Quote :

"No. My grocery list for the most part is this: 1loaf of bread, 1bag of bagels, 1bunch of bananas, 1tub of spinach, 1tub of rice, 1bag of HT brand pasta, 1pack of turkey, 1pack of cheese, and 2 - 3lbs chicken. I could manage to get all the calories i need if i ate at mcdonalds or wendy's off the dollar menu everyday; however, i practice preventative care for health as to not add to the rising cost of health care. "

If you're trying to practice preventative care, you might want to consider buying whole-wheat or fiber-added bread and pasta. For sixty dollars a week you could be eating MUCH healthier, you could probably afford a little fish and a LOT more fruits and vegetables. Hell, I eat plenty of bread products loaded with fiber, chicken, bananas, and cheese on a twenty dollar per week budget and I am not attempting to practice preventative care. If I had sixty dollars a week to spend on food I would try much harder to eat a balanced diet.

5/7/2008 3:47:28 PM

I'd love to see you break out your costs.

If I eat a can of tuna, brown rice, and something green/fruity, thats a $4 meal, the tuna alone is $1.50-$2 if I go for the solid white albacore. A serving of chicken breast at $2.99 lb (the cheapest you can get, also not as good as some better quality more expensive non-organic stuff) is also going to be $1.50 for .5 lb. Add a decent breakfast of oatmeal and fruit, and you're basically at $10 a day for a minimal diet consisting of high quality stuff.

This doesn't include nice spices, more expensive fruit (or out of season fruit), or some extras here and there that will add to your grocery bill. That's $10 a day. Just how are you eating for $20 a week and having anything close to resembling a healthy diet.

5/7/2008 3:58:37 PM

Thanks for your advice, but I actually do eat only wheat pasta, and the same with bread. My means of preventive care can now be a little more clear for you. I get in more fruits, but my girlfriend usually buys that stuff and leaves them for me at my place. The discussion was about what I spend on food and what I purchase as a whole. Snacking on fruits and such throughout the day does not alter the bulk of my meals consisting of pasta.

Please list what you spend 20.00 on each week. I'll go ahead and give you a potential out so you don't have to back pedal. I eat out only one time a week out of the 28 meals i eat each week. That one meal is sunday brunch. If you do happen to eat out more than I do please total up the amount it is you spend there and we'll add that as part of your grocery bill.

btw my fourth meal is oatmeal, which i forgot to list earlier. but the box of 10 packets only costs me 3.xx so its not a big change. overall i spend 8.88 a day. even without the oatmeal i'd spend at least 8 day. please enlighten us with your healthy yet affordable diet, or continue to cite unsubstantiated claims. i'm fine with either one, truly.

[Edited on May 7, 2008 at 4:06 PM. Reason : math and such]

5/7/2008 4:02:48 PM

I have no idea where people come up with these numbers they do. $20.00 a week works out to be less than $3.00 a day. that is impossible without outside sustiance, such as free shit at work.

5/7/2008 4:03:52 PM

Quote :

"Hell, I eat plenty of bread products loaded with fiber, chicken, bananas, and cheese on a twenty dollar per week budget "

shenanigans....You spend less than $3 a day on food?

5/7/2008 4:03:59 PM

my weekly grocery bill for 2 is 45-60, not counting non-grocery items( pet food) with the occasional 80 dollar one when i have to stock supplies (tp and paper towels by the extra giant pack).

An average week includes:

Cereal, eggs, bacon, fruit for breakfasts

sandwiches for lunch (normally 1 loaf of bread + 1lb meat + .75 lbs cheese)

Dinners:
1: grilled chicken + side (salad and rice or veggies and potatoes)
2: Fish + side (rice and broccoli)
3: Pork night sausage and gravy with rice and beans / baked ham with potatoes and green beans / grilled pork chops with a salad and potatoes
4: Pasta night: shells w/red or stuffed w/Alfredo
5: Stir fry (i love my wok): chicken/beef/shrimp + mixed veggies w/sauce
6: Steak and spuds: correctly proportioned grilled steak (split one of those 12oz steaks the store sales between us)
7: Something new/dine out. I got one of those meal a day cook books at xmas, most of its crap but theres enough worth trying to add something new every week.

