We see a lot of articles from the news media about the rising tide of obesity. I saw this article recently that chronicled the increase in obesity since the economic downtown. It seems as though people are turning to cheap food thus causing obesity to rise even further. What was really interesting about this article was that it explained that yes, people are eating at home more often, but they aren’t actually making anything. Rather they are bringing home fast food, heating up frozen pizzas, and eating deli chicken. I found this fascinating.
The perception seems to be:
- It is cheaper to eat already prepared foods
- Take out and take home foods are faster
- It is less stressful to eat something prepared by someone else
- It’s too much work to plan ahead
Do you think these perceptions are new because of the economic downturn or do you think they have always been around? I’m not sure, but I think these perceptions grew stronger as it got easier and easier to find food for a dollar or two. What’s changed in the last 10 – 20 years? Well, certainly the abundance of fast food restaurants has changed. As has the number and variety of quick serve restaurants and casual dining establishments. Even our grocery stores have gotten in on the take home/take out act. Now you can buy an entire meal for under $10.00. Some of the offerings are healthy, but many are not.
Yes, the economy has changed over the last 2 to 3 years, but this trend in obesity has been in the making long before then. Even while the economy was booming our waistlines were rapidly increasing. Is it the marketing of fattening food? Is it our own perception of value?
I often wonder why people turn to easy to eat and prepare foods to the detriment of their own health. And when I say “people,” I’m including myself, because I was at the head of the line! It seems illogical, but on some level high fat, high calorie foods seemed to make me feel better, when in fact, those foods are a huge factor in obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancers, etc. Even though I had that knowledge in my head, I still couldn’t see it. I couldn’t seem to stop.
Even when John and I had some extremely lean financial years, I still brought food home or ate fast food several times a week. I didn’t see, or didn’t want to admit, the connection between my own weight issues and my choices. The food made me feel good temporarily. The $2.99 value meals seemed to fit within my limited food budget – but what did I really get for my money? And what are the people who are now turning to those “fast” choices getting? They are typically getting food that is heavily processed, unhealthily prepared, and offers limited nutritional value.
Just for fun, I compared a $4.99 breakfast meal (for one person) in a restaurant to a breakfast I made for the kids yesterday morning. I made whole wheat pancakes and a side of fruit for seven children. The total cost? $2.70 not including the syrup. So the perception that the quick foods are cheaper isn’t always true. I can make quesadillas, black beans, and vegetables for my whole family for under $8.00 total. And we’ve had a quick, easy to prepare, nutritious meal that leaves us satisfied. It not only leaves us satisfied, but often leaves enough for John to take for lunch the next day.
In my humble opinion, we’ve been sold a bill of goods. There are very few quick food meals that are cheaper to buy than to make at home. And maybe even more important, very few of those meals are as healthy as ones we can make at home. Why the disconnect between perception and reality? Or do you think there isn’t a disconnect, and it really is the economy? What are your ideas on how we can educate the general population. I’d love to hear your thoughts and ideas. Diane
Education is important, but (speaking from my own experience) it will fall on deaf ears until these hungry people are ready to make real change for themselves – not because someone is trying to kindly force them into it.
It was like that for me. My Aunt “preached” to me frequently about good health in my 20′s but it meant nothing. I had to make a decision for myself, and didn’t do so until I was about 32 years-old. And at that point, it was because my body was screaming for change. Not because the a commercial or billboard told me so.
But just my experience. I was hardheaded. Perhaps other will listens to the message. I don’t know.
.-= Yum Yucky´s last blog ..Greedy Giveaway: The Pure Bar Prize Pack! =-.
I agree when you say that people don’t really understand that they can eat healthy and actually save money. Maybe not everything organic, but good for your choices are possible.
It did take me some time to believe that since I was in such a rut with myself. A bag of salad will last me 3 days and costs a couple of dollars. A McDonald’s salad, cheeseburger and coke only last a minute and isn’t nearly as good for me.
I think we blame the economy for a lot. Like Yum Yucky said, until we believe ourselves the message that healthy isn’t impossible we probably won’t be able to do it. The advertising of these kinds of foods doesn’t make it easy either.
For me, I just try and set a good example for everyone I run into. I’ve seen people change what they do in how I am living.
