[hwood]

I spend something like $250 a month on food (but I'm only counting grocery shopping, not eating out).

[Jambjanatan]

twinkies

[XqrkN4a0]

Originally posted by rmsharpe
They make poor choices, not because of the supposed limits to the quality of food they can purchase.

Where do you get the idea that "processed"* foods are more expensive than fruits, vegetables, meat, etc.?


* I honestly don't quite know what you mean here... are you talking about "processed" as opposed to "organic" or as opposed to fast food? They make poor choices, but a lot of times due to economics. Processed are less expensive, not more expensive. By processed foods, I'm talking about things like American cheese, canned food, or junk foods. Its cheaper to buy some canned food (like Hormel Chili) than it is to buy good cuts of steak and veggies and make it yourself.

[q=MrFun]I spend something like $250 a month on food (but I'm only counting grocery shopping, not eating out).[/q]

That's cheating .

On grocery shopping, I spend like $200 a month. On eating out for lunch and on the weekends, it can be $100 to $200 a month.

[Srewxardsasv]

DanS is in the DC area I think.

I think lack of transportation is a poor excuse too. Also, on the world news last night they went over the increasing costs of food, and I didn't find all to shocking. Most things were up less than 5%, and with fuel and corn costs going up I understand. Still, 5% shouldn't be enough to starve someone, only make them lose a couple of pounds, which most of us can afford to do.

[kesFockplek]

Hey, I like to get non processed stuff as much as I can and cook as much as I can (and I do cook a great deal), but I spend a good amount of money (not too far off from Jon Miller... about $350 a month, though I think I eat out more than him, especially for lunch during the work week). When you are poor, logic dictates you just don't eat out. If they are, that is a self imposed hardship. It is not like they don't have time to cook.

An example meal (not eating out) would be:
1 container of tofu (~4$?)
1/2 bag of frozen veggies (~1$?) Well there is your problem, you eat fancy organic overpriced hippie food like tofu. Now you might be able to afford that and more power to you, but you can definetly prepare a healthy meal for less.

[EspanaCamsInfo]

Um... $4 for tofu is much cheaper than a nice cut of steak. why would people in the OP even be contemplating a nice cut of steak (as if that is considered health food anyway)? Uneeded luxuries

And even if you spent four of five dollars on dinner, you can easily get the average meal cost down with cheap cereal breakfasts.

Quaker Oatmeal canister? 10 dollars for 20 meals. Add water, basically free. Maybe a container of blueberries or a bunch of banannas to throw in for flare, five dollars for 10 meals worth.

Eating cheap and healthy is not hard if you try, unfortunetly the people who should be the most motivated to try (the OP) aren't

[connandoilee]

Originally posted by rmsharpe

This will be the downfall of our society, ladies and gentlemen. It isn't new. I know people who have done that.

[MatueHarton]

Hmm... I figure my wife and I spend $300ish a month on groceries. We seldom eat out... maybe once per week (that might be high, actually). Mostly it's hitting a sports bar after softball or picking up Chinese on the way home... nothing expensive. So call it ~$100/month. Grand total $400/month.

I have noticed, however, that an attempt to eat healthier food drives up the cost. This is a basic truth... Ramen costs less than whole wheat pasta, ya know?

-Arrian

[ChicasCams]

Originally posted by Patroklos
Then he must eat some expensive breakfasts. He gave us $400 for the month, I just took the average for 3 meals a day over 30 days to get $4.50 (actually $4.44) per meal.

JM, was that $400 on just groceries, or with going out factored in? I believe it was both.

I think Braised Beef which is good for a stew or stirfry, is no more expensive than ground beef. Which can be around $4 for a pound .

[q=Arrian]I have noticed, however, that an attempt to eat healthier food drives up the cost. This is a basic truth... Ramen costs less than whole wheat pasta, ya know?[/q]



Hell, whole wheat pasta costs more than regular pasta. And don't forget about price markups for organic stuff.

[vigraxtru]

Originally posted by OzzyKP


It isn't new. I know people who have done that. I didn't say it was new.

[Kotyara]

Their cookie jar, or in other words a lifetime supply of cookies.

[averkif]

Originally posted by Patroklos
And even if you spent four of five dollars on dinner, you can easily get the average meal cost down with cheap cereal breakfasts.

Quaker Oatmeal canister? 10 dollars for 20 meals. Add water, basically free. Maybe a container of blueberries or a bunch of banannas to throw in for flare, five dollars for 10 meals worth. But I don't want to be eating lots of oatmeal because it isn't high enough protein. Well, I do eat it sometimes, and probably could more often, but still...

And yes, if I ate just beans and veggies I would spend a lot less. But that gets boring.

JM

[tarmpriopay]

Bowl of cereal + glass of OJ for breakfast, sandwich for lunch, and meat + small salad or veggies on side for dinner.

Ideally, anyway. My brain seems to think that a Whopper Jr is a "reward" of some stripe and sometimes becomes lunch. That and "must finish all on plate" doesn't help when there are huge portions in front of me.

[jinnsamys]

Originally posted by Theben
That and "must finish all on plate" doesn't help when there are huge portions in front of me. I think we can blame all our mother's on Americans being fat. Starving people in China indeed!!

[bWn4h8QD]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui

I think we can blame all our mother's on Americans being fat. Starving people in China indeed!! And Africa. Although in che's and my case it could have something to do with the fact that there were 3 males at the dinner table (including dad) that if they didn't eat quick enough they wouldn't get second helpings. Back in the day when we could eat like pigs and not gain an ounce.

[gunhijala]

Me too. Tupperware FTW!