Time-Saving Dining in Japan: Convenience vs. Homemade Meals

Have you ever had those days when you return home late or simply feel too worn out to prepare a meal from scratch? Do you order Uber Eats or just skip dinner? Many of us have been there. But in Japan, where time management is a way of life, even meal preparation is approached with remarkable efficiency. While dining out or grabbing a convenience store bento (boxed meal) might seem like the easiest options, there's a thrifty trend in Japan to opt for self-cooked meals. In this article, we'll compare the costs and time investments of indulging in the ease of three convenience store meals versus preparing three homemade dishes.

The Cost of Three Convenience Store Meals

Let's start with the cost of indulging in the convenience of store-bought meals. For our calculation, we'll assume an average price of 550 yen per convenience store bento. So, for three meals a day, you'd be spending 1,650 yen. Over a month (assuming 30 days), that adds up to a total of 49,500 yen.

The Cost of Three Homemade Meals

Now, let's turn our attention to self-cooked meals. According to a survey conducted by Go-Food Corporation targeting individuals living alone, approximately 50% of respondents stated that the cost per self-cooked meal ranged from 301 yen to 500 yen. Another 29% mentioned that they could keep it within 300 yen per meal. In general, about 80% of those surveyed managed to keep their self-cooked meal expenses under 500 yen per meal.

Let's assume that each homemade meal costs 300 yen. Therefore, for three meals a day, you'd be spending 900 yen. Over a month, this accumulates to 27,000 yen. Comparing the costs, it's evident that preparing your own meals saves you more than 20,000 yen each month.

Comparing Time: Convenience vs. Homemade Meals

When it comes to preparing homemade meals, the initial impression is that it's time-consuming, involving both cooking and cleanup. An in-depth survey by Asahi Kasei Home Products revealed that, on average, the cooking time for one homemade meal is approximately 47.3 minutes. This might seem like a substantial amount of time for a single meal.

Taking into consideration the time spent planning the menu, cooking, and cleaning up, the total meal preparation time averages around 133 minutes. Remarkably, a significant portion of this time is not spent on cooking but rather on other meal-related activities. If we assume each meal takes 133 minutes to prepare, the time spent on three meals in a day amounts to 399 minutes.

However, some simplifications can help reduce the meal preparation time. For example, breakfast often consists of quick and simple options like natto (fermented soybeans) or bread. Lunch becomes more manageable, especially if you pack a bento with you to work. In the case of preparing breakfast and a lunch bento simultaneously, you might be able to wrap up the entire process, including preparation and cleanup, in just about 30 minutes.

Evening meals tend to take the longest, averaging around 130 minutes. Adding that to the roughly 160 minutes already spent, you'd need about 2.7 hours a day to prepare all three meals.

Now, when it comes to convenience store meals, there's still some time involved. Even if it takes just 10 minutes to travel from home or work to the convenience store and back, you'll need an additional 15 minutes to select your meal and complete the purchase. However, with strategic timing, you can save time. You can grab breakfast during your morning commute and pick up dinner on your way back from work.

Being Adaptable to the Situation

In the cost comparison between three convenience store meals and three homemade meals, it's evident that preparing your own meals is significantly cheaper. However, when considering the time invested, the cost-effectiveness of cooking at home might be debatable. The real secret is to be flexible with your approach. You can opt for convenience store meals when you're short on time or not in the mood for cooking, especially on busy workdays. On the other hand, when you have the luxury of time, such as on weekends, you can indulge in the cost savings and health benefits of preparing your own meals.

In Japan, where time management is almost a way of life, this adaptability in meal preparation is the key to balancing cost, time, and dietary preferences. So, the next time you're juggling your schedule in Japan, remember that your meal choices can be as adaptable as your daily routine.