Comments on: The Expensive Produce Myth http://www.beatingbroke.com/the-expensive-produce-myth/ Personal Finance from the Broke Perspective Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:28:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: khhttp://www.beatingbroke.com/the-expensive-produce-myth/#comment-9216 kh Tue, 24 May 2011 23:51:58 +0000 http://www.beatingbroke.com/?p=376#comment-9216 "Expensive produce is a myth" is only true if you're middle or upper class and have access to grocery stores. For many people produce is not easily available and what there is, *is* expensive.Walk through any low income neighborhood and there almost always will be a McDonalds or a Burger King w/in walking distance, but not a grocery store. When you can get a full "meal" (burger, fries, and a coke) for $2-$3, spending $1.49 on two apples (about 1 lb) *is* expensive.Even in comparison to junk foods on sale at the grocery store, a whole Tostino's pizza can be found for $1.25 on sale. Add in a $0.79 litre of cheap soda and you've got a meal for 2 for the same price as your two apples. Again, the produce isn't really the cheaper option.It's sad that you can get processed junk cheaper and more easily available than fresh fruit or veggies. But for many people outside the mainstream/middle class, it's a fact of life. “Expensive produce is a myth” is only true if you’re middle or upper class and have access to grocery stores. For many people produce is not easily available and what there is, *is* expensive.

Walk through any low income neighborhood and there almost always will be a McDonalds or a Burger King w/in walking distance, but not a grocery store. When you can get a full “meal” (burger, fries, and a coke) for $2-$3, spending $1.49 on two apples (about 1 lb) *is* expensive.

Even in comparison to junk foods on sale at the grocery store, a whole Tostino’s pizza can be found for $1.25 on sale. Add in a $0.79 litre of cheap soda and you’ve got a meal for 2 for the same price as your two apples. Again, the produce isn’t really the cheaper option.

It’s sad that you can get processed junk cheaper and more easily available than fresh fruit or veggies. But for many people outside the mainstream/middle class, it’s a fact of life.
kh recently posted..Stupid IRS

]]> By: Squirrelershttp://www.beatingbroke.com/the-expensive-produce-myth/#comment-1094 Squirrelers Tue, 15 Jun 2010 02:04:31 +0000 http://www.beatingbroke.com/?p=376#comment-1094 Good topic, very good points.If selective and smart with shopping, it is very easy to eat a healthy diet and do it for reasonable cost. Not just with produce, but with most foods.For example: Sometimes I eat oatmeal in the morning, quick oats bought in a large container. The cost per serving comes to less than 10 cents! Add in some strawberries, a banana and some flaxseed, and you get a fully-loaded nutritional powerhouse that's about 75 cents.To me, that's better than a fast-food breakfast sandwich for $2. Healthier and cheaper. Good topic, very good points.

If selective and smart with shopping, it is very easy to eat a healthy diet and do it for reasonable cost. Not just with produce, but with most foods.

For example: Sometimes I eat oatmeal in the morning, quick oats bought in a large container. The cost per serving comes to less than 10 cents! Add in some strawberries, a banana and some flaxseed, and you get a fully-loaded nutritional powerhouse that’s about 75 cents.

To me, that’s better than a fast-food breakfast sandwich for $2. Healthier and cheaper.

]]> By: Evanhttp://www.beatingbroke.com/the-expensive-produce-myth/#comment-1062 Evan Fri, 11 Jun 2010 20:13:03 +0000 http://www.beatingbroke.com/?p=376#comment-1062 Until about a year into my marriage (my 2 year is on this monday) I had never went grocery shopping. I lived at home during college, then basically bummed off the gf at the time (wife now) during law school.I WAS SHOCKED how much junk food costs. It was at that moment I didn't buy anyone's crap about not being able to afford normal healthy food. Until about a year into my marriage (my 2 year is on this monday) I had never went grocery shopping. I lived at home during college, then basically bummed off the gf at the time (wife now) during law school.

I WAS SHOCKED how much junk food costs. It was at that moment I didn’t buy anyone’s crap about not being able to afford normal healthy food.

]]> By: Kevin@InvestItWiselyhttp://www.beatingbroke.com/the-expensive-produce-myth/#comment-1053 Kevin@InvestItWisely Fri, 11 Jun 2010 15:31:58 +0000 http://www.beatingbroke.com/?p=376#comment-1053 Junk food is more expensive up here in the great white north relative to produce. I think that beef is also more expensive, though pork is cheap. I guess this shifts consumption toward healthier choices, because when you go to a grocery store here, you generally walk past lots of vegetables, fresh meat, fresh bread, nuts, etc... and the junk food is relegated to one small section, as are the frozen pizzas and desserts ;)However, I recall when I visited the US that the portions were larger, the prices were lower, and the first thing you saw when entering a Walmart supercenter would be aisle upon aisle of pizzas, desserts, etc... just junk food upon junk food. I think there were 5 half-aisles devoted to chips alone. It was pretty much the opposite experience!I enjoy my junk food every now and then, too, but it certainly shouldn't be the main focus... Junk food is more expensive up here in the great white north relative to produce. I think that beef is also more expensive, though pork is cheap. I guess this shifts consumption toward healthier choices, because when you go to a grocery store here, you generally walk past lots of vegetables, fresh meat, fresh bread, nuts, etc… and the junk food is relegated to one small section, as are the frozen pizzas and desserts ;)

However, I recall when I visited the US that the portions were larger, the prices were lower, and the first thing you saw when entering a Walmart supercenter would be aisle upon aisle of pizzas, desserts, etc… just junk food upon junk food. I think there were 5 half-aisles devoted to chips alone. It was pretty much the opposite experience!

I enjoy my junk food every now and then, too, but it certainly shouldn’t be the main focus…

]]> By: Money Reasonshttp://www.beatingbroke.com/the-expensive-produce-myth/#comment-1052 Money Reasons Fri, 11 Jun 2010 15:10:14 +0000 http://www.beatingbroke.com/?p=376#comment-1052 Hmm, interesting take!Sounds like a healthier and potentially cheaper solution all the way around! Hmm, interesting take!

Sounds like a healthier and potentially cheaper solution all the way around!

]]> By: Advantages of a Fee-Only Financial Advisor & Are You Ready to Buy a Homehttp://www.beatingbroke.com/the-expensive-produce-myth/#comment-1048 Advantages of a Fee-Only Financial Advisor & Are You Ready to Buy a Home Fri, 11 Jun 2010 09:02:52 +0000 http://www.beatingbroke.com/?p=376#comment-1048 [...] Beating Broke debunks the expensive produce myth. [...] [...] Beating Broke debunks the expensive produce myth. [...]

]]> By: Austin @ Foreigner's Financeshttp://www.beatingbroke.com/the-expensive-produce-myth/#comment-1015 Austin @ Foreigner's Finances Tue, 08 Jun 2010 12:10:33 +0000 http://www.beatingbroke.com/?p=376#comment-1015 Medical costs and increased productivity. It's hard to put a price tag on it, but you're probably going to produce (no pun intended) better with some good quality food in your stomach. Better productivity, better results, more $ (if you're shooting for that goal).I'd say it's worth it! Medical costs and increased productivity. It’s hard to put a price tag on it, but you’re probably going to produce (no pun intended) better with some good quality food in your stomach. Better productivity, better results, more $ (if you’re shooting for that goal).

I’d say it’s worth it!

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