How often do you have a take away? Single c... - Healthy Eating

Healthy Eating

62,255 members8,215 posts

How often do you have a take away? Single choice poll

148 Voters
35
None of the above/other please say in comments
30
Less than once a month
30
Special occasions
13
Once or twice a week
13
Once a month
12
Once a week
11
Once every 2 weeks
4
More than twice a week
84 Replies
SpiritoftheFloyd profile image
SpiritoftheFloyd

Absolutely never - have no idea what's in them

MTCee profile image
MTCee in reply toSpiritoftheFloyd

Same.

Nimrod2 profile image
Nimrod2

Never had a takeaway. Do not trust how they are made or the ingredients.

Aprile profile image
Aprile

Never,

Never!

Eryl profile image
Eryl

Only when I'm traveling (which is very rarely) and usually something simple like fish and chips

Snowdrops_17 profile image
Snowdrops_17 in reply toEryl

Love Fish & Chips and Mushy Peas 👌😋

topaz1 profile image
topaz1

Never now! Probably contains all the ingredients I now do not eat.

Aligil profile image
Aligil

We have takeaway rarely, and only ever from one family owned Chinese restaurant. They are so approachable, open and conscientious in making sure our meal is specifically Vegan. I doubt very much if I would order anything elsewhere else. Because of my husband's health we are unable to eat out at restaurants and this is a welcome treat.

Snowdrops_17 profile image
Snowdrops_17 in reply toAligil

That is great Aligil to have such a caring and good takeaway near you! When you have health issues, you cut out takeaways and work out a sensible diet to benefit your health!I work in a restaurant and don't have employee meals! Prefer my own stuff at lunch 😁👌

Aligil profile image
Aligil in reply toSnowdrops_17

Reading the comments here I obviously am very lucky to have such a great place I can buy dinner from.

I should add, as someone else mentioned, it isn't a takeaway establishment, it is a restaurant; so the meals are what you would eat if dining in. My husband and I do both have health concerns which restrict our diet, along with being vegan; but sometimes it is so lovely to have a special treat and know I will not be cooking tonight. :-)

Snowdrops_17; I suspect I would not be as excited and appreciative if it was part of my daily working life too.

Snowdrops_17 profile image
Snowdrops_17 in reply toAligil

Well employee meals are free but it also hinders me to have my lunch break after 5 hours, so alway bring my own food! Much easier for me, and because of heart+vascular desease I prefer to eat my own stuff, no hidden ingredients or extra salt or sugar!

I know some people work crazy hours and find takeaways easier! If you chose healthy ones, okay!

But I still wouldn't like to pay more for my food, as it soon adds up, too expensive! I rather treats myself to clothing, shoes or other health benefits, or what is really desperate needed!👌

Stevetodd1234 profile image
Stevetodd1234

I never buy a takeaway I'm a very good cook and I want to know what is in my food

I never buy takeaways and thought that I’d be the odd one out as they’ve become much more popular over the last year.

HealthiGirl profile image
HealthiGirl

It is really interesting reading these comments. I live in the US and and take away is quite common here and can be quite good... and healthy! Even many of the better restaurants offer it (even before COVID) and you can basically get the same thing for take out that you can dining in -- either to pick up or have delivered. But perhaps I don't understand the question? 😀

in reply toHealthiGirl

Hello HealthiGirl Take aways are popular in the UK and have become more popular since the lockdown, so here's a recent article:bbc.co.uk/news/business-574...

So I thought it would be interesting to see our members choices and opinions.

Subtle_badger profile image
Subtle_badger in reply toHealthiGirl

Many people never or rarely cook in the UK, takeaways and ready-meals are very popular. Ready-meals are like takeaways that you buy from the supermarket. Sort of like TV dinners, but often more like an Indian or Chinese delivery, with rice and several mains and starters all packaged together.

They are less popular amongst the posters here, but if you asked the question elsewhere, you would get some buying it every day and I think most at least once a week.

I've heard you can get healthy takeaway in the US, but not sure what that means. Could you list some places that do healthy takeaways?

Isinatra profile image
Isinatra in reply toSubtle_badger

I found a seafood restaurant that offers take out. I order a salad with grilled shrimp on it.it’s mostly dark leaf lettuce. Otherwise most of the items come with high carb sides. Hush puppies, French fries, sweet cole slaw. And it’s inconvenient because of the wait. Or a breakfast place where I can leave out the carbs has take out. Some well known hamburger joints used to offer a pretty good chicken salad, but I don’t know if they are still offered.

