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A Tweet Saying That Unhealthy Food Is Cheaper Sparks A Discussion In The Comments
We’ve all been told to have a balanced diet, eat fresh vegetables and fruit every day, and avoid frozen or pre-made meals to stay healthy. But a lot of people still choose fast food, because they like it or they don’t know how to cook. In addition, it’s not always that, but for some people, it’s the only food they can afford.
Twitter user Emily Porter pointed out that overweight people who still continue to eat at McDonald’s may only be able to afford this kind of food and we should be less judgmental towards them. The tweet got mixed responses and while the majority of people were sympathizing with the statement, a lot of them didn’t agree with sacrificing one’s health for an easier food option.
More info: Twitter
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A doctor on Twitter defends those eating junk food by saying that people with lower income may be unable to afford healthier options
Image credits: stu_spivack (not the actual photo)
Emily Porter is a board-certified emergency physician, a wife and a mother that beat cancer two times in 20 years. Recently, she posted a tweet that made people divide into two camps: the ones agreeing with her and others disagreeing.
In said tweet, Dr. Porter encourages people to be more compassionate towards people who eat fast food because it could possibly be their only choice as healthier options are pricier. She compares a meal she bought at McDonalds that cost $3.25 with non-organic raspberries at Walmart that cost $8.96 for a pound.
She gives an example from her own experience when she ate a full meal from McDonald’s for $3.25 while a pound of raspberries at Walmart cost $8.96
Image credits: dremilyportermd
Image credits: dremilyportermd
According to the results of a meta-analysis published in 2013 in BMJ Open, a healthier diet costs $1.48 more a day, which would add up to $540.20 a year, and for a family of four, the amount would equal to $2,160.80.
Another study done in the UK by the Institute of Economic Affairs concluded that “switching to healthier versions of many staple products can be achieved at no extra cost.“ So there isn‘t a definite answer and it probably depends on where a person lives, what supermarkets are near their homes, and other factors.
Image credits: dremilyportermd
Dr. Porter also points out that not everyone has supermarkets near their homes and can buy fresh food
Image credits: dremilyportermd
Even if making healthy food is cheaper, then Dr. Porter argues that a person who works all day wouldn’t have the energy to prepare a meal, and let’s not forget that you have to clean up afterwards. So, cooking a frozen pizza or mixing up some macaroni and cheese seems way easier, less time-consuming, and less messy when everything you want after a tiring day is to lay down.
Furthermore, cooking is a lot of work and after a long, tiring day, pre-made meals are just more convenient
Image credits: dremilyportermd
The tweet got over 25k likes, so there are definitely a lot of people who relate and are struggling with eating more healthy because fast food is just cheaper, at the same time recognizing that it is a problem.
There were other opinions, with people saying that preparing meals at home on a budget is possible and eating cheap junk food will eventually cost you more in medical bills in the future.
There are some conflicting opinions in the comments, but everyone has their reasoning
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Tell us in the comments what you think! Do you agree that junk food becomes the only option for people with a lower income, or do you know of ways to prepare an easy healthy meal while being on a budget?
What do you think ?
Susanne Müller 3 years ago
I just want to add that in my opinion, this applies mostly to the US. In Germany or let's say most of Europe, I would still say, healthy food, like veggies and fruit are much cheaper. I have never paid as much for a few tomatoes and a salad as I did in the US, and this was low quality stuff at a normal grocery store. In Europe, poor people cook their own food, because it's 10.000 times cheaper than fast food and much healthier.
Nianudd 3 years ago
I know, I work in a supermarket, not even one of the high end ones, and you can buy a kilogram of raspberries for less than regular big mac meal. That's 2.2lbs for under £5. When my mother was visiting family in America , and she was shocked by the price of fruit and veg.
Load More Replies...
