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Why Americans are going hungry despite a strong economy
(www.nbcnews.com)
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this post was submitted on 10 Dec 2023
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It’s incredible to me that people need over $2k a month for food. I go to Sam’s once a week to replenish supplies and feed a house of six, two adults and four boys between 10-14, on $800-$1000 a month. That includes a ribeye or new york strip dinner every Saturday so theirs still plenty that could be cut. What the hell are people eating?
I sound like you, but I bet your answer is that we're buying groceries and preparing a lot of those meals.
Single parents or busy ones that can't do that have to buy ready food.
A classic tale of "it's expensive to be poor".
And the costs are beyond just dollars. My wife and I recently started cooking at home (and even growing some food) and I lost 20 pounds. My wife lost 50 pounds. We aren't cooking the healthiest things ever, but we make it at home.
So I started looking at prices since my comment and I think you hit the nail on the head. It’s astounding to me what the difference in cost is for premade or hell even just not bulk. I had no idea how much I was saving with a vacuum sealer and apparent luxury of having a large pantry and large standup freezer to go with the kitchen fridge/freezer. I don’t think I could make it through more than a couple days using a top of fridge freezer if that’s all I had. So bulk buying wouldn’t even really be possible as a typical renter. Just the wasted time having to shop multiple times a week (not just grabbing something but legit grocery shopping) sounds miserable and the expense from extra trips doesn’t help any.
With only a few people, you can maybe go a week with a normal freezer. But you will be eating everything you have. With 6 people? You would need to go shopping every 2 or 3 days. You will not buy frozen things in bulk unless you want to only eat a few items for 2 days.
Nobody has to buy pre-made food. That's just inherent lazy bullshit. Not to say the economy isn't fucked left right and center, and recent inflation is completely fabricated bullshit. But to say you have to buy ready-made tells me you're too stupid to cook, or stupid with your time.
Bro , some people work multiple jobs and literally have time to sleep when they are home. They don't have time to cook. It happens, and those people aren't lazy.
I'd love to see how many manage to find downtime for their phones, etc. Takes 20 minutes tops to make a healthy meal.
Odd that you found time to post, you should really be working harder.
I'm not struggling since I understand how to take care of myself.
Do you have to take care of a family? One where your domestic partner can’t work because they have to look after the kid(s)?
in my city, there are numerous "food deserts" where fresh food generally isn't available, and people go to pricey convenience stores which sell, guess what, premade food, junk. When you are raised that way, and everyone around you does the same, it comes naturally. And who is educating them otherwise, or making useful changes?
My mom grew up not knowing how to cook, bc they almost never had real food in their house (actually the "projects", single mom with schizoaffective disorder, four kids). She was working at like 12, 13, and if she were still alive, I'd love for you to try telling her they were lazy lmao
I'd be happy to call her lazy as your anecdote is just that. Books exist, as do library's, all full of knowledge on how to make shit to eat.
Here's a thought. Maybe. Just. Maybe. There are people that live in the United States that don't own a car to fill to the brim with that amount of supplies. It's difficult to carry that amount of groceries on a crowded and late bus back to your apartment. Delivery you say? Well. That's extra isn't it? Remember to tip or else. See. Not everyone lives like you. In fact. Less and less people live like you everyday. When the tipping point eventually comes. What will you say then?
There are some economies of scale with a bigger family, though. I pay more per person now with household of 4, than when we had more kids. Getting stuff in bulk works best with a large household.
And yes cooking saves money too. Ingredients don't cost as much as prepared foods. You pay in time or you pay in money.
Probably people buying a ton of pre-made meals and whole foods. A lot of people just put stuff in their carts without considering prices.
That's definitely not what happens to most people, a lot of them don't have time to cook or have never been taught how to buy proper food because of the failed education system.
You're a tone deaf wanker