Here is a costed Bill of Materials for food I made today…
Hummus:
Garlic: $0.10 ($0.50/clove / 5 uses)
Lemon: $0.50 ($0.50 each)
Tahini: $0.20 ($8 can / 40 uses)
Garbanzo beans: $1.10 (one 15-oz can)
Olive oil: $0.40 ($8 bottle / 20 uses)
Total: $2.30 for a bowl (about equal to 2 containers of store-bought premade)
Compare that to two 10-oz containers of premade, which would cost $9.00.
Roast:
Beef: $9.00 (for two pounds of beef)
Potatoes: $0.50 (four potatoes)
Bell peppers: $0.70 (one pepper)
Carrots: $0.50 (five carrots)
Wine: $4.00 (half of one $9 bottle)
Onion: $0.75 (one at $0.75 each)
Total: $15.45 for est 3 meals ($5.15/meal)
Compare that to $7 which barely fills you (and with crap at that) at
Dick’s Hamburgers or Pagliacci Pizza.
When I look at that, I lose all respect for the idea that cheap food
equals frozen pizzas and McDonalds. And when I consider that the
hummus took me 15 minutes to make, and the roast 20 minutes, I lose
all respect for the idea that junk food is more convenient than good,
nutritious food.
Americans are overweight and malnourished. But it is not a problem
with the food supply. It is a problem with framing (how you look at
the world).