A fakeaway is a home-cooked meal inspired by classic takeaway dishes. Instead of picking up the phone or opening a food delivery app, you recreate your favourite curry, burger, kebab, or pizza right in your own kitchen. The beauty of a fakeaway is that you control the ingredients, the cooking method, and the portion size. This means you can enjoy all the flavour and satisfaction of a takeaway, but with fewer calories, less fat, and a much smaller bill at the end of the night.

Let’s be honest – takeaways are brilliant. They’re quick, easy, and often feel like a treat after a long week. Whether it’s a spicy Indian curry, crispy Chinese noodles, or a loaded pizza, takeaways are designed to hit all the right notes: salty, savoury, and satisfying. But there’s a catch. Most takeaway meals are high in calories, saturated fat, salt, and sugar. Portion sizes can be huge, and you don’t always know what’s gone into your food.

Calories Add Up Fast

A typical takeaway meal can easily clock in at 1,000 calories or more… sometimes double that if you add sides and dessert. For example, a standard chicken tikka masala with pilau rice, naan, and poppadoms can add up to over 1,500 calories. A portion of fish and chips from the chippy can be 1,200 calories or more. And don’t forget the extras: fizzy drinks, sauces, and starters all add to the total.

The Price of Convenience

Takeaways aren’t just heavy on calories—they’re hard on your wallet too. Despite growing concerns over the costs of takeaways, Brits are spending an average of £1,758 on takeaways each year. Adults under 25 to be the biggest takeaway fans, spending on average a whopping £43 on takeaway meals from delivery services and fast-food outlets each week (up to £2,580 a year).

So, what makes fakeaways such a great alternative? Let’s break it down:

1. You Save Calories

When you make a fakeaway at home, you’re in control. You can:

• Use less oil or switch to healthier oils like olive or rapeseed
• Choose lean meats or plant-based proteins
• Add extra vegetables for fibre and nutrients
• Cut back on salt, sugar, and creamy sauces
• Bake, grill, or air fry instead of deep frying

This means your fakeaway can be hundreds of calories lighter than the takeaway version—without sacrificing flavour.

2. You Save Money

Fakeaways are far cheaper than takeaways. You can buy ingredients in bulk, make larger portions, and use leftovers for lunch the next day. Even with premium ingredients, a homemade curry, pizza, or burger will cost a fraction of what you’d pay for delivery. Plus, you avoid service charges, delivery fees, and tips.

3. You Know What’s in Your Food

No more mystery ingredients or hidden additives. With a fakeaway, you can choose fresh, whole ingredients, avoid preservatives, and cater to allergies or dietary needs. You can also control portion sizes, making it easier to stick to your health goals.

4. You Can Customise Everything

Want your curry extra spicy? Prefer your pizza loaded with veg? Fancy a gluten-free burger bun? With a fakeaway, you can tweak every recipe to suit your taste and lifestyle.

Ready to give it a go? Here are some simple steps to get you started:

1. Plan Ahead

Pick a night for your fakeaway and decide what you want to make. Check your cupboards for ingredients and make a shopping list. Planning ahead means you’re less likely to cave in and order a takeaway.

2. Choose Healthier Cooking Methods

Swap deep frying for baking, grilling, or air frying. These methods use less oil and keep your meals lighter. An air fryer is especially handy for making chips, chicken, or spring rolls with a crispy finish and minimal fat.

3. Load Up on Veggies

Add extra vegetables to your curries, stir-fries, pizzas, and burgers. They add colour, crunch, and nutrients, and help fill you up for fewer calories.

4. Make Your Own Sauces

Shop-bought sauces can be loaded with sugar, salt, and preservatives. Making your own is easy – try blending tinned tomatoes with garlic and herbs for pizza, or mixing Greek yoghurt with spices for a creamy curry sauce.

5. Control Your Portions

Takeaway portions are often huge. At home, you can serve sensible portions and avoid the temptation to overeat.

6. Batch Cook and Freeze

Fakeaways are perfect for meal prep. Make extra portions and freeze them for a quick, healthy meal when you’re short on time.

You don’t need a fancy kitchen to make a great fakeaway, but a few gadgets can make things even easier:

Air Fryer

The air fryer is a game-changer for fakeaways. It gives you that crispy, fried texture with a fraction of the oil. Perfect for chips, chicken, samosas, and more.

Slow Cooker

For curries, stews, and pulled meats, the slow cooker is your best friend. It lets you cook low and slow, developing deep flavours with less fat.

• Buy in bulk: Stock up on staples like rice, pasta, tinned tomatoes, and spices.
• Use leftovers: Turn last night’s roast chicken into a curry or sandwich.
• Cook from scratch: Ready meals and sauces are often pricier and less healthy.
• Get the family involved: Cooking together is fun and helps everyone learn new skills.
• Freeze extras: Batch cooking saves time and money.

Are fakeaways really healthier than takeaways?

Yes! By cooking at home, you use less oil, salt, and sugar, and add more fresh ingredients. You also control your portion sizes, making it easier to eat well.

Do fakeaways take a lot of time to make?

Not at all. Many fakeaway recipes are quick and easy, especially with gadgets like the air fryer or slow cooker. You can have a healthy meal on the table in 30 minutes or less.

Can fakeaways save me money?

Absolutely. Home-cooked meals cost a fraction of what you’d pay for a takeaway. Plus, you can use leftovers and bulk ingredients to keep costs down.

What are the best fakeaway dishes to try?

Start with your favourites! Curries, stir-fries, burgers, pizzas, and kebabs are all easy to make at home. Check out our recipe section for more ideas.

Are fakeaways suitable for special diets?

Yes. You can adapt fakeaway recipes for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, or other dietary needs. Just swap ingredients as needed.

Fakeaways aren’t just a trend… they’re a smarter way to enjoy the meals you love. By swapping takeaways for fakeaways, you’ll save calories, cut costs, and discover the joy of home cooking. Whether you’re looking to eat healthier, spend less, or just try something new, fakeaways are the perfect solution.

So next time you’re tempted to order in, why not try making your own? With a little planning and a few simple ingredients, you can whip up a fakeaway that’s every bit as tasty as the real thing—only lighter, healthier, and kinder to your wallet.