Blueruth profile image
Blueruth in reply toSubtle_badger

Salad takeout places like mad greens. There is a place market something that has full meals you would probably like because they have meat but also veggies and no bread unless you ask. A pizza place which has a ton of veggie toppings no cheese is an option. I liked a Mediterranean place during Covid. Good hummus, fresh, not cooked veggies and sustainable packaging. Wei wei is a fresh Asian restaurant with lots of healthy choices. I bet they come to the UK. Pho everywhere. I can’t believe you don’t have that option. Snooze for breakfast.Note…my state is one or two in low obesity rates. (And yet the in and out burger had hour+ lines when they opened. :)

Just about every takeout will be too much food, salt and dressing unless it is on the side so I wouldn’t make it a daily thing ever. Unfortunately I don’t have much choice where I am but I have found some local places…no takeout though.

Subtle_badger profile image
Subtle_badger in reply toBlueruth

Thanks and Isinatra too.

I think people are comparing food deserts in the UK (with just a Chinese, Indian, chippie and kebab shop) with major coastal cities in USA. There is nothing I could imagine that I can't buy in south west London.

Subtle_badger profile image
Subtle_badger in reply toSubtle_badger

Or possibly a combined indian/chinese/chippy/kebab shop.

Snowdrops_17 profile image
Snowdrops_17 in reply toHealthiGirl

Then you are privileged HealthiGirl as it's nice to have healthy takeaways! But I prefer my own food really! Even supermarkets chicken masala etc are full of sugar and salt 👌

Blueruth profile image
Blueruth in reply toHealthiGirl

Me too. “Fast food” vs takeaway. Even with fast food…chipotle is pretty simple as far as ingredients go. Too much and you can make bad/ not ideal choices but not a mystery. Living in the west Mexican is like Indian in UK :) which, btw, makes ideal takeaway!

Subtle_badger profile image
Subtle_badger

What exactly is a takeaway? I often buy food (typically cheese or charcuterie) while I am out and consume it before I return home - is that a takeaway? Or recently I went a German Doner Kebab and had a Gymbox - but I ate it in, so 🤔 And I went to an event in Kew Gardens, so bought a chicken kebab from a very posh stand, and ate it as a picnic, cross legged on the grass. And there was a wood fired pizza that I would have dined in to have, but the dining room was closed.

None of them feel like takeaway, but I suddenly I am finding the concept very slippery.

Snowdrops_17 profile image
Snowdrops_17 in reply toSubtle_badger

You are eating out half the time! I find eating a good sensible breakfast lunch and dinner keeps me slim and well and fit!!!👌

Subtle_badger profile image
Subtle_badger in reply toSnowdrops_17

What an extraordinary thing to say based on what I have written! This is literally everything I have eaten since 29th February 2020 that could possibly be called a takeaway. The pizza was last October, so nearly a year ago. A total of 3 takeaways in 19 months or once every 6 months.

I eat a lot less often than you do, but I do eat more than 4 times a year.

Edit: actually only one of those could be called a takeaway, so that's only 1 every 2 years on average

Helleborus profile image
Helleborus

Take out fish and chips so we can safely meet up with friends once a month. Otherwise very rarely as you don't know what they put in them.

lgd333 profile image
lgd333

Very seldom... Don't trust what's in them!

Becksagogo profile image
Becksagogo

I had an Indian take away during lock down because a friend turned up unannounced. It was very good but the first and only one for about 4 years!

Snowdrops_17 profile image
Snowdrops_17 in reply toBecksagogo

👌😇

junemc profile image
junemc

I never have a take away. I am coeliac and I am not aware of any gluten free take aways. I also live in the Scottish Highlands and there are no take away outfits anywhere near me.

Snowdrops_17 profile image
Snowdrops_17 in reply tojunemc

Oh that's easy then isn't it junemc, make your own food from scratch like my parents and relatives did! And if you coeliac, then it's tons better! 😁🤗👌

junemc profile image
junemc in reply toSnowdrops_17

I already do. Everything I eat is home cooked and I avoid all processed food. So even if there were to be gluten free take aways I would still avoid them,

lawli56 profile image
lawli56

Never. I haven't come across a takeaway (takeout) that caters for my preferences and specific dietary intolerances so it just isn't worth the risk. Food is no fun if it's going to make you ill afterwards. I prefer to know exactly what is in it and whether it's been contaminated by other foods in the way it's been prepared or stored. Plus as a trained chef I can make whatever I want to my own specs anyway without the fuss. If I'm going to be out all day I just take vegan gluten free meal replacement protein bars, fruit and snacks that I can eat with me.

