Notwithstanding, I prefer home-cooked meals to those from restaurants for a few reasons below:
The outcome of a meal to be served can be enticing, especially when professionally served, yet bear lots of germs and infectious organisms, which can be attributed to a poor hygienic preparatory environment. The worst of these scenarios are the local food joints, where food is prepared for lower-class individuals. I had a gastrointestinal tract infection some weeks ago, and the only attribute I could find was eating out at a local food spot. Some of these local food spots can be tempting, especially when their meals, like pounded yam, are soul-lifting. Only the meals we prepare ourselves can give us assurance and high confidence in their environmental hygiene.
Patronizing food vendors leaves one at their mercy; it is what they deem good that gets prepared. Someone like me does not like peppery meals, and this is something I inquire about when I visit restaurants before making my order. There are also special individuals that require special meals, such as low-salt or spiced meals, probably because of a health condition. In such instances, it will be difficult to have control over the meal compositions.
Straight up, while sweating over that hot wheat or pounded yam, I can even pull my shirt off and enjoy the breeze of the fan to counter the energy expended in consuming the meal. Generally, I feel more comfortable eating at home than in an environment with many people. Naturally, I am a slow eater, and I would not like to be rushed when eating.
There is a popular fast food joint here in Ilorin, and for N2,500, you can have a plate of food that would somewhat satisfy you. However, the same amount, if used in this harsh economy, cannot feed a family. A little extra money at the aforementioned price may be enough to feed a family for a day, probably if nonperishable food items like rice are already on the ground. If there are many people to be served, a home-cooked meal will be cheaper. But I cannot spend the above-mentioned amount for breakfast, then a similar amount for lunch and dinner, respectively, and daily.
Though I do not like eating out, there are occasions that I feel the urge to eat out and taste the restaurant meal. I believe those urges and cravings are normal and should be obliged occasionally.
I do not eat out often and would prepare home-made meals. When the urge to eat out hits hard on me or I get famished, I do not hesitate to visit a food vendor or restaurant that I am familiar with.
Thank you for reading. I would love to have your comments and contributions.