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Comments like this sounds like saying to a depressed person: "have you tried being happy instead?" In other words, it's pithy, not helpful and sounds smug and

Comments like this sounds like saying to a depressed person: "have you tried being happy instead?" In other words, it's pithy, not helpful and sounds smug and condescending. We should be able to support maximal health in everyone, regardless of if they live the ideal middle class lifestyle that gives them time to exercise, money to afford food, and the many things that go in to a good nights sleep.

Retric 10y ago
For the most part good food costs less than crap food as long as you cook.
- tracker1 10y ago
  Depends on where you live and what you are cooking... Living in Phoenix, produce is pretty expensive, as is fish. I can't speak for the rest of the country. I also tend to get produce from Sprouts, Whole Foods, Fry's (kroger) in that order, depending on what it is. I use celeriac, cauliflower, and parsnips regularly as a potato substitute, and it's pretty costly to do so. I could get my calories from the dollar menu for quite a bit less. My target intake is around 2400-2800/day (metabolic support for 3800 at my size), trying to lose about 2#/week. Though, I'm diabetic, so tend to avoid a lot of fast-food, and often when I do indulge, I get only the sandwich/burger without the bread, with tea and/or water. Though the baked cod at ljs (green beans and broccoli), and chicken and green beans at kfc are serviceable options. I also make soup a couple times a month, which gives me about a week's worth, give or take.... soup is usually suprisingly low in calories and glycemic load (even vichyssoise subbing the potatoes) but tend to have 3-4 cups to feel sated (usually coming in around 450-600 calories depending on the soup for 4 cups). A big thing for me is getting a couple snacks in, especially for the afternoon (apple, carrots, nuts, kind bar), which helps with the cravings to overeat later in the day.
  - Retric 10y ago
    For a baseline a micdouble has 390 calories, 10 of then so that's 6-7$ / day to hit 2,400-2,800 kcal. If you go for beans, rice, grain, that's under 1$ per day for 1/2 your calories. Leaving 5-6$ to for the other half. That's plenty for a 500-700 kcal in chicken breast / eggs / other cheap protean, and vegies etc. PS: 9oz of meat per day will generally cover your protean needs. But, less is fine depending on the rest of your diet.
    - drewrv 10y ago
      Plus an hour each day of cooking and cleaning up. The median american salary is about 50K, which is about $24 an hour, so lets say it costs $6/7 a day to eat crappy, and $25/30 to eat well.
      - Retric 10y ago
        First that's median household income. Second, eating out 3 times a day takes non zero time and you can spend less than 7 extra hours a week cooking / cleaning / shopping vs. eating at the Golden Arches / microwaveable meals etc. However, this is a case where being efficient tends to end up being boring.
    - tracker1 10y ago
      Again, I'm diabetic and try to keep all carbs to a minimum... Though other people won't have those restrictions... in general, I tend to keep my total carbs under 200g/day, which means more fat/protein. Again, depends on what you are cooking.
      - Retric 10y ago
        You can generally eat beans (black, lima, pinto, or Lentils) on a diabetic diet, depending on your restriction levels. Which fit into cheap bulk food category.
- drewrv 10y ago
  This is only true if your time is worthless or you really love cooking.
r00fus 10y ago
Was the parent comment really about "how to talk to depressed people"? I gather no, it's more like a basic guide to life. Depression is a real thing and requires treatment above & beyond basic exercise/eating/sleep.
- ryanobjc 10y ago
  It's called an analogy.

Retric 10y ago

For the most part good food costs less than crap food as long as you cook.

tracker1 10y ago
Depends on where you live and what you are cooking... Living in Phoenix, produce is pretty expensive, as is fish. I can't speak for the rest of the country. I also tend to get produce from Sprouts, Whole Foods, Fry's (kroger) in that order, depending on what it is. I use celeriac, cauliflower, and parsnips regularly as a potato substitute, and it's pretty costly to do so. I could get my calories from the dollar menu for quite a bit less. My target intake is around 2400-2800/day (metabolic support for 3800 at my size), trying to lose about 2#/week. Though, I'm diabetic, so tend to avoid a lot of fast-food, and often when I do indulge, I get only the sandwich/burger without the bread, with tea and/or water. Though the baked cod at ljs (green beans and broccoli), and chicken and green beans at kfc are serviceable options. I also make soup a couple times a month, which gives me about a week's worth, give or take.... soup is usually suprisingly low in calories and glycemic load (even vichyssoise subbing the potatoes) but tend to have 3-4 cups to feel sated (usually coming in around 450-600 calories depending on the soup for 4 cups). A big thing for me is getting a couple snacks in, especially for the afternoon (apple, carrots, nuts, kind bar), which helps with the cravings to overeat later in the day.
- Retric 10y ago
  For a baseline a micdouble has 390 calories, 10 of then so that's 6-7$ / day to hit 2,400-2,800 kcal. If you go for beans, rice, grain, that's under 1$ per day for 1/2 your calories. Leaving 5-6$ to for the other half. That's plenty for a 500-700 kcal in chicken breast / eggs / other cheap protean, and vegies etc. PS: 9oz of meat per day will generally cover your protean needs. But, less is fine depending on the rest of your diet.
  - drewrv 10y ago
    Plus an hour each day of cooking and cleaning up. The median american salary is about 50K, which is about $24 an hour, so lets say it costs $6/7 a day to eat crappy, and $25/30 to eat well.
    - Retric 10y ago
      First that's median household income. Second, eating out 3 times a day takes non zero time and you can spend less than 7 extra hours a week cooking / cleaning / shopping vs. eating at the Golden Arches / microwaveable meals etc. However, this is a case where being efficient tends to end up being boring.
  - tracker1 10y ago
    Again, I'm diabetic and try to keep all carbs to a minimum... Though other people won't have those restrictions... in general, I tend to keep my total carbs under 200g/day, which means more fat/protein. Again, depends on what you are cooking.
    - Retric 10y ago
      You can generally eat beans (black, lima, pinto, or Lentils) on a diabetic diet, depending on your restriction levels. Which fit into cheap bulk food category.
drewrv 10y ago
This is only true if your time is worthless or you really love cooking.

r00fus 10y ago

Was the parent comment really about "how to talk to depressed people"? I gather no, it's more like a basic guide to life. Depression is a real thing and requires treatment above & beyond basic exercise/eating/sleep.

ryanobjc 10y ago
It's called an analogy.