The Real UncleB wrote:
Junk foods exist today for only one reason:
...
They taste good! E.L. Fudge cookies. Yum.
The Real UncleB wrote:
Junk foods exist today for only one reason:
...
They taste good! E.L. Fudge cookies. Yum.
salted blue corn chips - something about them after a run is so satisfying.
I thought it was just me, but Shalane Flanagan once listed them as a favorite treat so there might be some science behind it.
I also eat choc chips straight from the bag. But I know it is wrong.
Nutella.
Crack in a jar.
Finally, something I can agree whole heartedly with the Real Uncle B (unless this is the fake Real Uncle B).
Junk food is an enormous profit center for food manufacturers (not farmers) and resellers. I love things like potato chips but you are far, far better off making your own most of the time. Same for dips and spreads. Guacomole can be made better and for much cheaper than the mix you buy in the store. So can Shake and Bake and other coatings. Salsa too. Cheese dip. Hummous.
Not only can you make these things cheaper but they do not take much effort at all (most take <10 minutes in a food processor) but they taste better. Once you get used to doing these sorts of things yourself you would be amazed at how bad the prepackaged stuff tastes. I don't know if it is the flavor additives or the preservatives or what. I just know I can barely eat a lot of that stuff now.
First point:I hate you.Second point:People like you are always talking about how it's a "problem" because junk food costs less than healthy food. I, personally, don't know or care if this is true or not, but you might want to consider the fact that the anti-corporate anti-junkfood arguments aren't consistent.Other points:
Here's another example: a popular "food" developed a few years ago was called "Shake 'n Bake." It was a food crust or covering put on chicken, fish and so on. It sold for $2.63 per pound. It was mostly wheat flour, with a few artificial spices and coloring, that could be purchased for 15 cents a pound for its raw ingredients. The consumer was paying the extra $2.48 for television advertising and promotion.
They were paying the extra for convenience (or the recipe, or whatever).
Do you own a car? You do know that you can buy all of the materials that are in that car for a few thousand dollars, right? Why don't you do that? The rest of the cost is just "processing, profit markup, and advertising," right?
The idea that you can use the price of the raw materials in a product as an indicator of what the product is worth is some stupid, stupid shit.
In fact, without mass advertising, there would probably be no junk foods. An understanding of the junk food problem, then, requires an understanding of the advertising and promotion of this food.
Bullshit. If you offer people a plate covered in chips and a plate covered in carrots, with no logos, no indication of who made it or what it's called, a whole lot of people will still pick the chips, because they PREFER THE TASTE.
For the record, I don't eat a significant amount of junk food, am a healthy weight, and I think that the eating habits of people in this country are disgusting. However, I also find idiocy disgusting, so you're screwed too.
1) Count me in on Nutella. That hazelnut cream is SOOOO good but also very calorically dense. It's funny to see their commercials in which the-mother-of-four says she's happy to be feeding her children breakfast that she knows is healthy and good for them when 1tbsp. is like 200cals.
2) I agree with the above poster. Individuals who complain about the cost of junk in comparison to healthy foods simply don't understand basic economics. OPPORTUNITY COST. Most Americans would rather buy their own Nutella/Hummous/Pre-packaged french fries/Microwave dinners/etc...instead of making it themsevles because they can spend time doing other things rather than actually cutting up potatoes, seasoning them, frying them, what have you. Simply put, the 10min to 1hr spent doing something other than cooking is worth more to them than paying the extra $2-$5 for the premade stuff that is less healthy. If that is their prerogative then so be it, who are you or I to decide how others eat.
The car is a perfect example. Sure it would be healthier to run/walk/swim to work everyday but the benefit of driving 15min in a gas-guzzling and very costly$$ machine outweighs the cost of physical activity for 2hrs+ to get to work.
Dat Yooper Guy wrote:
Frozen pasties (PASS-teez), the savory meat pies, from The Pasty Oven. .... Memories over-ride the creepy mascot on the label:
http://www.exploringthenorth.com/pasty/oven.html
Ever heard of Sweeney Todd?
My $0.02: MARZIPAN! Slice off a piece with a square of Baker's semi-sweet.
Coca Cola is #1.
I like to buy fresh sausages, brats, bacon, steaks, pork chops and ribs at this little butcher down the street.
Any kind of pepper and Olives. Jalapenos are nice. Chop of the peppers and put them in the Olives. Good stuff.
i can do, toddler wet wipes
frozen chocolate souffle cups from whole foods
Not sure how this hasn't been mentioned yet, but the ready-to-eat roasted chickens in the deli are the best deal of all time. I like to eat them as is, I like to cut slices onto crusty bread with avocado with salt and pepper, I like to cut slices into salads, into pasta, add a half bag of frozen peas and you have a real meal, and if I'm broke as hell I make soup with the bits and bones. $5-6 with no dishes and no cooking time - straight into my gullet. I probably eat three of these bad-boys a week.
My other favorite is chile flakes. Add them to anything for a little pop and flavor. Makes bland soup/sandwich/salad/pasta/etc. taste gourmet.
I'm also in the frozen chocolate chip camp although I hold out as long as possible before giving in and buying a bag. Same with frosted mini-wheats. That stuff is crazy delicious.
Condoms. EOT.
Zergut roasted eggplant dip -- Product of Hungary, I believe
KEWPIE MAYO!!!!!