5 ms·

I recently started the Whole 30 diet (paleo), and it's nearly impossible to avoid sugar, corn starch, and dextrose. Almost all fooeds seem to have one of those.

I recently started the Whole 30 diet (paleo), and it's nearly impossible to avoid sugar, corn starch, and dextrose. Almost all fooeds seem to have one of those. Often for no reason: why put sugar in beans and bacon, or corn starch in turkey? The amount of money I'm spending on food jumped by 3x. It seems accurate to say that if you're poor, you're almost forced to eat sugar for economic reasons.

TheSpiceIsLife 9y ago
I don't follow any particular diet, but most of my meals are vegetables and a small amount meat / fish / eggs / chicken. I find it quite affordable. I typically avoid buying anything processed, those items rapidly ruin my budget.
- sluggg 9y ago
  "I typically avoid buying anything processed, those items rapidly ruin my budget." ... what processed foods are on average considerably cheaper. Spam, hot dogs, bacon, deli meats, and the list goes on and on. Where do you shop? I am highly skeptical of your claims.
  - nopassrecover 9y ago
    Depends where you live. Fresh food from an independent grocer is noticeably cheaper, fresher, longer-lasting, and tastier than any of the food (packaged or fresh) from major supermarkets here in Australia.
  - always_good 9y ago
    Deli meats are pretty expensive. So is bacon if you're using it as your entree.
obstacle1 9y ago
>Almost all fooeds seem to have one of those Almost all prepared, packaged, or preserved foods have one of those. The solution is actually pretty simple: eat meals made from base/raw ingredients only. Beans, nuts, meats, vegetables, fruits, vegetable oils, spices... Endless varieties of stuff to cook with, combine, and eat alone. People just aren't used to eating this way, because prepackaged crap has been the norm for so long. You are right that if you're poor, it's difficult to eat this way, though.
- hydrox24 9y ago
  > prepackaged crap has been the norm for so long > if you're poor, it's difficult to eat this way, though. And it is difficult for some poor people to eat this way because their cultural poverty exacerbates or even causes their financial poverty. Their parents (if they were lucky enough to have two) didn't teach them to prepare basic meals, sharpen a knife, or care for a frying pan. Each of these skills is a barrier to entry, and they add up quickly for basic meals. It's not the only major barrier, but I think that we have really pulled the rug out from the poorest by exchanging cultural norms for convenience and a net rise in costs.
  - leakyabs 9y ago
    I don’t doubt that crappy food is cheap, but I would be interested in knowing what the cheapest bulk, nutritionally-complete foods you can buy are and where, especially when you factor in how crappy food just makes you hungry faster and eventually results in ridiculous healthcare costs. The poor certainly are being screwed over, though. Food companies make processed food delicious and prevelant, and it affects the poorest among us the most.
devmunchies 9y ago
No, that's because you have the artificial requirement to eat meat and stuff, which usually has additives. I've been in a whole food plant based diet and it's super cheap to buy all of the fruits, vegetables, grains, etc in bulk.
- sethammons 9y ago
  Fruits and vegetables in bulk? How are you storing them? If we don't eat ours within a few days or a week they spoil.
bluewater 9y ago
Just finished my whole30 and it is indeed eye opening what’s in seemingly normal food like you mention. While it was a difficult month I do think it was a worthwile endeavor. Good luck to you! P.S. check your spices, some of those even have added ingredients for shelf life, anti-clumping, color, etc
KozmoNau7 9y ago
While I think paleo diets are going too far in the wrong direction in the search for a dietary solution, I emphasize with your observed problems. It seems that sugar is simply added by default to far too many foods. The biggest thing I would suggest is to avoid canned foods, especially beans. Buy dried beans instead. They don't take that much effort to cook, the only thing is that you need to remember to soak them overnight (and discard the soaking water) before cooking. As an added bonus, dried beans, lentils, chickpeas and so on are inexpensive and widely available. You could also get a pressure cooker, which is just a good idea in general, and will allow you to cook beans directly in about an hour.
Hockenbrizzle 9y ago
Sugar is common for curing meats like bacon. I don't know if it plays a role in pulling out the water like salt does, but I know some use it to offset the strong saltiness. I think it also provides for some bacteria which help preserve the meat.

