Eat at Mom’s

Last week I used dinner time as an economic summit.  The boys wanted a meal that required chopsticks, and were discussing various venues for dining out.   While they debated the different dining opportunities, I pulled out the wok, and a bunch of ingredients from the pantry/fridge.

 By the time they had agreed that they could not agree, I had a meal on the table.  While we dined on Pork and Peanut Stir Fry, Garlic Snap Peas, Ramen Noodles (I found a healthier variety), and canned mandarin oranges, I asked them to consider what the meal might cost at a restaurant.  They approximated that a meal out usually costs about $50.  Next we estimated the cost of the meal on the table:

Granted the taste wasn’t exactly like our local Asian eatery, but we did use chopsticks from Japan.    Plus we saved a lot in fat and sodium, and I was able to sneak in vegetables that I knew they’d eat.

It was amazing to watch the boys make the connection that eating at a restaurant had an opportunity cost in terms of movies, games, and other things they wish for.  Now they want to see how many other restaurant favorites can be re-created at home.   These boys are going to have to learn to cook…