Heard someone say cheap food can't be healthy and I had to stop myself

I was at the hardware store yesterday and a guy in line was telling his friend that eating on a budget means you're stuck with junk. He said, 'If it's cheap, it's bad for you, period.' That really got me thinking. I feed a crew of four guys on a tight food budget every single week. We make big pots of lentil soup with carrots and onions, and a whole chicken stretched over three meals. It costs about $2.50 a person and it's real food. Has anyone else run into this idea that saving money on groceries means you're eating poorly?

3 comments

3 Comments

rowanw9110d ago

Have you noticed how this idea often comes from people who don't actually cook? My neighbor buys all pre-made meals and thinks my bag of dried beans is poverty food, but she's paying for the packaging and the factory. A sack of rice, some spices, and frozen veggies make a solid meal for pennies.

emma_jones10d ago

Remember when I thought cooking from scratch was too much work? Now I see it's cheaper and way more satisfying.

the_riley10d ago

I get what you mean about the cost, but calling dried beans "poverty food" misses the point for me. For a lot of people, time is the real cost, not money. After a long day, that pre-made meal can feel like a lifesaver, not a waste.