocery shopping per week on food that goes bad or gets thrown away.

Older adults spend less money than the average US adult. For boomers, an estimated $16.82 a week is spent on groceries that aren't cooked or eaten. 

Gragert explained that the age of boomers -- between 61 and 79 years old -- is likely why they spend the least on restaurant and takeout meals and waste less on groceries. 

"If many of them are retired, I could see why they would have more time to cook their meals at home and spend less on eating out," said Gragert. 

Read more: Not All Takeout Containers Are Recyclable. Here Are 7 That Don't Go in the Blue Bin

Meal kits can avoid throwing money and food down the drain

Wasting food and money could be due to conflicts in your schedule, taste preferences or buying more than you need. Even though some food waste might be inevitable, there are ways to lower the amount you're wasting every week while also reducing time spent shopping and cooking. To cut out the grocery store trips and expensive takeout dishes, our experts recommend meal kit services. 

Watsky did the math and found that meal kits are more affordable and resourceful than takeout and are less likely to result in wasted groceries. 

Meal kits are recipes with preportioned ingredients, which you can cook yourself. Another option is a prepared meal delivery service, which provides fully cooked meals that only require reheating. 

Though popular and widespread, meal kits have barriers keeping US adults from purchasing them. Among the top concerns are high cost (61%), subscription commitment (46%), preference to cook their meals (39%) and concerns about freshness and healthiness (16%). 

Over 60% of US adults think meal kits are expensive

For adults who have not used a meal delivery service over the past year, the biggest barrier is the high cost (61%). 

Earlier this summer, Watsky noted how meal kits have gotten comparatively cheaper than when they launched more than a decade ago. Now, some meal kits are on par with what you'd pay at the grocery store for the same ingredients. 

For example, a serving of food from Blue Apron costs $11, compared to $9.75 at the grocery store for the same ingredients. HelloFresh was $9 per serving, compared to $6.55 per serving at the grocery store. Even though it's cheaper than eating out, it might not be as cost-effective as grocery shopping.

You'll need to factor the total weekly cost into your budget. If a meal kit costs $9 per serving for four people, that amounts to $36. Other factors may impact the price, such as the number of meals and recipes you're buying. You'll also potentially have to account for shipping costs per meal delivery and a minimum number of meals, which could make it more costly than a grocery trip. 

"Cooking from scratch is still the cheaper option most of the time, but if you choose a budget-friendly meal kit service such as EveryPlate or Dinnerly, the cost difference is negligible, and you'll save yourself time, energy and stress," said Watsky. "And since meal kits only send you what you need to make the meal -- nothing more -- you're less likely to watch a bag of lettuce or green beans go bad."

There are some ways to cut down on meal kit costs. CNET tracks meal delivery deals monthly, and some meal kits offer discounted costs per serving if you order more, which would be ideal for families or leftovers, said Gragert. Others may offer free or discounted shipping if you meet an order spending amount or are a new customer.

However, a meal kit or prepared meal service can always end up being a waste of money if you don't cook and eat the food. Watsky recommends cooking your meals promptly and cooking seafood meals first. 

Nearly half of US adults don't want a subscription commitment

Close to half (46%) of US adults aren't persuaded to use meal kit services because they don't want to commit to a subscription. You'll usually have to pay for and receive weekly deliveries, though there's some room for flexibility if you need to pause for vacation or change the frequency. 

There's one meal delivery service that's already moving away from subscriptions.  

CNET's best meal kit service is Blue Apron, which recently updated its menu and pricing, but the biggest change was getting rid of its subscription model. Without a required subscription, you may find that you're able to occasionally buy meals in advance to plan what you're eating for the week without a lot of prep time. Blue Apron now has three meal options that cost about $11 per serving and can be customized. 

However, if you like a meal kit delivery service but it has a subscription, make sure you're aware of pausing and cancellation options. 

"Many meal kit services allow customers to pause, edit or cancel their subscription at any time," said Gragert. "Just make sure you pause or cancel your subscription before your next order is set to ship." 

Pausing your subscription is usually free, but review your agreement for any terms that may put limits on your membership. For example, you may have a cap on the number of weeks you can skip or a minimum number of meals you have to commit to before pausing your meal kit delivery service. 

Read more: I Test Meal Kits for a Living. Here Are 7 Mistakes That Could Cost You Money (and Meals!)

More than 1 in 3 US adults wants to prep their meals

Beyond cost and commitment, 39% of US adults don't want to use meal kits because they like preparing their meals. Even though meal kit services have a variety of recipes to choose from, you may be concerned about small portion sizes (13%) or have dietary restrictions (7%). But Watsky pointed out that many meal kits can be altered to meet your needs or tastes. 

Gragert said she doesn't have to limit her creativity in the kitchen with a meal kit. It actually helps. Meal kits allow her to try a new recipe without shopping, prepping ingredients and scrolling through long online recipe pages. 

"Many meal kit recipes are created by actual chefs who also value creativity in the kitchen, and as a vegetarian, I was surprised by how delicious the veggie and plant-based recipes were," said Gragert. "I even saved some of the recipe cards to re-create them myself in the future." 

Do the math before your next grocery trip or takeout order

Trying a meal kit service can come with hesitation for many reasons. But as the old saying goes, don't knock it until you try it, especially if you're tired of spending close to $3,000 a year on takeout or $1,500 on groceries you don't cook or eat. 

Some meal delivery services, like Dinnerly, cost as low as $6 per serving, while CookUnity meals range from $15 to $22 per serving. That may seem expensive at a first glance, but experts recommend doing the math to see what meals are best for your wallet and taste buds. 

"I think meal kits are being overlooked as a potential cost-saving option," said Gragert. "While it isn't fun to sit down and consider how much you're spending on takeout, restaurants and groceries that go to waste, people may find meal kits to be a more affordable option when they compare these costs."

Read more: I Test Meal Kits for a Living. Here Are 7 Mistakes That Could Cost You Money (and Meals!)

Like grocery stores, some meal delivery services may offer deals to save you even more money, like ButcherBox's offer of a free 30-ounce Tomahawk steak this month. 

It's still OK to have a mix of meal options throughout the week, such as a weekly takeout night or breakfast you prep yourself -- together, perhaps, with lunches and dinners from a meal delivery service. As you plan your meals, do the math to make sure it's best for your budget and plan ahead to determine how much time you can commit to the kitchen. 

Methodology 

CNET commissioned YouGov to conduct the survey. All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov. Total sample size was 2,607 adults, of whom 2,172 had not used a meal kit delivery service. Fieldwork was undertaken from July 16-18. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all US adults (aged 18 and older).