Takeaway vs meal prep.

Takeaway vs meal prep calculator compares annual food costs. 4 takeaways/week × 15 = 3,120/year vs 30/week meal prep = 1,560/year = 1,560 annual savings. Significant cost reduction. Plus health benefits (controlled portions, fresh ingredients). Trade-off: 2-3 hours/week meal prep time.

Example: 4 takeaways/week × 15 each = 60/week × 52 weeks = 3,120/year. Replace with meal prep: 30/week groceries for 4 main meals = 1,560/year. Savings 1,560/year (50% reduction). Plus control of ingredients, portions, healthier eating. Time investment: 2-3 hours Sunday batch cooking.

Meal prep value beyond cost: (1) Health (control sodium, fat, portions). (2) Diet adherence (prep removes weak-moment temptation). (3) Time (no decision fatigue weeknights). (4) Variety (planned meals more diverse than habitual takeaway). (5) Stress reduction (no daily cooking decisions). Best meal prep approach: Sunday 2-3 hour batch cook 4-5 meals × portions for 4-5 days. Store in glass containers. Vary weekly to avoid boredom. Many apps (Mealime, Eat This Much) generate meal prep plans automatically.

Run it with sensible defaults

Using takeaways per week of 4, cost per takeaway of 15, weekly meal prep cost of 30, the calculation works out to 1,560.00. Nudge the inputs toward your own situation and the output recalculates instantly. The defaults are meant as a starting point, not a recommendation.

The levers in this calculation

The inputs — Takeaways per Week, Cost per Takeaway, and Weekly Meal Prep Cost — do not pull with equal force. Two inputs usually tip the answer one way or the other. Identify which ones matter most by flipping each value past a round threshold and watching whether the winning option changes.

How the math works

Annual savings = (takeaway weekly cost - meal prep weekly cost) × 52. The working is transparent — you can verify every step yourself in the formula section below. No black box, no opaque "proprietary model".

Why see the number at all

Small recurring spending is invisible by design — every individual transaction is forgettable. Compounded over years, the total often surprises. Seeing the figure doesn't mean you typically need to cut the spending; it just makes the trade-off conscious.

What this doesn't capture

The tool prices the money; it can't weigh the enjoyment. A coffee habit, gym membership, or streaming bundle might cost what the math says but deliver value that's harder to quantify. Use the number to make the trade-off visible — the decision is yours.