I recently ran across a great article about how we view (or in the words of the author, “demand cheap”) food . The point is well taken. We want cheap food, but what price are we really paying for it? Not necessarily dollar wise, but are we sacrificing our health? I believe we are. We buy mammoth SUV’s, high end electronics and castles (or homes to some) and expect (demand) to pay $1.99 for a meal? Read on for more.
WHAT CHEAP FOOD REALLY COSTS
Grocery money is an odd sticking point for U.S. citizens, who on average spend a lower proportion of our income on food than people in any other country, or any time heretofore in history. En masse, even in school lunches, we broadly justify consumption of tallow-fried animal pulp on the grounds that it’s cheaper than whole grains, fresh vegetables, hormone-free dairy and such. Whether on school boards or in families, budget keepers may be aware of the health trade-off but still feel compelled to economize on food — in a manner that would be utterly unacceptable if the health risk involved an unsafe family vehicle or a plume of benzene running through a school basement.
It’s interesting that penny-pinching is an accepted defense for toxic food habits, when frugality so rarely rules other consumer domains. At any income level, we can be relied upon for categorically unnecessary purchases: portable-earplug music instead of the radio; extra-fast Internet for leisure use; heavy vehicles to transport light loads; name-brand clothing instead of plainer gear. “Economizing,” as applied to clothing, generally means looking for discount name brands instead of wearing last year’s clothes again. The dread of rearing unfashionable children is understandable. But as a priority, “makes me look cool” has passed up “keeps arteries functional” and left the kids huffing and puffing in the dust.
To read the full article, visit Mother Earth News.
Think about it this way.
Eat cheap, processed food. Get sick more often, most likely become overweight, and accumulate related diseases and health problems. Still drive the expensive SUV, get the HD flat screen TV, satellite TV with thousands of channels (so you can unproductively sit and eat more processed food), buy designer clothes, makeup, hairdressers, ball games, salons….
In this scenario you most likely have high medical costs, illnesses and a fast paced life. Yes, you didn’t pay much for your food, but you’re paying a mighty high price in exchange: high health care costs (drugs, doctor visits, hospital stays, etc), shorter life span, regular discomforts and/or illnesses, high risk of a large number of diseases and less time to live happily.
Consider the alternative.
Pay a little more for fresh or dried organic and/or local fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, take less time to prepare meals and eat conveniently. You avoid most health care costs (since you don’t get sick often), feel great and enjoy your life more since you spend less time in and out of doctors offices, hospitals, pharmacies etc. And, you also have more money to spend on all those things you enjoy.
It’s hard to understand “that penny-pinching is an accepted defense for toxic food habits”. Hey, I got cancer, but I saved a buck on my lunch at Taco Bell!
What is your choice?
To your best health!
Mark
Your Health and Weight Loss Coach
Diets Don’t Work
http://www.HealthyLivingTalk.com
Want health and convenience? Learn about the delicious, healthy, organic and convenient foods that you can take with you anywhere… and keep you smiling, satisfied and healthy. Guaranteed. Work, school, car, bag lunch, snack, kid’s lunch box… Learn more about healthy organic food and snacks now.
Just ran across an interesting statistic about the true cost of eating meat, specifically hamburgers.
