My Takeaways From Having NO Takeaways

We’ve all made new year resolutions on January 1 and been very motivated to do them. Exercise more? Easy. No more fizzy drinks? Simple. Spend more time with family? I can do that. You think that nothing can stop you. Nothing at all.

Then by February 1; you’ve sank into the sofa, you drink Coke and Fanta all day (everyday) and you haven’t seen a single family member for such a long time they’re not entirely sure whether they should start making ‘missing’ posters.

During my 22 years of living, this has happened to me numerous times. But as I got older, I realised that sticking to my new year resolutions is probably easier. Therefore, I decided to not eat any takeaway food for an entire year during 2023.

Here are five things I learned from ignoring the Good Luck Chinese in Port St Mary every time I walked past…

1. I can (kind of) cook

Having no takeaways meant that I had to start making many more meals for myself, and my signature dish was pork chops with scrambled eggs.

If it’s not already on your bucket list, you should add ‘try Adam Morton’s pork chops and scrambled egg meal’. It’s a life changing experience.

2. You can save a fair bit of money

I’ve not done the maths, but I would say that I used to have one or two takeaways per week, especially when I was at University (after a night out).

That probably works out to roughly £15-20 saved per week, which over a whole year is something like £1 million.

3. You don’t necessarily lose weight

In my case, unfortunately, I definitely didn’t lose any weight. But who knows, maybe I was healthier? It could’ve been completely pointless. Hope not.

4. You shouldn’t compensate with other foods

Maybe one of the reasons I didn’t lose weight was because I would often compensate with other foods/meals that I usually wouldn’t have.

During 2023, I probably ate more cereal than I ever have before in a calendar year. I’m surprised Special K hasn’t suffered a worldwide shortage.

5. You can live without them!

Oil up that frying pan! Get the oven on! Try to hide your disappointment when your mum says she’s got something in the slow cooker!

Takeaways are amazing and I would say that life is better with them rather than without them. But what I have learned is that they’re not the be all and end all.