Is Junk Food Really Cheaper?

Re:Is Junk Food Really Cheaper? by tzs on Sunday September 25, 2011 @07:49PM (#3037096)

I wonder if we should make basic cooking a required class in high school? Even if people who would otherwise eat fast/junk food every night would cook at home just a couple nights a week, it would probably make a noticeable improvement in our overall health.

There are some basic dishes that are very quick and easy to make, and very cheap. For example, consider spaghetti. A box of dry spaghetti is cheap and has a very long shelf life, and is quick and easy to cook (boil water, drop in spaghetti, turn heat down slightly--read HN on your mobile device for 10 minutes, occasionally stirring the spaghetti). Drain, put on plate. Pour on some bottled sauce that you've heated up (go ahead and use the microwave).

Congratulations--you've now made an alternative to your usual Big Mac, in 10 minutes, and it cost you under $0.50.

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Re:Is Junk Food Really Cheaper? by tptacek on Sunday September 25, 2011 @10:59PM (#3037460)

They teach basic cooking in middle school in Chicago.

Much is made of food availability and "food deserts" and the like, but the real issue is time. Even "very quick" meals take more time & effort than fast food.

It's particularly the case when you're cooking for a family. Fast food is practically guaranteed to be palatable, but taking a box of dry spaghetti and making it palatable to 4 different palates takes some doing.

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