Think homemade food is always convenient and cheaper? Think again. A man’s sharp views shared via an Instagram video are making the Internet pause and rethink one of India’s most commonly repeated life
advices— “ghar ka khana bana lo, sasta padta hai.” With a clear, no-nonsense breakdown, he questions not just the cost of food, but the invisible cost of time, labour and energy that often goes unnoticed in Indian households.
In the now-viral clip, the man asks a simple but uncomfortable question about homemade cooking: “Cheaper than what? And for whom?” He points out that this advice usually comes from people who have never acknowledged the time and effort that goes into cooking, often unpaid and taken for granted. As he puts it, “Ghar ka dal chawal requires 45 minutes of washing, chopping, monitoring and cleaning.” Guess what? That excludes the time and money that goes into planning meals, managing groceries and cleaning up after.
View this post on Instagram
The content creator, then, highlights the idea of opportunity cost, something rarely discussed in everyday conversations about food. In the clip, he says, “If the person cooking could have earned 200 rupees an hour doing literally anything else, your cheap meal just got expensive.” According to him, the reason home cooking has historically felt affordable is that the labour of grandmothers, mothers and wives was never priced in. As he rightly puts it, “The reason your grandmother’s, your mother’s and your wife’s cooking seemed cheap is that you never considered the opportunity cost of the time spent cooking.”
The Only Economical Way
He goes on to explain that home cooking is truly economical only in two situations. One, if you can afford to hire domestic help at very low wages. And two, if you embrace modern conveniences that many “WhatsApp uncles” frown upon, like ready-made idli batter, frozen vegetables, instant mixes, microwaves, air fryers and instant pots. In fact, he adds, “A 40 rupee packet of ready-to-eat poha is actually cheaper than making it at home.”
The video also reframes the idea of “laziness” associated with convenience foods. He noted that every generation has adopted better technology not out of comfort, but necessity. Importantly, the creator clarifies that he is not against home cooking. While he agrees that health, nutrition, love for cooking and taste are all valid reasons for cooking, he makes it clear that it is not economical. His final message? Enjoy your “ghar ka achar”, but don’t judge those who choose convenience over a romanticised idea of homemade everything.
Lots Of Appreciation In Comments For The Man
Internet, as expected, was quick to respond. One of the users said, “The cost of this ‘free labour’ is often the health of the woman cooking.” Another added, “This is a fabulously balanced assessment of the standard line we hear so often!” Someone else had a clear stance as they wrote, “There’s no such thing as a free or cheap meal – someone is paying for it in some way.” Many others praised the man for highlighting the labour done by women in the kitchen.
