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The high cost of “low-brow” foods
Posted on January 16th, 2009 29 comments
On Monday, the Globe and Mail published an article titled, “Really cheap eats: how low will we go? Sorry foodies, canned meat, condensed soup and Jell-O are making a comeback.”
Sigh.
Apparently the economic recession has led Kraft foods and other makers of cheap crap pre-packaged processed convenience foods, to score massive profits as consumers mistake their products for affordable, nutritious foods.
The spokeswoman for Kraft said that, “we certainly are benefiting as consumers eat at home. We feel that in this challenging environment we’re well positioned to win.”
I wrote the following as a letter to the editor in the Globe and Mail:
Why are shoppers purchasing processed foods when they can boost their budgets by going back to basics? Relying on convenience food is the single biggest mistake you can make when attempting to cut costs. Baking supplies, legumes and root vegetables may appear more expensive because they are sold in larger quantities than single-serving convenience snacks. But compare the cost-per-serving and you will see the difference. To get more for your money, I recommend keeping things simple. Survival foods like carrots, cabbage and chickpeas will stretch your meals and stave off hunger. Dried lentils and beans provide protein for pennies, and homemade stews will go much further than single-meal soups from Campbell’s. The added bonus? These nutritious foods will cut, not contribute to, your health care costs.
It bothers me to think that people who are trying to get by on less are automatically fueling up on goods that can be, depending on how frugal and creative you are in the kitchen, more expensive that home-cooked meals. But the problem doesn’t stop there. As was pointed out in the Globe article, empty carbohydrates that come from, say, Kraft Dinner, leave you hungry and sluggish, leading your productivity at work to wane, and providing you with cravings for more food a few hours (or minutes!) later.
But what really bothers me about this is the idea that being frugal means self-deprivation. Cheap eats can come in the form of delicious, warm and satisfying meals, shared with your family, and lovingly made. It doesn’t have to come in a box or a can that leaves you starved for flavour and texture. A lot of our daily pleasure comes from food. By relying on powdered cheese for flavour, you are ignoring other delicious culinary delights that can spice to your life. Deprivation will leave you desperate for a boost and you won’t come out ahead.
Comparing Campbell’s to the real thing
Price Chopper had a sale on this week - Campbell’s soups were 2/$1. Great deal, right? Well, let’s compare the price to a delicious homemade soup - one of my favourites - Coarse carrot and ginger soup. Ironically, I found this recipe in a magazine - it was in a Cambell’s soup advertisement for Carrot Ginger Soup.
Let’s compare the costs of our soups.
Coarse Carrot and Ginger Soup - courtesy of Campbell’s
2 cups coarsely chopped carrots
Price Chopper had a sale on this week - 5lb bags of carrots, onions or beets were $1 each. Purchased 5lb bag at Price Chopper and used 3 carrots - each carrot approx. 7¢ - 21 cents
3/4 each, coarsely chopped onion and potato
Purchased 5lb bag of onions at PC and used 2 onions, or 1/5th of the bag - 20 cents
Purchased 5lb bag of potatoes for $2.99 - use 1 potato, or 1/25th of the bag - 12 cents
1 tbsp butter
Purchased butter for $4.19 after coupon - use 1 tbsp - approx. 8 cents
1 carton Campbell’s Ready to Use Organic Chicken Broth
Make your own from chicken bones and vegetables that have already turned (free) plus one onion - 10 cents
1 1/2 tbsp minced fresh ginger root
Bought .055 kg of ginger for 12 cents - use 1/3rd for 4 cents
1/8 tsp ground black pepper
Purchase in bulk - one cent
1 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
Could easily omit this since a lot of people hate this herb, but I love it and think it’s worth the money - assume a price of $1.69 a bunch in the winter, use 1/10th - 17 cents
Your total price: 93¢ - But this recipe serves FIVE - where as the Cambell’s soup serves two, at best.
The price of the homemade soup: 17¢ per person
The price of the Campbell’s soup: 25¢ per person. We’re also assuming here that the soup you bought is mixed with water only. If it is a cream based, add more cost for the milk. We’re also assuming that no taxes apply.
Not only is the homemade soup cheaper, it is far more nutritious, hearty and packed with the delicious flavour of ginger and cilantro.
The bottom line: eat and enjoy yourself. It’s not just about eking out an existence, it’s about finding ways to experience great flavours - and all the other joys of life. And you can do so without compromising your budget.
29 responses to “The high cost of “low-brow” foods”
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Michelle January 16th, 2009 at 08:04
Excellent comparison to drive it home. I have to admit, I buy the Campbell’s and KD, but they’re stand-ins for a quick “the bus is coming in 15 minutes and we haven’t gotten out of our own way this morning” lunches for the kids or for a quick lunch on weekends when there aren’t any leftovers. Frozen pizzas serve the same purpose on Guide nights when we have to get into and out of the house in less than an hour.
