Cheap Food Trumps Healthy During Recession

By: Molly Kordares
Topics: Signs Of Recession

(AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)

Last week, First Lady Michelle Obama presided at a groundbreaking for a garden on the White House lawn.

Her plan is to educate children about healthy food options. Her hope is that "they will begin to educate their families and that will, in turn, begin to educate our communities."

This message is timely. With less money to spend, consumers are more likely to turn to cheaper food options that lack high nutritional value.

For example, Dollar Menu sales are credited to McDonald's 5.4 percent sales increase in the U.S. this January. Though McDonald's and others in the fast food business do offer healthy options, the reality is that economic recessions test the resolve and pocketbook of even the most health-conscious individuals and families.

(AP Photo)

The math is simple — can you afford a $3 organic apple or $7 bag of organic granola versus a $1 McDouble Burger? Many will say no, despite the fact that an unhealthy diet can foster long-term consequences like obesity or heart problems that an economic recovery won't suddenly fix.

Adam Drewnowski, the director of Nutrition Sciences at the University of Washington, told Reuters, that obesity is a "toxic result of a failing economic environment" and predicted that, to save money, people "will be eating more empty calories or foods high in sugar, saturated fats and refined grains."

To be fair, the Obamas have done more than just plant symbolic seeds. President Obama's stimulus plan includes an extra $20 billion for food stamps which could be very important as the recession goes on.

But food stamps can come with their own set of problems. According to research conducted by UCLA and PolicyLink, a nonprofit research and advocacy organization, there is "a lack of access to healthy foods in many low-income communities across the country, particularly in low-income communities of color."

So if food stamp recipients live in low-income areas, they are less likely not just to purchase healthy food but even have access to it in the first place.

"The picture is complicated," said Judith Bell, PolicyLink's president, but what's clear is "the need for policies that increase access to healthy and affordable food."

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by JimGaming March 30, 2010 2:17 PM EDT: ***********What is Food METH ? --

Food METH is NOT a MYTH!

Fast food is so addictive, BECAUSE IT CONTAINS "HIDDEN MSG" (monosodium glutamate), the 'METH' of the Processed Food Industry!

SEE: http://www.TruthInLabeling.org '/HiddenSources.html'
for 25 plus Names used for "HIDDEN MSG." You will never guess their names!

The "HIDDEN MSG" has clever names! The MSG is hiding right under the
public's noses. MSG (an 'excitotoxin') only purpose in food, is to make you eat more and more and more and....

'Truthinlabeling.org' lists the huge number of names for the "HIDDEN MSG,"

so you won't be fooled any more !!!!

For example, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein (HVP) is made by boiling junk vegetables in vats of sulfuric acid and then doused with caustic soda.

--Sounds like the making of METH!--

But HVP is "only one" of the new FOOD METHs. It was recently, recalled by the FDA for salmonella contamination.

"Citric acid", made from "CORN and BLACK MOLD," is another clever name.

Everyone thinks it is made from citrus. LOL

Try a few more names on for size: CARRAGEENAN, Natural Flavors, Spices, Malted Barley, Autolyzed Yeast, Enzyme Modified, etc....

"HIDDEN MSG" is in Baby formula, sauces, dips, garden burgers, chili, etc.

I lost 12 pounds immediately after I eliminated food with "HIDDEN MSG!"

And I ask you, "Would you knowingly consume MSG or feed it to your BABY?"

Most would answer, "Absolutely NOT!"

I hate to tell you, but you are eating it if you are eating FAST FOOD! or Processed Foods!; Reply to this comment


by KreagMo March 27, 2009 9:35 PM EDT: It?s horrible that we have to blame our bad eating habits on the economy, like the previous commenter said it doesn?t have to be organic! Just not something that is fried with the grease scraped up off of the road. Eating unhealthy is just going to lead our economy down the drain even more. When you eat unhealthy you?re going to be unhealthy and when your unhealthy you have health problems and when you have health problems you go to the doctor and when you go to the doctor you need insurance, the insurance that everyone has and not everyone pays for.; Reply to this comment


by I_am_me1953 March 24, 2009 11:15 AM EDT: From the above article, "The math is simple ? can you afford a $3 organic apple or $7 bag of organic granola versus a $1 McDouble Burger? Many will say no, despite the fact that an unhealthy diet can foster long-term consequences like obesity or heart problems that an economic recovery won't suddenly fix."
_____________________

I eat lunch for about $27 per week. No McD's. Jack, King, KFC, etc.

On Sunday I go to the local store and buy salad fixins, go home and make the salad and take that to work with me for lunch all week. I use cold processed extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar dressing with McCormick salad seasoning. Occasionally there is some left over grilled chicken from sunday's dinner to top the salad off with.

The junk foods are costing you your health and slowly killing you.; Reply to this comment


by clancy49 March 24, 2009 9:38 AM EDT: Fast food is convenient food. It is the convenience of not having to think or labor for food. So yes, people pick the cheaper convenient food. This so called healthy organic food isn't really all that healthy either. A lot of it is name brand price to make you feel better. A Mac Salad with dressing is about the same in fat and calories as that $1 burger. It takes learning and work to grow your own vegetables, but contrary to what most people believe, you can eat some healthy vegetables even in the inner city. You grow your veggies in containers. No, you won't feed the world or even your neighborhood, but you will feed your family some healthy food once and awhile. Nothing tastes better and nothing is better for you than a raw freshly harvested vegetable. Even cooked, like my home grown sweet potato was a taste of delight. I have as much space where I live (in the city) as any city dweller. I use a combination of edible landscaping and container gardening. Everyweek I harvest some form of fresh vegetable for my table, year round. I don't eat at fast food at all, and I rarely eat out. I prefer to dine in, but I actually have to cook my meals.; Reply to this comment


by MIO42 March 24, 2009 7:04 AM EDT: you ARE what you eat !; Reply to this comment


by honestabe8 March 24, 2009 5:46 AM EDT: Beans and rice are cheap.; Reply to this comment


by whitemale08 March 24, 2009 12:34 AM EDT: Another feature of Adam Smith and his 'invisible hand'.

The British want us to either starve to death or kill ourselves by eating junkfood so we can either die from malnutrition or bankrupt our health care system.

Whatever way...it's the British way.; Reply to this comment


by north1949 March 23, 2009 8:09 PM EDT: What a stupid article. Eat real Quaker Oats...pennies a serving, instead of sweetened processed cereals...an apple doesn't have to be organic...and at about 80 cents is a lot cheaper than a candy bar. DRINK WATER instead of the gallons of soda pop I see in your grocery carts, and then perhaps your kids could afford a glass or two of milk a day. Use dried beans and brown rice as a basis for soups or casseroles, celery and carrot sticks for snacks.
I raised six kids on a shoestring and stayed away from fatty, sugary, salty processed foods...my children were well nourished but never an ounce overweight. We did have a garden, so for five months out of the year there was fresh food on the table, as well.; Reply to this comment


by brainteaser2 March 23, 2009 6:49 PM EDT: It does not have to be expensive "organic" food for it to be healthy. $7 granola try a box of fiber 1 its actually much more healthy to start off with. Spend your money on vegetables and beans - you can make delicious meals to feed everyone. Fast food remains lazy food - I don't want to cook so I'll buy this junk and stick it in my face. Save the special organic purchases for better times - better yet grow it yourself.; Reply to this comment