I think this is a very complex situation. Do I think the rise in obesity can have a tie to the economy? Yes, but not in the way some are reasoning it. People eat when they are depressed. People eat when they are bored. Some might also argue that it is a carry over from leaner times, when people ate more when they had food, knowing the food supply was, or might be, running out for a time.
All that being said, I am not sure the current rise in obesity has anything to do with the economy, but it is possible.
On to your next point, yes, we have been sold a bill of goods. As you point out, you can cook for seven cheaper than you can buy a “cheap meal” for one. Of course, that supposes one can cook, which unfortunately isn’t always true any more. It also supposes one knows how to shop, which also isn’t always true any more.
I, for one, think we would all be better off if there were a lot more cooking at home, and a lot less fast food, but I don’t know that it is possible to reverse this trend nation- or world-wide.
.-= South Beach Steve´s last blog ..Taking it a Little Slower =-.
I saw a story on Dateline or one of those types of programs the other night where a family of 4 was shopping for groceries. They put back apples because they were more expensive than the bag of chips and soda. It made me sick to my stomach.
I do not eat fast food and I cook at home whenever possible. Healthy staples are affordable…lentils, eggs, and vegetables, too.
I am in a financial crunch right now and my diet and gym membership remain on my priority list. My health is a priority.
.-= Joanna Sutter´s last blog ..The Fit Female Credo =-.
I think there is a psychology to it. I know, in my self, taking the time to make the pancakes is highly dependent on my state of mind. I’ve recently separated myself from a lot of the things in my life -we’ve temporarily relocated halfway around the world!- and that’s what it’s taken to get me into the kitchen and using the simple ingredients to make food that’s much better than the stuff somebody can make for me in most restaurants.
We have to get outside of ourselves to make changes.
.-= Simbelmynë´s last blog ..The New Moon =-.
My connection would be that a lot of people are overwhelmed and depressed about our country’s rapid descent into bankruptcy and socialism and are eating for comfort.
So many of the younger women I know do not even know how to actually cook from “scratch.” And so many of the older ones prefer to eat out or pick something up to bring home and I am including some of my older friends (60′s) who are SAHWs. My husband has often pointed out that so many of today’s farm families don’t even bother to raise a garden. I have always gardened and cooked and have baked our bread for many years. A 50 pound bag of hard wheat for $40 makes a lot of bread! My husband is 69 and I am 60 and neither of us has diabetes or high blood pressure. I’m sure there’s a connection!
I don’t think the disconnect is limited to food. I think the disconnect includes how people are raising their children, using their credit cards, participating in their own spiritual growth, education, what have you. I think the fat is just the part that can be easily seen.
.-= vickie´s last blog ..Sodium – yes, it is my current soap box =-.
And yes, I was a restaurant habit person too. What I was feeding my kids then – was appalling! I think that I just couldn’t DEAL with most anything. And having each person order what they wanted – was a means of not dealing.
And I did absolutely know HOW to cook (I think many people do not know how to cook from scratch and think that it is hard to learn).
I also think that restaurants made me feel like someone was taking care of me. I think this might have been a big part of it.
.-= vickie´s last blog ..Sodium – yes, it is my current soap box =-.
I honestly believe fast food and convenience foods have nothing to do with an economic reason, but much more to do with the perception that buying ready made things is a way to reward ourselves. If you cannot afford to go to entertainment event or on a big vacation, fast/premade/convenient junk sort of food is a cheap and easy substitute. We get conditioned to this mindset very early through holiday foods, birthday cake, the promise of candy if we behave or a trip to McDonalds or so forth for a special treat. As adults we repeat the behaviors we learned so early and so innocently. To break the cycle it takes a lot of thought, and some creative approaches to teach our “monkey brains” that there are other ways of doing things. In our house, special means candles on the table, flowers and table events instead of food.
.-= Diane´s last blog ..Not using my noodle, but using my head instead =-.
It is a very interesting question Diane. I do think in some cases, people are working 2 & 3 jobs to get by so planning is harder even though it can be done. Other cases, the depression or frustration that comes with the bad times.. we all know what the mental & emotional eating can do to us. But also like you said, people ate when times were good too!
There are a couple shows on Food Network now that show how to cook a meal for 4 for minimal $ per serving just like you mentioned in your post.
It is hard at times but people just have to want it more & plan for it. During stressful times, your health is so important! Clogging up the arteries ain’t gonna help!