Snowdrops_17 profile image
Snowdrops_17 in reply tolawli56

Can you recommend some protein bars, or have a recipe to make your own please???🤗

lawli56 profile image
lawli56 in reply toSnowdrops_17

Not really because I don't tend to stick with one brand. I go more by what I want in a bar which is vegan protein, low carb, low sugar, less than 200 calories and at least 15g of protein. Then I'll look to see what I can find on sale. Same with the protein powder. I prefer a mix of soya and pea. My best deal so far was a box of 9 Ridiculous chocolate caramel bars for £6.45 ($8.92) on amazon. They're usually around £21 ($29). They were short date and had to be eaten within a month. Not a problem. I am considering making my own but haven't got around to it yet. Looking for a good recipe.

LottieMW profile image
LottieMW

No more than once a week…but may go for weeks before the next one!

Supernovae profile image
Supernovae

Very very occasionally we buy fish and chips

excel1234 profile image
excel1234

Don't do Takeaways!!!

Deborah1910 profile image
Deborah1910

I reckon once or twice a year and after every one we vow never again lol. I don’t believe there is such a thing as a healthy takeaway anyway!

Simes11 profile image
Simes11 in reply toDeborah1910

“..and after every one we vow never again”..Yep! SAME!! 🤢😆

jpipw profile image
jpipw

Almost never

Dellajean profile image
Dellajean

Takeaway night on pay day! Tradition, fish and chips or chinese, New tex mex place last month! Keeps local small businesses going too...

in reply toDellajean

Usually with us now and then nowadays around pay day time.

Cooper27 profile image
Cooper27Administrator

I'm probably in the region of 6 a year, but I think it rose to one a month over the winter lockdown.

I'm more likely to want to eat in a restaurant, a takeaway is a rare thing we get if the oven is broken or we're going to get home quite late.

Simes11 profile image
Simes11 in reply toCooper27

“..if the oven is broken..” 🤔 Do you think you should invest in a new oven?? 😬😉😁

Cooper27 profile image
Cooper27Administrator in reply toSimes11

We're just unlucky, 2 ovens have broken 3 times in 4 years.

Simes11 profile image
Simes11 in reply toCooper27

Oh no!! 😳 Poor ovens.. 😢😉

in reply toSimes11

Poor you Cooper27 as once is bad enough but twice is bad luck so I'm don't blame you for having a takeaway!

Blueruth profile image
Blueruth in reply toCooper27

Cooper27 i am currently in an Airbnb where the stove is dubious. Actually I turned it on once and can’t since then. This is taco heaven. I hope I can get it to work because I just got a bunch of fresh tacos from the market!

Htims46 profile image
Htims46

Fish and chips from the chippy once in a blue moon, must be over 2 years ago that I had the last one. I like to know where all the ingredients come from, is the kitchen clean. As the public is rarely informed about these things, I don’t bother

Greyone profile image
Greyone

Used To have one after a night out since the 80s. Gave it up like so many youthful follies. Hopefully there are healthy options not involving curry or king prawns !!!

ClareCrip profile image
ClareCrip

I have had one take away since moving here approaching 4 years ago, and only one or two when we lived at our previous address for over 8 years.

Only because we live mile's away from one.

kitchengardener2 profile image
kitchengardener2

Very very rarely for us Jerry, sometimes fish and chips. Over last 18 months we haven't had any at all. Have become quite good at our Fakeaways so doubt we shall ever have Chinese again.

mymmie profile image
mymmie

Very rarely, less than once a year.

secrets22 profile image
secrets22

never ever,unless you count about twice a year buying fish and chips.

Ashka9 profile image
Ashka9

Home delivery

CreativeKnitter profile image
CreativeKnitter

I said special occasions. I have not been in a take away shop since I was a child. On special occasions we go to an Irish fast food restaurant called Supermacs. It must be nearly a year or more since I was last there.

ebonyebene profile image
ebonyebene

These comments are very interesting as people, like myself, assume all take away is bad when in actual fact any cuisine/food can be ordered as a takeaway. I think when it comes to knowing what's in your food, unless you're ultra healthy and avoiding inflammatory oils, foods meant for animals, substitution foods labelled as a healthy alternative, non organic processed foods there's no difference in having a takeaway as the vast majority use cheap harmful ingredients as I most supermarket foods. Now I'm not saying we should never have takeaway because as ultra health as my diet is I'm a sucker for 'dirty food' and I do occasionally indulge but try to compensate for it by taking activated charcoal, apple cider vinegar etc. Seems contradictory but such is life.

Rosepetal60 profile image
Rosepetal60Gluten Free

I chose Special Occasions. Only because we don’t have Takeaways, but would have Chips if we were out for the day late afternoon, passing a Fish & Chip shop. The temptation would be great and it becomes a Special Occasion. Quite rare but all the more Special.