TheSpiceIsLife 9y ago

I don't follow any particular diet, but most of my meals are vegetables and a small amount meat / fish / eggs / chicken. I find it quite affordable. I typically avoid buying anything processed, those items rapidly ruin my budget.

sluggg 9y ago
"I typically avoid buying anything processed, those items rapidly ruin my budget." ... what processed foods are on average considerably cheaper. Spam, hot dogs, bacon, deli meats, and the list goes on and on. Where do you shop? I am highly skeptical of your claims.
- nopassrecover 9y ago
  Depends where you live. Fresh food from an independent grocer is noticeably cheaper, fresher, longer-lasting, and tastier than any of the food (packaged or fresh) from major supermarkets here in Australia.
- always_good 9y ago
  Deli meats are pretty expensive. So is bacon if you're using it as your entree.

obstacle1 9y ago

>Almost all fooeds seem to have one of those Almost all prepared, packaged, or preserved foods have one of those. The solution is actually pretty simple: eat meals made from base/raw ingredients only. Beans, nuts, meats, vegetables, fruits, vegetable oils, spices... Endless varieties of stuff to cook with, combine, and eat alone. People just aren't used to eating this way, because prepackaged crap has been the norm for so long. You are right that if you're poor, it's difficult to eat this way, though.

hydrox24 9y ago
> prepackaged crap has been the norm for so long > if you're poor, it's difficult to eat this way, though. And it is difficult for some poor people to eat this way because their cultural poverty exacerbates or even causes their financial poverty. Their parents (if they were lucky enough to have two) didn't teach them to prepare basic meals, sharpen a knife, or care for a frying pan. Each of these skills is a barrier to entry, and they add up quickly for basic meals. It's not the only major barrier, but I think that we have really pulled the rug out from the poorest by exchanging cultural norms for convenience and a net rise in costs.
- leakyabs 9y ago
  I don’t doubt that crappy food is cheap, but I would be interested in knowing what the cheapest bulk, nutritionally-complete foods you can buy are and where, especially when you factor in how crappy food just makes you hungry faster and eventually results in ridiculous healthcare costs. The poor certainly are being screwed over, though. Food companies make processed food delicious and prevelant, and it affects the poorest among us the most.

devmunchies 9y ago

No, that's because you have the artificial requirement to eat meat and stuff, which usually has additives. I've been in a whole food plant based diet and it's super cheap to buy all of the fruits, vegetables, grains, etc in bulk.

sethammons 9y ago
Fruits and vegetables in bulk? How are you storing them? If we don't eat ours within a few days or a week they spoil.

bluewater 9y ago

Just finished my whole30 and it is indeed eye opening what’s in seemingly normal food like you mention. While it was a difficult month I do think it was a worthwile endeavor. Good luck to you! P.S. check your spices, some of those even have added ingredients for shelf life, anti-clumping, color, etc

KozmoNau7 9y ago

While I think paleo diets are going too far in the wrong direction in the search for a dietary solution, I emphasize with your observed problems. It seems that sugar is simply added by default to far too many foods. The biggest thing I would suggest is to avoid canned foods, especially beans. Buy dried beans instead. They don't take that much effort to cook, the only thing is that you need to remember to soak them overnight (and discard the soaking water) before cooking. As an added bonus, dried beans, lentils, chickpeas and so on are inexpensive and widely available. You could also get a pressure cooker, which is just a good idea in general, and will allow you to cook beans directly in about an hour.

Hockenbrizzle 9y ago

Sugar is common for curing meats like bacon. I don't know if it plays a role in pulling out the water like salt does, but I know some use it to offset the strong saltiness. I think it also provides for some bacteria which help preserve the meat.