Food: Restaurant Alternatives in the Frozen Food Aisle

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Restaurant Alternatives in the Frozen Food Aisle
Tuesday, September 27, 2005

Preparing meals day in and day out can be a daunting process, so it's easy to see why some people turn to dining out as a way to not have to deal with more cooking. But all of those meals outside the home can really add up. In my search for a solution, I turned to the frozen food aisle at my local grocery store. There I found many choices that allowed me to enjoy some of my restaurant-style favorites for a fraction of the cost.

I've recently discovered that frozen fries from the local grocery store can be just as good for giving me my fry fix as going out to eat. I just bake them up on a cookie sheet in the oven, and in fifteen or twenty minutes, I have my fries. Fries are available in every variety imaginable. There's the standard French fry, steak fries, curly fries, and cross-cut fries available either plain or seasoned. Even if you don't like fries, there are other potato choices available. The same companies that make bags of French fries also make frozen hash browns, seasoned potato chunks and tater tots. You can find baked potato skins, just like the appetizers at your favorite restaurant, but at half the price. Several companies also make loaded baked potatoes and twice-baked potatoes in convenient single-serving sizes. Your potato side dish and appetizer needs are covered.

Speaking of appetizers, my biggest restaurant splurge has always been mozzarella cheese sticks. But since I discovered that they're also available in the freezer case, I rarely order them, and instead enjoy them in the comfort of my own home. This is another food option that will cost half as much as the same thing in a restaurant, or even less if you find a good sale or buy a bulk package. I don't even have to do without my favorite dipping sauces. I just heat up a small cup of marinara spaghetti sauce or pour out a bit of ranch salad dressing.

Frozen pizzas are another old stand-by. While there will always be cheap pizzas that make a decent lunch but don't hold a candle to a delivery pizza, the quality of higher-end frozen pizzas has definitely increased. You may actually find yourself preferring a Freschetta or DiGiorno pizza to one from Domino's. For a little extra flavor, my husband and I will buy a bag of shredded cheese and add an additional layer of cheese on all of our frozen pizzas.

Pastas and garlic bread/breadsticks are another great option that will give you the taste of your favorite Italian restaurant in your own home. Some entrees, like lasagna, are available in family sized packages that come with full serving pans of the food. Other ethnic foods available in the frozen food aisle include Mexican and Chinese. So you can bake up a serving of Sesame Chicken or treat everyone to burritos without having to get take-out.

Of course, these frozen dinners and treats won't you with the healthiest meals, but if they're not eaten to excess, they can make for a break from the usual cooking routine.

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