When I hear the words, “eating outside” I actually get excited. Eating good food is a big part of life. Add eating good food along with eating outside and I am in heaven. As a foodie, you might be health conscious, or love the social aspects of eating. Perhaps when you were house hunting, you fell in love with the property that had the gorgeous kitchen even though the rest of the place really left a lot to be desired? When food is really important to you, it is important to get both the cooking and the dining experience just right. So why not take both outdoors? 

Here are a few reasons we love Eating Outside:

The Smell and the Smoke

Cooking outdoors means there will be no stale cooking odors indoors. We all love food and cooking is a joy for most of us. But that stench we wake up to the next morning can really put a damper on the meal we enjoyed the night before. Cooking outdoors can really open up the world of grilling. You don’t have to worry about the extra odors or the smoke. It’s outside and will dissipate easily into the air. Your hair will thank you for it!

 

Grilled for good health. Photo

Fresh Air

There are plenty of people around that will tell you how healthy fresh air can be. The more you can eat outside and get fresh air, the healthier you can remain! The natural light is also very beneficial, although night time fresh air can still be quite healthy for you. Stale air from staying all day indoors can be detrimental to your physical and mental health. So take the opportunity to enjoy your evening meal outdoors every evening, especially if you work in the office all day. It’s better for your skin, and better for your lungs.

 

Relaxing Setting

Eating outdoors also gives you a much better view. Regardless of how you’ve styled the outdoor seating area, nothing can beat the sea of green from your lawn, and the endless variety of colors from your flower bed. There is a greater array of shape and texture out in your garden too. After sitting all day in an office cubicle, you can feel free to relax, stretch out, and let your eyes wander deeper into your own natural landscape. Unwind and relax with a view that you love while you enjoy a quiet and healthy evening meal.

 

The perfect dining experience. Photo

 

Combine Active Lifestyle

Cooking and eating outdoors means that the family can combine their active lifestyle with the meal. The kids and even your pets can be playing in the garden on their bicycles, scooters, or with the ball. You can keep an eye on them while you’re cooking, and they’ve got so much more space to play outside. It also means you can join in while food is cooking. Grilling can take as long as you need it to, or you can cook at speed. Set your pace so you can enjoy more of your outside space as you go. And after you’ve eaten? Enjoy another active game or two!

 

Less Fat On The Grill

Grilling, especially outdoors, gives you a chance to make the most of healthy recipes. Any fat that might have been present before cooking will simply drain away as you cook. This makes meat much leaner and will reduce the number of calories you consume. Best of all, the nutrients are still present, and you can even grill vegetables with little loss of the good stuff. And what about all that flavor? There is plenty of it on the grill. Even if you brush with a little marinade or oil, the taste and health benefits are enormous.

 

Social

Cooking and eating outdoors is so much more sociable. Not only can you fit more people into that space, but it brings a real sense of occasion to each meal. You might invite a party of friends, or just cook for the kids. Each dish can taste better, and be more easily digested thanks to the outdoor environment and relaxed approach. Plus you won’t care nearly as much about spills and messes! That means that the kids can invite people over too, without you fretting about your carpet or tablecloth.

 

Improve Sleep Quality

Eating outdoors can help improve the quality of sleep you get afterwards. The fresh air and the relaxing approach to dining can help you to reduce stress and feel rejuvenated again. The comfort of spending more quality time with family and friends can help a lot here too. Most importantly, there is less to worry about. A simple cooking method that requires little skill or expertise yet it can offer incredibly tasty dishes. 

What are your thoughts on eating outside? Do you and your family enjoy eating outside or do you prefer to go out to dinner? Leave us a comment and let us know.