Food costs

I and many others are on a mission to demonstrate how eating healthily can be cost-efficient. That is, eating real food can be cheaper than junk/prepared foods. Unfortunately, this report published today in The New York Times seems to challenge that notion.

Money is tight; Junk Food Beckons

Studies show that junk foods tend to cost less than fruits, vegetables and other healthful foods, whose prices continue to rise.

Granted, the couple featured tried to go on an extreme budget of $1 a day. How many people spend about that on their cell phone plan or on cable TV?

I am no expert on any of this, and I certainly don’t expect to solve the problem. This is simply an exercise in learning about the issues.

As best as I can make out from the USDA site about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (are these food stamps?) the maximum monthly allotment for a household of two is $323. That’s just over $5 a day for each of us.

Michael Pollan often suggests Community Supported Agrictulture as a way to add fresh fruits and vegetables to your meal plan. I think they’re great–and often there is more food in a delivery than we can get through. We don’t belong to one now (the popular ones have waiting lists!), but did I pick up a box for friends who were out of the country. I used to belong to Full Belly Farm when I lived in Sacramento.

A quick review of CSA subscription costs found through the Eat Well Guide:

Petaluma Bounty — $10 a week for low-income clients (retail clients pay $18 a week to subsidize the program)

Full Belly Farm — $17 a week

Speaking of which, I’m making black bean chili for dinner and I have to buy some masa harina for homemade cornbread. Gotta run!