Alb2 profile image
Alb2

I have mixed feelings about them. We nurses were very grateful to receive food from local takeaways/restaurants during the height of the pandemic. For some, working 12 hour shifts, it was the only food they ate all day. Shopping for food around shifts was a nightmare. I don’t think the occasional takeaway would do much harm but obviously not much good on a regular basis.

MadBunny profile image
MadBunny in reply toAlb2

👋👋👋 Yes I agree, occasional wont do much harm . We might have fish n chips maybe once a month as a treat or if I'm having a flare and don't feel up to cooking.

Alb2 profile image
Alb2 in reply toMadBunny

There is a very wonderful fish and chip shop not far from me that sells all kinds of freshly caught fish and cooks it while you watch. It literally goes from sea to shop. Only time I’ve had John Dory and chips!😊

MadBunny profile image
MadBunny in reply toAlb2

That is unusual. Ours is on the outskirts of town so a car ride away , and only sells the ' basic 'stuff. The cod is really nice .

Alb2 profile image
Alb2 in reply toMadBunny

We wait til the tourists have departed to go as it’s so popular. We usually only go once a year so that’s my treat!

Alb2 profile image
Alb2 in reply toMadBunny

I will let you in to a secret. A certain actor whom you are fond of ate there during filming some years back😊

MadBunny profile image
MadBunny in reply toAlb2

I won't comment as I dont want to start going off topic🤗

BTCCET profile image
BTCCET in reply toAlb2

No way JD? Hope he enjoyed a nice piece of cod and French fries😋

HungryHufflepuff profile image
HungryHufflepuffMeal Of The Month

There are no takeaways or restaurants here so I would say never, but when I visit friends (which I haven’t done since early 2019 - an overdue visit was planned for early 2020 but the You Know What happened) we get a takeaway then. So maybe once every 18 months or 2 years on average! 🍱

Imaaan profile image
Imaaan

Takeaway /fast food for me is fries or potato wedges or plantain chips once a month. Most times I go several months without it and then I treat myself.

Molsmum profile image
Molsmum

Very rarely get fish and chips

Fellpony profile image
Fellpony

I don’t do take away meals I live on my own so cook for myself

Fran182716 profile image
Fran182716Prediabetic

I’m not a fan of takeaways, except very occasionally one from a local Indian restaurant. Maybe twice a year. It’s probably a million calories but it’s all fresh cooked with fresh veg.

Simes11 profile image
Simes11

I voted “less than once a month”, which for me actually translates as a Chinese m-a-y-b-e once a year.. & ‘chippies’ (ie Haddock and chips) two/three times a year, if that. 😬

cynthbar profile image
cynthbar

Have parkinsons so find it best not to have them

Rosepetal60 profile image
Rosepetal60Gluten Free

Great Poll Jerry, Thank you. I have enjoyed reading all the replies.

picinisco profile image
picinisco

Never have takeaways....need to know the actual ingredients IN the food I eat!

Blueruth profile image
Blueruth

Really? Never? Not even the local Asian restaurant or pizza or fish and chips?

Blueruth profile image
Blueruth

As for me , maybe once a week when work is intense. I get like one frozen meal every once in a while. I was getting some delivered prepared meals but I was really in a healthy rut and I needed to get myself out. Pet peeve: styrofoam. I get the mom and pops have tiny margins but I think they are overreacting a little. Nothing is worse than ordering a healthy meal and it shows up in styrofoam or single use plastic unnecessarily.

Tibblington profile image
Tibblington

Never, the food at home is so much better.

Freestyle profile image
Freestyle

Never

Lindypop profile image
Lindypop

Depends what you class as a takeaway...if just Chinese, Indian, McDonald's, etc, then not that often, but, since lockdown, most restaurants & pubs, & even small cafés & bistros, etc, in my city have been making what you'd normally (& previously could only) eat in there available for take away. This has proved very popular, but a lot of the food isn't what lots of people think of as'classic' takeaway food.

Lotus-Blossom profile image
Lotus-Blossom

We only have a takeaway on special occasions. We have a very rare chicken and chip supper perhaps every 5 - 6 months but recently I have gone off chicken and chip supper as I find there portions are really big and out of control, which is to much for me. So I stick to my own food where I'm in control of my own portions.

Another great survey to be a part of.

Moderation team

See all
Activity2004 profile image
Activity2004Administrator
Kitten-whiskers profile image
Kitten-whiskersAdministrator
Cooper27 profile image
Cooper27Administrator

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.