Last weekend while looking at the price of beans for this week’s chili, I saw a can of chili overhead and wondered why anyone would purchase 1 can, which honestly probably feeds 1 adult (or 1 1/2 maybe if you stretch it) for $2.00 when they can make their own with a .99¢ can of pasta sauce, 3X.69¢ cans of kidney beans, navy beans, and chick peas, throw in a red and green pepper, maybe a can of tomatoes (since the garden toms are all eaten now), add some spice, a $3 pack of chicken or ground beef, and voila, dinner and 2 lunches for 4 people completed for less than $12. Mutiply the same can of Stagg by the number of meals and you’re at $24 on the low end, plus zero good nutrition and even less satisfaction in feeling like you’ve done a good thing for your family’s bellies and health.
Hope all is well SQ, keep up the healthy eating, yoga, and other activities. You’ll beat AS with that for sure!
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I agree. With buying the things from scratch and making your own sauce etc, it’s a lot cheaper than buying that pre-packaged crap.
Fabulously Broke in the City
“Just a girl trying to find a balance between being a Shopaholic and a Saver.“ -
Since we keep a kosher house, and thus wrangle with all the additional costs that entails, we’ve (read: I, since I do the cooking) have gotten really good at making things from scratch. It’s not only a cost thing for us, although kosher costs an arm and a leg, but that we know what we’re eating. Some of the ingredient lists on the “cheap crap” are terrifying.
You should send a full copy of this post to the G&M- it drives your point home and could wind up feeding you (pun intended) some new readers!
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I do buy some convience foods but shake my head at people who only eat convience foods.
I know people who have never had macaroni and cheese that didn’t come from a box, soup that has never come out of a can or bread fresh from the oven.
It’s amazing how much cheaper things can be if we do them ourselves.
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Bravo to you, Megan!! I fully agree. Keep writing these editorials, and articles to various media out there. We need to educate! You are so right. Eating on a budget does NOT have to mean compromising nutrition. In fact, you end up saving a lot more money down the road when you’re healthy and need far less in medical costs. In this recession, it’s important to get the message out there that our health does not have to suffer..we’re stressed enough and need to stay strong and healthy to deal with it!
Excellent post…A++++++! -
Brenda January 16th, 2009 at 10:00
I saw these media articles too and also laughed. In this day and age of NOW, everyone wants to eat fast, so they assume that means pre-packaged foods. For one thing, KD isn’t cheap (anymore). I noticed it was on “sale” for 69 cents, down from almost $1.00. That’s crazy! You can buy a bag of pasta for just over the same price, and add sauce, either canned or homemade for a lot cheaper - and have more than one meal! I do have frozen pizza in the freezer for convience, but it’s not that difficult to make pizza dough and freeze the dough out on a pan in the freezer either. I like the sound of the soup you gave the recipe for - think I might have to try that one! Thanks!
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Fantastic post SQ! So true. It’s a shame people rely on the cheap crap food. *sigh* I do admit to penchant for PC White Cheddar & Mac (great when you throw in some broccoli and/or red peppers…I go raw with that) and PC Black Bean soup (I know, I know, I could probably make it just as cheap without all the sodium, but it is good ready food that is filling and doesn’t seem so bad at $1.67). Anyways, good, healthy filling food is out there for cheap, just need to spend the time cooking it. With the Internet, it’s sooo easy to find recipes at the touch of a button - actually, so easy and so many choices it’s overwhelming.
Great job showing the cost comparison.
Kate, go vegetarian, and you won’t get hit so hard with the cost of that kosher meat.
Besides, if you saw the video I saw of the largest kosher processing plant, you’d actually wonder how kosher meat is any more “humane”.Good day y’all and happy new year. Hope the resolution war is being won.
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This is an awesome post! I found this via Fabulously Broke in the City who shared it in Google Reader. I’m a big believer in trying to avoid processed foods and making things from scratch. I’ll use some short cuts now and again, but I prefer to make things with fresh ingredients and as you point out, this is definitely more cost effective, in general. Thanks for the great post…maybe you’ll help convert some people to using fresh over processed?
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psychsarah January 16th, 2009 at 10:44
I love this breakdown! I already prefer to make my own soup and other food because I prefer to have control over what I put in my mouth, not to mention the superior flavour, but it’s neat to see that it does actually cost less. Perhaps this post will open some people’s eyes-good on ya SQ!
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where’s my post?
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EXCELLENT POST.
You are so right. There is a cost to buying and consuming crap food. The cost is just too high. STUMBLED! -
Fantastic blog! If you live in a warm climate, or kept a garden in ths ummer this recipe could be even cheaper AND a hobby. Nothing is better than cooking with items you grew yourself. Another bonus that comes with homemade soups is that you can be so creative and they freeze really well for later use! You can get so much more out of a batch (batch?) of soups by adding more broth and then a few more flavours - they are easy to stretch to get the most out of them.
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At the end of 08 I heard that Campbells was THE ONLY company who had not lost value in the world financial crash. I’m not sure how they have fared since, but I thought it was a telling sign of the times.
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I’m with you, sister! Cutting out convenience foods has reduced my food bill significantly. You can’t get food that’s cheaper, or tastier, than homemade soup.
