TOEFL writing sample - topic 13: Eat at home or at restaurants

Topic 13. Some people prefer to eat at food stands or restaurants. Other people prefer to prepare and eat food at home. Which do you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

Although there are many advantages to eat at a food stands or restaurants, I prefer to eat food at home. This is because I like cooking and I can save some money if I eat at home. I also can share good moments with my family around the table.

People have many good reasons to eat out. For instance, when people eat out, they can save time. When they don’t eat at home, they don’t have to buy ingredients and to cook. They also don’t have to lay the table and wash dishes after the meal. For some busy people, eating out is the best solution. They just eat when they want. Another reason is that people can taste many different foods at restaurants. Each restaurant has its own menu that other restaurants don’t have. By going to several restaurants, people can eat many different dishes. The can avoid to eat the same foods for a while.

However, I prefer to eat at home because I want cook my own food. I always want to choose myself ingredients to cook foods. When I cook, I’m sure what I am going to eat. On the other hand, if I eat at restaurants, the foods I order sometimes are not what I expect or I see on the menu. Cooking also gives me a pleasure after work. When I prepare foods, I forget my work and all related problems. So I can get out of work and relax at home.

The second reason is that I can save some money when I eat at home. When eating out, I need to pay for the foods and the services that restaurants bring to me such as atmosphere, convenience, parking service, etc. However, when I eat at home, I don’t have to pay for any services. Thus, I can save some money.

Finally, I eat at home to share good moments with my family around the table. I only see my husband and my children when I come home after work. So it’s very important for me to pass my time to discuss with them about their days, how my children do at school and how well the business of my husband is. And the best time for us to have discussion is when we take dinners. Moreover, when I cook at home, I can have my children participate in the preparation of foods. My children love cooking with my a lot. They learn how to use kitchen materials and how to prepare foods according to recipes. They are always happy to eat foods that they prepare.

In conclusion, eating out have many advantages but I prefer eating at home. I consider it a method to enhance family relationships and happiness. Furthermore, eating at home can bring our family good health because we always eat fresh foods.