4 ms·

Kind of. Having lived for the past two years now on the low end of the income spectrum, eating well is definitely more expensive than eating for the least possi

by skolor 17y ago

Kind of. Having lived for the past two years now on the low end of the income spectrum, eating well is definitely more expensive than eating for the least possible. White bread is cheaper than Whole Wheat. Low fat meats are always more expensive than the fattier meats. Mind you, either way it is cheaper or it breaks even at worst when compared to buying pre-processed foods, but the point is: you can save some money by eating a little worse.

gaius 17y ago
It depends on how much prep you're prepared to do. You can make a hearty lentil curry very cheaply, for example, if you buy the basic ingredients in bulk. 'Course this presupposes that you know how to cook, but that knowledge is very nearly free, the only investment is in time.
- randallsquared 17y ago
  But the time investment is considerable. One reason I don't cook more (and I do cook 3-8 times a week) is that to make anything except a few very simple dishes, there's so much coordination that it's barely worth it. Most recipes call for 5-15 different ingredients, and the chances are very good that you'll be out of at least one, and if you try to stock up so that it's less likely, stuff goes bad before you can get to it. The only solution I know is to go to the store to buy ingredients every day or two, which adds an average of half an hour prep time to each meal (assuming you go every two or three meals, optimistically). Also, the first few times I make something, it'll often not be very good, meaning that I have to be prepared to eat a few meals I don't even like, and which take extra time, just to learn a new dish. If I'm in an experimental mood, that's fine, but most of the time I just want to put in minimal effort and have a nice meal to eat while watching Sons of Anarchy or whatever. I guess the summary is: lots of time, and getting the knowledge of how to make something costs several unenjoyable meals and extra cooking time on top of that.
- theBobMcCormick 17y ago
  Wasn't it pointed out in a previous article linked here on HN that the poor tend to have less free time?
  - hughprime 17y ago
    Some poor people have too little free time (the ones working two minimum-wage jobs) while others have too much (the unemployed). It would be interesting to compare the obesity rates of the two groups. I doubt you'd find that the unemployed were thinner.
catzaa 17y ago
> White bread is cheaper than Whole Wheat. But brown bread is cheaper (and healthier) than white bread.

by skolor 17y ago

gaius 17y ago

It depends on how much prep you're prepared to do. You can make a hearty lentil curry very cheaply, for example, if you buy the basic ingredients in bulk. 'Course this presupposes that you know how to cook, but that knowledge is very nearly free, the only investment is in time.

randallsquared 17y ago
But the time investment is considerable. One reason I don't cook more (and I do cook 3-8 times a week) is that to make anything except a few very simple dishes, there's so much coordination that it's barely worth it. Most recipes call for 5-15 different ingredients, and the chances are very good that you'll be out of at least one, and if you try to stock up so that it's less likely, stuff goes bad before you can get to it. The only solution I know is to go to the store to buy ingredients every day or two, which adds an average of half an hour prep time to each meal (assuming you go every two or three meals, optimistically). Also, the first few times I make something, it'll often not be very good, meaning that I have to be prepared to eat a few meals I don't even like, and which take extra time, just to learn a new dish. If I'm in an experimental mood, that's fine, but most of the time I just want to put in minimal effort and have a nice meal to eat while watching Sons of Anarchy or whatever. I guess the summary is: lots of time, and getting the knowledge of how to make something costs several unenjoyable meals and extra cooking time on top of that.
theBobMcCormick 17y ago
Wasn't it pointed out in a previous article linked here on HN that the poor tend to have less free time?
- hughprime 17y ago
  Some poor people have too little free time (the ones working two minimum-wage jobs) while others have too much (the unemployed). It would be interesting to compare the obesity rates of the two groups. I doubt you'd find that the unemployed were thinner.

catzaa 17y ago

> White bread is cheaper than Whole Wheat. But brown bread is cheaper (and healthier) than white bread.