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Catherine January 16th, 2009 at 15:03
Excellent post SQ! I’m a ‘make from scratch’ cook and don’t buy pre-packaged. So much better. Just wish my Mom were still alive (she went through the depression) as she had so many neat tricks up her sleeve…just wish I had written them down :o( Her Mom used to ‘can’ eggs (fresh and in the shell) and it’s been bugging me trying to remember how?!?!?
I’m afraid dh and I have to confess that we love to look in other carts at the grocery store, or loaded down conveyor belts at the register….hope the shock doesn’t show on our faces…..I worry about those people….. -
This makes me even happier that I got a smokin’ deal on my new slowcooker and bought a cookbook to go with it! My new home has a bed that I can use for my OWN veggies
An excellent post and reminder about these “foods” out there that have made so many so unhealthy. You wouldn’t eat poo, but you’d eat something manufactured and with 17 unpronouncable ingredients in it, some of which are used in floor cleaner?
PS - thank you (!) for your lovely comment and wishes for Elmo. He’s comfortable for the moment, and I’m feeling very neutral about it all right now. Time will tell. Cancer’s a bitch.
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I make most things from scratch but I confess I’m a very busy girl and sometimes reach for the convenience foods. I think convenience foods are a good first step for those who always eat out, kraft and campbells may not compare price wise to making your own but it’s a huge savings compared to buying all your meals in a restaurant. They are also good at getting those who can’t cook into the kitchen, so maybe in a year they’ll have the confidence to tackle homemade soups like yours!
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Andrea January 16th, 2009 at 20:56
Awesome letter, SQ!! Boxed food is such a waste of money…try out “grocerycartchallenge.blogspot.com”..the lady on the there is a smart cookie and she really has some TASTY breakfast menus..lunch & dinner too, for simple, back to basics ingredients. Check it out
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Hi there-a great post, the carrot and ginger soup sounds delicious!!
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Saver Queen January 17th, 2009 at 23:55
Thanks so much for your comments, everyone, and for your positive feedback!!
I agree that it’s reasonable to take advantage of convenience foods now and then - but that’s exactly what they are, occasional conveniences and really shouldn’t be relied on as “staples” which is what the grocery stores push them as. No one can ever manage to have a perfect diet and I think treats are a necessary and fun part of life. (And I have my vices, believe me.) But there are many ways to build convenience into our menu plans without sacrificing taste or quality. Hmm… I sense another blog post in the making!
@Erran - your post is on there - for some reason the blog didn’t recognize you as a regular commenter (which is wierd) so I had to approve it. Thanks for your comments!!!
@Michelle - thanks for the encouragement!
@Brenda - I know, junk food has climbed in price. The 2/$1 Campbell’s sale was the lowest I’ve seen. Most are selling for close to $1. It’s outrageous, really.
Thanks again, y’all!
Thanks again for your comments, y’all!
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I agree as well! I do have to say though that sometimes having these convenient foods on hand makes life a little easier! And when we are only feeding 2 adults and a 20 month old it is hard to get a huge stew or soup eaten all up!
We do try very a hard to eat very healthy meals and do all we can to use everything we buy! I like Campbell’s soup…we eat it all the time…I cook porkchops in onion soup and chicken in cream of mushroom and serve with rice and vegtables! It saves a lot of time and my family likes it! -
Camille January 20th, 2009 at 23:04
It is a good point to consider not only the immediate costs of eating junk food/convenience foods, but the long term impact on your health as well. Short term frugality is a must for many people but that does not mean we should sacrifice our health or the pleasure of eating well.
Thanks for breaking that down — brilliant. I would argue that a Campbells soup feeds less than two servings. A bowl of a hearty soup and some crusty bread on the other hand can easily be a meal — especially because it’s real food and actually fills you up.
In especially frugal times I have had to put aside gourmet ingredients, but I have never stopped cooking.
Of course, the equations used here assume you use up every bit of each item purchased — so you’ve either got to make huge batches of the soup and freeze, or get creative with your leftover ingredients (which is frankly something I really enjoy doing.)
There are millions of ways to save and prepare healthy, delicious foods… keep ‘em coming, SQ. -
Camille January 20th, 2009 at 23:05
Just noticed something funny — the “25% less sodium” on the SPAM can. As if somehow SPAM could be turned into a health food…let’s face it, it’s not even food.
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[...] post, “Take the high cost out of low-brow foods” was my most popular blog post [...]
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@Camille, haha, 25% less sodium - compared to what?
25% less sodium… than a 10 pound bag of salt.
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Saver Queen » Blog Archive » A delicious, healthy meal for less than $1.50 February 12th, 2009 at 16:35
[...] so you’ve all heard me rant and rave over the popularity of so-called cheap convenience foods, arguing that meals can be made for the same price or less than the cost of a box of Kraft [...]
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Sites like this help us with families to feed. I need all the grocery coupons I can get so if you of any other sites please let me know.
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[...] tomatoes and bacon, whole-wheat pasta with vegetables and parmesan, salmon-potato cakes, carrot-ginger soup (I doubled the ginger and doubled the flavour this time) and deserts such as eggless oatmeal [...]
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[...] The high cost of “low-brow” foods | Saver Queen [...]
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