Comments on: Extra Calorie meal http://www.indignantdesertbirds.com/2010/01/05/extra-calorie-meal/ Peaking under the Veil of Ignorance Sun, 25 Jul 2010 19:35:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Kara http://www.indignantdesertbirds.com/2010/01/05/extra-calorie-meal/comment-page-1/#comment-560 Kara Wed, 06 Jan 2010 21:43:51 +0000 http://www.indignantdesertbirds.com/?p=257#comment-560 I always find it interesting when there's a word whose original meaning is one that few people think about anymore. Anytime someone mentions 'diet', we instantly think that they are trying to lose weight. The two concepts are indelibly linked in our minds. And yet the original meaning of the word, is simply 'habitual nourishment'. Using it to refer to a temporary alteration of our eating habits in order to lose weight is what we've morphed into. Back on topic.... I definitely agree that the way foods are priced these days it's easier to get a lot of calories than it is to get a healthy meal. In fact, if you go to the local grocery store and start comparing... anything that claims to be 'healthy' or 'organic', etc.. always has a higher price tag than similar products. What always annoys me the most about this, is that if you really compare the nutrition values on the products... a lot of times they're not really much healthier for you than the cheaper and non 'health-labeled' products. I always find it interesting when there’s a word whose original meaning is one that few people think about anymore. Anytime someone mentions ‘diet’, we instantly think that they are trying to lose weight. The two concepts are indelibly linked in our minds.

And yet the original meaning of the word, is simply ‘habitual nourishment’. Using it to refer to a temporary alteration of our eating habits in order to lose weight is what we’ve morphed into.

Back on topic…. I definitely agree that the way foods are priced these days it’s easier to get a lot of calories than it is to get a healthy meal.

In fact, if you go to the local grocery store and start comparing… anything that claims to be ‘healthy’ or ‘organic’, etc.. always has a higher price tag than similar products.

What always annoys me the most about this, is that if you really compare the nutrition values on the products… a lot of times they’re not really much healthier for you than the cheaper and non ‘health-labeled’ products.

]]> By: Eric Rall http://www.indignantdesertbirds.com/2010/01/05/extra-calorie-meal/comment-page-1/#comment-559 Eric Rall Wed, 06 Jan 2010 01:17:46 +0000 http://www.indignantdesertbirds.com/?p=257#comment-559 If I were looking for a high caloric intake on very little money, I'd make rice and beans my primary staple. Buying one-pound bags of each at the grocery, I can get about 3000 calories for $2.50. It'd run me about twice that at a convenience store if I somehow had not access to a grocery. Conversely, if I have access to Costco, Smart & Final, or somewhere else I can buy 50# bags, I can get it much cheaper. But even at convenience store prices, it's quite a bit cheaper per calorie than McDonald's. Healthier, too. And if I wanted a low-calorie meal at McDonald's, I'd just buy a hamburger (250 calories) and skip the high-calorie, high-markup fried potatoes and fizzy sugar water. If I were looking for a high caloric intake on very little money, I’d make rice and beans my primary staple. Buying one-pound bags of each at the grocery, I can get about 3000 calories for $2.50. It’d run me about twice that at a convenience store if I somehow had not access to a grocery. Conversely, if I have access to Costco, Smart & Final, or somewhere else I can buy 50# bags, I can get it much cheaper. But even at convenience store prices, it’s quite a bit cheaper per calorie than McDonald’s. Healthier, too.

And if I wanted a low-calorie meal at McDonald’s, I’d just buy a hamburger (250 calories) and skip the high-calorie, high-markup fried potatoes and fizzy sugar water.

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