strange this gets downvoted. eating out is a big expense and i just wonder how people manage to limit that. for me it is very difficult.

I don't agree with the whole skimping-on-small-things thing, but I work at home and don't eat out that much. The "how" seems pretty straightforward: either buy groceries at a grocery store or have them delivered. I have a fresh vegetable box delivered every week. "Getting out" and "winding down" don't require eating out.

I suspect it got downvoted because of the assumption that the only way to get out and wind down is eating out.

You could go for a run or a bike ride, have a picnic with friends, play soccer with friends, skate. etc.

I stopped eating out completely and stopped ordering food in. Bought a freeze and canner and meals are quick and cheap to make with better flavour. I stopped getting sick.. think back to all of the times you got really sick from food. I bet you most of them were from food you didn't prepare yourself.

Simply, by not avoiding it. I get out and unwind. I have lunch with my wife in a restaurant. Go for walks, grab a coffee at a cafe with my wife.

Very easy - just don’t do it. Was never a problem for me. If I ordered food, it was because I didn’t have time to cook, not because I needed it to wind down etc.