Helen Haley 3 years ago
Did none of you catch the part about the time and expense involved. It isn't just the cooking, it is the cleaning up, the shopping. Before you can even shop, where is the nearest grocery store? Do you have reliable transportation there? Are you taking a bus for an hour to get there? And another hour back? The entire point of this was to stop judging when you don't know, and everyone just hopped on the judgement band wagon. So you have hours devoted to shopping, and a hit or miss for transportation, you have at least an hour of prep work, if you don't want the blandest food on earth you have to add things that add flavor and all of them cost money. Unless you flavor absolutely everything with onions. Then you have the clean up time. After all this they're probably working 2 or 3 jobs just to make ends meet, likely 7 days a week. There is also laundry to handle (likely at a time consuming laundry mat). Do you just think poor people never deserve a break?
Eliška Hůlková 3 years ago
I do flavor everything with onions. And dry spices, they are pretty cheap and last very long. Fresh ginger and garlic are also pretty cheap (OK, they are expensive, but you need a very little of them). On the other hand, there are many condiments that are super expensive. But I see your point. Not everyone has enough time to play around in a kitchen.
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Truth Monster 3 years ago
15 dollars of beans and rice can feed a family far longer than 15 dollars at McDonald's. Its also more nutritionally balanced. Add eggs on the side for a heartier meal. No, eating beans and rice is not fun all the time. But it goes further and will not make you sick like eating McDonald's "food" will eventually. If you find just beans and rice are not satiating, try adding some avocado oil (expensive, so use sparingly. but super heart healthy)
Isabella 3 years ago
Try and add SPICES - the magic ingredient that will turn ol' same pinto beans into Mexican food, Peruvian food, German food, Polish food and much more.
Load More Replies...
Susanne Müller 3 years ago
I just want to add that in my opinion, this applies mostly to the US. In Germany or let's say most of Europe, I would still say, healthy food, like veggies and fruit are much cheaper. I have never paid as much for a few tomatoes and a salad as I did in the US, and this was low quality stuff at a normal grocery store. In Europe, poor people cook their own food, because it's 10.000 times cheaper than fast food and much healthier.
Nianudd 3 years ago
I know, I work in a supermarket, not even one of the high end ones, and you can buy a kilogram of raspberries for less than regular big mac meal. That's 2.2lbs for under £5. When my mother was visiting family in America , and she was shocked by the price of fruit and veg.
Load More Replies... Helen Haley 3 years ago
Did none of you catch the part about the time and expense involved. It isn't just the cooking, it is the cleaning up, the shopping. Before you can even shop, where is the nearest grocery store? Do you have reliable transportation there? Are you taking a bus for an hour to get there? And another hour back? The entire point of this was to stop judging when you don't know, and everyone just hopped on the judgement band wagon. So you have hours devoted to shopping, and a hit or miss for transportation, you have at least an hour of prep work, if you don't want the blandest food on earth you have to add things that add flavor and all of them cost money. Unless you flavor absolutely everything with onions. Then you have the clean up time. After all this they're probably working 2 or 3 jobs just to make ends meet, likely 7 days a week. There is also laundry to handle (likely at a time consuming laundry mat). Do you just think poor people never deserve a break?
Eliška Hůlková 3 years ago
I do flavor everything with onions. And dry spices, they are pretty cheap and last very long. Fresh ginger and garlic are also pretty cheap (OK, they are expensive, but you need a very little of them). On the other hand, there are many condiments that are super expensive. But I see your point. Not everyone has enough time to play around in a kitchen.
Load More Replies... Truth Monster 3 years ago
15 dollars of beans and rice can feed a family far longer than 15 dollars at McDonald's. Its also more nutritionally balanced. Add eggs on the side for a heartier meal. No, eating beans and rice is not fun all the time. But it goes further and will not make you sick like eating McDonald's "food" will eventually. If you find just beans and rice are not satiating, try adding some avocado oil (expensive, so use sparingly. but super heart healthy)
Isabella 3 years ago
Try and add SPICES - the magic ingredient that will turn ol' same pinto beans into Mexican food, Peruvian food, German food, Polish food and much more.
Load More Replies...
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