noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', intransitive verb
ready-made meal; home meal replacement; takeout/delivery meal eaten at home
Refers to prepared food bought outside (convenience store, supermarket, restaurant) and eaten at home, as a middle ground between eating out and cooking from scratch. Often used in marketing and lifestyle contexts.
最近、忙しいので中食を利用することが増えた。
Lately, because I'm busy, I've been using ready-made meals more often.
Home meal replacements are often cheaper than eating out.