Frugal Villagers discuss: Is healthy food more expensive
One of the best discussions I’ve seen in a long time on the Frugal Village forums is this one: Is healthy food more expensive than junk food?
The points that are made include:
Contrary Housewife: “If they have nothing at home they have to start with the basics, and stocking even a simple pantry can cost $30 right off the bat for flour, sugar, oil, rice, noodles, canned tomatoes, etc. And a lot of people have insufficient cookware which makes it difficult or expensive if they have to buy stuff.”
Jettsmom: “It is frustrating that there aren’t a lot of good sales on fresh fruit and veg. I found one store with a great deal on grapes. I bought quite a bit and will return before the sale ends. Another store had strawberries cheap. Will do the same.”
Grainlady: “I have also been teaching cooking classes at our local Food Bank for many years, and can tell you there certainly is a lack of skills, as well as lack of things like pans, cooking utensils, even lack of stoves and refrigerators that make it even more challenging for many people to eat at home. Some families only have a microwave or a single hot plate for food preparation. So we don’t all have the same abilities, which goes back to priorities, skills, budget.”
Now it’s not fair to say that either healthy food or junk food is always cheaper than the other. Pricing varies quite a bit during the year, and even week to week. Harvest seasons for fresh produce are a big factor, marketing promotions are another, regional differences are a third.
If you put the time and effort into following up on the grocery and drugstore deals, you can get your food bill down and STILL afford to eat well. Maybe one particular product was costly, but you saved money on another purchase to make up the difference.
But to follow up on the forum discussion, I do think the knowledge of cooking from scratch is a lost art.
It doesn’t help that cooking techniques, tools and available ingredients change quite a bit over the years. Recipes that worked for grandma or great-grandma can’t always be replicated with good results these days. And then what is the substitute?
I consider myself to have basic cooking skills. I can follow recipes that use common ingredients, and have a supply of kitchen equipment that really does get used.
The thought that there are families where no one in the household is able to cook even at my level is really sad.
Posted: May 12th, 2010 under Frugal living, Groceries.
Comments: 6
Comments
Comment from mikemax
Time: May 12, 2010, 11:50 pm
One of the reasons people don’t know how to cook is that home ec is no longer taught in many, if not most, schools. In the late ’50s, I was required to take home ec in 7th and 8th grade, and it was an elective in high school. Home ec is where I learned to read and follow recipes and cook basic foods. I also learned to sew, and while I no longer make clothing, I’ve made lots of home goods and I also can (and do) mend. When I look back on what I learned in school, home ec–which I didn’t think was important at the time, even though it was fun–was probably the one class I took that I use every single day of my life. EVERYONE should know how to meet their basic needs for food and clothing. (Personal finance should also be taught).
My son didn’t take home ec, but I taught him to cook! He dated a girl for over 2-1/2 years and she never cooked him a single meal–has a master’s degree and doesn’t know how to cook. (He cooked dinner for her every night).
Comment from mikemax
Time: May 12, 2010, 11:52 pm
Meant to add: kudos to Grainlady for teaching cooking classes through the food bank. You go, girl!
Comment from Tashena Gonzales
Time: May 12, 2010, 11:54 pm
I took home ec in my school and I graduated in ’96! I think eating healthier/organic is more costly in some respects but it just takes more work. But as you said you can definitely still save 50/60% on your groceries. And as you also said, save on shampoo, cleaning supplies etc, that leaves you more money for produce and organic. Then stalk the manufacturers website and email them a lot for coupons. I literally walk through the store some times thinking “I have had Kozy shack in a while let me email them to tell them how much I love their product!”
Comment from Paula Wethington
Time: May 13, 2010, 7:02 am
I also took home ec in 1980-81 in junior high school. But it wasn’t available at my daughter’s junior high (Monroe had two junior high schools for a time, and my daughter was at the smaller campus. She had a wonderful junior high experience, but not all the classes were available at her school).
Because of that situation, I told her to take a home ec class at some point in high school. My daughter took a sewing class at school as a senior and then we worked on cooking techniques at home or via Girl Scout projects. She actually has a knack for cooking and I felt comfortable taking on that task, so that worked well.
By the way, Future Homemakers of America is still around. It’s now known as FCCLA – Family, Career and Community Leaders of America. My daughter’s friends in sewing club talked her into joining FCCLA, and she did very well in the career planning speech contest.
Comment from CC
Time: May 13, 2010, 7:05 am
I learned to cook and sew from my grandma. My mother hated to cook but I liked it and she would encourage me. I taught my son to cook also because everyone should know how to take care of themselves. His wife didn’t really, but she has learned now and does most of the cooking.
Its funny all the stuff we think we need to cook. I was waiting at a light one day and saw some road workers cooking. They had a little fire going and were warming up tortillas. Also had a thermos which I guess held the meat/beans. I thought that was very interesting as most people run for fast food places. So you might not can cook fancy food but good basic food can be done with very little time and money, think stir fry.
I have lots of kitchen items but then I like to try new things and think of it as a hobby. A lot of people I know don’t like to cook and don’t care to learn so they eat out or cook prepared items. Which I think is cost more than stocking the basics.
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