.-= Jody – Fit at almost 52´s last blog ..Burn Major Calories; No Bake Protein Bars; Pediatric Cancer =-.
I eat a lot of fruit and vegetables, and I do have to buy groceries for them once a week, b/c they don’t last very long.(along with yogurt and some Lean Cuisines) But I think I probably spent more with going to the convenience store and buying the “junk food,” than I do with my once a week grocery store trip. $2-3 can really add up when you purchase something with that amount every day or even every few days. I never wanted to have the stuff on hand at my house (for fear I’d binge on it), so then I would go and buy it when I wanted it. That’s when it got expensive.
You’ve made an excellent point here. Too often we choose saving money over saving our health. I just did a similar post today where I talked about my version of “fast food”. There are a lot of ways to get a good, healthy meal in less time.
.-= karen@fitnessjourney´s last blog ..My Kind of Fast Food =-.
Diane, you apparently haven’t seen the docu-movie “Food Inc.” It fully explains this. It is the huge conglomerate food companies that have bought out the farmers, turning them into slaves, spraying our food with God knows what, engineering it to the hilt, and driving prices down SO low that it guarantees that people can and will eat their dollar-menu items at fast foods all across the land. They plotted it and have delivered fast food as cheap as possible. Let’s not even get into all the “convenience” (i.e. packaged) food they have created, available at our markets, that most of those grocery shopping subsist off of. I HIGHLY recommend this film. It’s extremely well done, and/but quite an eye opener.
.-= Sunny´s last blog ..When an Affair Dies from Lack of Passion =-.
p.s. I made a post about the movie back when I saw it. Here:
http://sunnygee.blogspot.com/2009/07/food-inc-movie.html
.-= Sunny´s last blog ..When an Affair Dies from Lack of Passion =-.
Forgive me:
Never try to get the fast food eating populace to change their eating habits!
1) They can’t do it!
2) You will annoy them if you try!
.-= Dr. J´s last blog ..Nutrition labeling part of healthcare bill =-.
This is one of my pet peeves! I actually have SAVED money not buying junk and eating at home with food I actually prepare. I do have the advantage of beef (raised ourselves) and deer that we have in the freezer, but still, to me eating crappy is much more expensive.
A quick stroll through the grocery store will confirm what you’re saying, Diane. Eighty percent of the items seem geared to conveience and economy over nutritional value. And the less you have to spend, the more likely you’ll be partaking in the worst that grocery stores have to offer.
I worked at a grocery store during college and was always amazed by what people on food stamps bought. It was never anything from the produce department; mostly junk food, chips and really crappy meats.
Today the trend for foods seem to be towards convenience and time-saving. That’s a true shame because it really is cheaper and better for you and your family to cook and consume “good” food. That message has gotten lost along the way…
Excellent post.
I don’t think it’s the economy’s fault. People are responsible for their own choices. I will say this. Produce is expensive. I could get a lot more food for my grocery budget if we weren’t eating so healthy. However, I think it’s worth spending the money on produce to eat healthier. Better a little extra money now than diabetes or a heart attack in twenty years.
Great post! I always get frustrated when I read that fast food is cheaper than home cooked food. You are so right; there are so many easy, cheap, healthy meals that you can make at home!
But making healthy & affordable food at home takes planning, and I think when people feel overwhelmed and stressed (because of the economy or other things), it’s very hard for them to plan. It seems just like one more thing to do and worry about. And it seems so much easier to hit the drive thru or take-out counter.
When it comes down to it, I think just about 20 minutes of planning meals and writing out a grocery list plus a trip to the store is really what it takes to eat healthy at home.
I also think that people who are eating a lot of fast food may want to ease into eating more home-cooked meals by maybe replacing one or two meals per week with home-cooked meals to start.
Two words: CORN SYRUP.
A few months back, I read an article on the subject of Corn Syrup, and how destructive it is to our health. Despite what the commercials would have you believe, we all know this stuff is deadly.
When I was young, there weren’t a lot of products made with corn syrup — which isn’t even a natural substance anyway. It’s a completely manufactured bunch of crap. Anyway, this article talked about how everything in the food chain is now fed CORN. Why? To fatten them up and do it FAST. Cattle do not eat corn on their own — they eat grain and grass. But on that diet, it takes too long to get them fat enough to slaughter for market. Enter: CORN. Cheap, fast, easy. But did you know they also feed corn to FISH? Ugh. Corn fed FISH??? What’s wrong with this picture? If we’re feeding our cows and our fish corn to fatten them up quicker, then doesn’t it follow we’re doing the same thing to ourselves every time we eat something sweetened with CORN syrup, and worse — something that was fed CORN???
