I’m
trying to figure out money and food. The results aren’t good.
There’s
a great sandwich shop in the area where I live. It isn’t right
next door, and involves a bit of a trip to get there. I try to
include it whenever I have to head out for errands in that direction.
Last
week, I grabbed a sandwich, bag of chips and a lemonade for about
eleven dollars. And that’s where all of this stuff stopped making
sense.
See,
people tell you that it’s impossible to eat healthy. The claim
is that it costs far more to buy good stuff than junk food. And
if you head to the grocery store, there appears to be evidence
to support that.
Let’s
make a BLT.
Sure,
ok, on the surface a BLT isn’t a perfect example of health. But
allow me the sidestep and imperfections for a moment.
A
BLT consists of bacon, bread, lettuce and tomato. Add some mayonnaise,
perhaps salt and pepper, and there you go.
Have
you picked up a package of bacon recently? I’m going to be kind
and say five dollars, but unless it’s on sale that price is wishful
thinking. Add in lettuce, tomato and bread, and you’re going to
be over ten dollars before you even consider if you have any mayonnaise
in the house.
Now,
yes, you’ll have enough materials to make a few sandwiches. You’ll
have extra bread for making toast. You’ll have bacon to go with
some eggs that goes with that toast. The cost per serving is pretty
good.
But
if you have to pick up all of the ingredients to make anything,
the costs can climb pretty quickly.
In
fact, lettuce and tomato. Ever tried to build a salad from scratch.
By the time you get a red onion, maybe some beets, and find a
new bottle of salad dressing, that salad ain’t that cheap.
A
few years ago, Terry and I were craving coffee cake. We decided
that something like a raspberry coffee cake would be pretty good.
Ever price a jar of raspberry jam? Coffee cake recipe wants the
entire jar. Turns out, it’s no wonder the coffee cakes at the
market aren’t cheap.
On
the surface, it would appear that I’m making the case for sensible
choices being expensive choices when it comes to eating right.
Fruits and vegetables are rising in cost, a gallon of milk or
some orange juice can be a bit shocking, and good luck finding
protein options that have seen a recent price drop.
But
then you head into a fast-food location and see everything go
out of whack.
Burger,
fries and a drink? Unless you go with the small options on all
of it, good luck escaping without going over ten dollars.
How
about a pizza? In my youth, when mom and dad were headed out for
the night, a pizza was a quick and inexpensive way to feed the
kids. Nowadays any local pizza shop will charge you close to twenty
dollars for a large with pepperoni.
The
reality is, a lot of it is about choices. Looking around and knowing
what you want. Planning out your meals to reduce waste and potentially
unused leftovers.
But
sense? Don’t look for any of it to make sense. Because it sure
seems like the pressures and concerns for one item don’t always
apply to the next.