There’s a huge market for corn, but ironically, it’s not cheaper to manufacture — it’s just a way to circumvent the natural order. No need to wonder why the lower class suffers from epidemic obesity. Fast food is nothing more than a death tax, if you ask me…
Thanks for the thoughtful and provocative posting, Diane
Just for fun, go to youtube and search for “High Fructose Corn Syrup” — quite an eye opener!
.-= Cari (aka Gastric Bypass Barbie)´s last blog ..Take Only What You Need =-.
Up until 45 days ago I was that person eating fast food and frozen pizzas and you name it…if it was “quick” and “cheap” I ate it. I’m also a hardcore couponer and the majority of coupons available are for processed, packaged, “junk” food. It’s difficult (but not impossible) to find coupons for meat, produce, dairy, etc. But, the thing I’ve realized since I started 45 days ago is what the true price of being fat is. The health related costs, the extra costs for plus size clothes, paying twice for plane ticket, etc. etc. All of those costs far outweigh any difference in price between a bag of fruit and a bag of chips. I wish more people would understand that…well, it DID take me 35 yrs to get it. Thanks for an insightful post, Diane.
“Even though I had that knowledge in my head, I still couldn’t see it. I couldn’t seem to stop.” —Your sentence resonates with me on so many levels!
Healthy foods are not expensive…it’s just that nutritionally-poor “food” is so, SO cheap. Higher quality foods are still less expensive in the USA than in other countries.
Fast food provides choices for everyone in the family. I become so discouraged when I prepare meals and then hear complaints. Can’t please everyone. I’m now teaching my kids that there will be things they do and don’t like, but they’ll get used to it, and it’s so good for them.
.-= Gina Fit by 41, Maybe 42´s last blog ..I Can Do Ten =-.
I really think its because we are addicted to the convenience factor. We’ve become a society that is instantly satisfied. We don’t have to work for anything or wait for anything. We have On Demand movies! Or DVR so we can watch whatever whenever! Or now the Kindle to download books instantly! Everything is so freakin’ convenient that it doesnt’ make sense to actually cook something from scratch.
One of my pet peeves is when people say eating healthy is “more expensive”. No its not! Most times fresh fruit and protein sources are a looooot cheaper than the processed crap that has already been prepared.
.-= Lola´s last blog ..Visualizing =-.
I’ve been making my own food for lunches and suppers this term as opposed to eating out quite a bit and I’ve saved a *ton*. The only time it gets dicey is if I make something that has a somewhat expensive ingredient in it (sun-dried tomatoes or pine nuts or something like that), which I don’t do very often. Buying organic will also drive the bill up, unfortunately.
I’m trying to stay as far away from prepared or processed foods more than ever.
I used to think that “We couldn’t afford to eat the healthier foods, they cost more”. But now that we eat correct portions, more ‘real’ foods like fresh fruits/veggies/whole grains, we are actually eating and buying LESS food each week.
I would love to buy everything organic, but those prices I watch out for yet. It was so nice having our own organic garden full of ripe fruit/veggies last summer
.-= brenda´s last blog ..Christmas theme challenge =-.
It does take time to cook and prepare. Especially if you don’t know how to do it! Planning meals and prepping for them become much faster and easier the more you do it, but it can feel overwhelming when you first start.
I think obesity really is due to the processing of foods and how much we eat of that stuff. Because nobody does it in moderation. You could easily have a frozen breakfast sandwich for breakfast, Lean Cuisine for lunch, and a taco bell value meal for dinner. With a total of about 2 grams of fiber. For that same $7 or so, you could actually have made a several really healthy meals.
Yes, one meal costs $3 at Taco Bell, which seems cheaper than preparing meals at home until you have a pantry stocked and ready to go.
.-= Lori (Finding Radiance)´s last blog ..NROLW and art with breakfast =-.
You know, it’s almost like we think that the price of the take-out value burger is equal to the amount of calories. $1.00 = 100 calories – but of course that’s all fuzzy math. I still view take-out as a treat (bad girl) and as such, never even attempt to over-think it…like getting a gift – I never ask how much it cost. I don’t view the food itself as the treat but more that it’s been prepared and packaged for me and is so much easier to clean up afterwards. However, the tide has turned with me as the bad health effects outweigh the convenience factor.
.-= Gigi´s last blog ..Shhhhh…..She’s Thinking =-.
Excellent post. Not much more I can add to the conversation that hasn’t already been said here.
.-= Paula´s last blog .."Anything you really want, you can attain, if you really go after it." =-.
I think like so much in our society that the government is trying to control us. They regulate crop prices and make it easy for big manufacturer’s to make just a few things.
For me, I don’t cook a lot, but I do make choices that are better for me. It’s important for me and hopefully for my future health.
After reading your excellent post, I noticed as ad on TV for a local pizza place, with a $4.99 all you can eat buffet! How are we going to compete with that. I go by the place all the time, because I buy fresh baked pita bread at the family run business next door, and the pizza buffet is packed!
.-= Dr. J´s last blog ..Biggest Loser season 8, episode 9: Double elimination =-.
working in the auto industry, I see first hand what the economy is doing to some of us.
there is a lot of depression, a lot of people worried and for those still employed, they are working so hard so as to escape the next round of layoffs.
having a meal plan is work, and it includes me spending most of sunday preparing my meals. i find most of my friends wouldn’t be willing to sacrifice a full day to do that.
like someone else mentioned, coupons really are geared towards pre-packaged items. i hit up 3 different stores for the best prices and once again, most people wouldn’t sacrifice 4 hours to do that.
i dont know if it’s laziness or whether people just dont want to dedicate that amount of time on their few precious hours.
.-= Rebecca @ Durch Dick und Duenn´s last blog ..Rebecca’s Lunchbox – Tortilla Encrusted Tilapia =-.
I don’t think most people realize that there are easy ways to cook good tasting and healthy foods. I know after a long day at work or school I’m not in the mood for cooking and it’s very easy to just pick up a pizza instead. I’ve stocked up on Fast Cooking cookbooks and I have the resources to cook healthfully and also quickly. Education is the key.
This is not an excuse for eating poorly but I wonder how many people recognize how devious the marketing industry is? We are unknowingly playing right into their hands time after time. The sugary cereal is at eye level, a kid’s eye level too, while the healthy stuff is above eye level where our vision doesn’t naturally see. The chips and fat laden specials are often at the ends of aisles. It is true that you should always shop the perimeter. The fast food chains play up our sense of economic with their super size deals. Their food is injected with salt and sweetness to lure us in. The pictures are mouth watering! The food industry doesn’t care about our health. They care about their bottom line and will do (immorally?) anything to catch our attention. “You deserve a break today!” Remember that? We need to educate ourselves and see the ploys for what they are!
I was always raised that it was cheaper to eat at home and I still agree. As a young wife, and very broke, I knew how to make our dollars stretch by cooking from scratch.
Mexican food can be very cheap and filling also, but often things are fried in lard or grease, so I know that eating at home is not always the most healthy.
I don’t think I can blame the economy, though I haven’t done enough research on the subject. I think we try too often to blame situations and surroundings for our obesity instead of taking responsibility that we are eating more than our bodies need and it’s our own fault.
My in-laws still eat good, home cooked mexican food that uses lard in some way for almost every meal and they manage to stay thin solely because they watch the portions.
Very thought provoking topic.
.-= Leah´s last blog ..Success Quote =-.
This is actually part of my job to figure out how to educate about a half a million people about healthy choices. It’s a lot of fun! How to share this info without preaching. how to show people that it can be really affordable to eat home made food. It’s interesting and fun to figure this out! I know we are saving a ton more money now that we’re eating at home mostly. Plus we’re eating more interesting food!
.-= MackAttack´s last blog ..when it rains… =-.
I do think our food culture has shifted– people are rushed and tired and cooking is sort of shoved into a corner. I only work part-time and I rely on a lot of convenience food. I spend a ton of money on food so it’s usually high quality convenience food (Wegman’s rocks!) But it’s really not so okay, and I appreciate the reminder in your post!
.-= Larkspur´s last blog ..That BMI Thing =-.
It IS possible to change what people and companies do. Incentives. How about a heavy tax on fast food? Dine-in or take out.
People will drastically change their behaviors based on what’s encouraged (monetarily) or not.