I just don't see how you have a higher bill with less variety then i do. Unless you are counting spending like 30 bucks a week on like, grooming products

5/7/2008 4:14:48 PM

i make my sandwhiches with 1 piece of meat one slice of cheese, no mustard or mayo, no tomatos, onions or lettuce, too.

and it isn't variety if you eat the same fucking thing on the same fucking day week in and week out.

[Edited on May 7, 2008 at 4:16 PM. Reason : .]

5/7/2008 4:15:46 PM

2.25 - 6 pack of quaker oatmeal bars, 20% of daily fiber intake (breakfast)
1.75 - 6 pack of cheese on wheat crackers (snacks)
1.25 - 1/2 jar of crunchy peanut butter (buy one and it lasts two weeks)
1.25 - 1/2 jar of grape jelly (one jar lasts more than two weeks)
2.00 - one loaf of food lion honey wheat bread
2.50 - pack of pepper jack cheese

That's 11 on breakfast, lunch, and snacks. So I have 9 left for dinners.

88 cents per Michelinas Dinner, (chicken and mashed potatoes, spaghetti with meat sauce, or lasagna)
Seven of these leaves me 2.84. I can buy some cans of green beans and corn (50 cents each), bananas (less than a dollar per pound) or canned fruit (around a dollar per can) with what's left over.

I can also choose to get five dinners/lunches out of 1/5 box of rice-a-roni (1.00) and two fish filets ($4 for a box of 10)

5/7/2008 4:18:24 PM

that ain't healthy.

5/7/2008 4:19:55 PM

^^^^I eat chicken seven nights a week. I could very easily replace some of the chicken with fish and some of the chicken with beef and have as much variety. But i don't eat pork, by rule of thumb, and i don't eat much red meat ever. I do occasionally pick up fish. If you want to go throw my list with a fine tooth comb then so be it, but i was giving my typical list. if you remove some of my chicken and throw in the other meats you eat then we have the same variety. its quantity that dictates prices not variety. hopefully this will ease your grasping of that concept.

[Edited on May 7, 2008 at 4:22 PM. Reason : ^^^^]

Quote :

"2.25 - 6 pack of quaker oatmeal bars, 20% of daily fiber intake (breakfast) 1.75 - 6 pack of cheese on wheat crackers (snacks) 1.25 - 1/2 jar of crunchy peanut butter (buy one and it lasts two weeks) 1.25 - 1/2 jar of grape jelly (one jar lasts more than two weeks) 2.00 - one loaf of food lion honey wheat bread 2.50 - pack of pepper jack cheese"

what you've listed here is laughable. i'd outright starve if this is all off of which i lived. I eat breakfast at 8 and then my stomach is growling and i have my oatmeal snack at 11, your oatmeal bar would in no way be suitable for me, nor a growing child for that matter. It also looks like you eat a lot of PBJ. But your grocery list is fine if you only require 800 - 1000 calories a day, but some of us aren't anorexic females and need a little more than that to survive.

HUR shopping at harris teeter doesn't make my price null and void. you're really stretching here, which should be of no surprise since you've done in throughout this entire thread. Personally, i shop around and there are things that you wouldn't expect, such as some items at the fresh market are cheaper than at HT or Food Lion. Pasta cheaper at HT than both of those, while milk is cheaper at the fresh market than both of those. my advice to you, evaluate what it is that you have typed before you post it, and try to maintain some credibility.


[Edited on May 7, 2008 at 4:29 PM. Reason : right tHUR]

5/7/2008 4:22:18 PM

Quote :

"1bag of HT brand pasta,"

Well your first problem for this situation is shopping at HT which tends to have higher prices then other grocery stores. If you were being thrifty you would go to walmart or at least Food Lion. Therefore you example budget is null.

Regardless once again we straying from the fact that people instead of taking care of themselves are expecting the government to cover them for the increase in food prices as of late. This is like the hobo rejecting the burger you bought him because he wanted the a 22oz beer to go with it.

5/7/2008 4:22:35 PM

that ain't healthy.

5/7/2008 4:22:36 PM

Quote :

"Therefore you example budget is null."

Are you serious? His example is much more valid than anything you (my parents pay my insurance) can provide.

5/7/2008 4:23:50 PM

I CAN EAT FOR $1 GUYS

5/7/2008 4:24:28 PM

I go to the grocery store closest to my home and on my way home from work. That way it is only one trip and it saves me money.

5/7/2008 4:25:04 PM

well damn maybe i should head to the social services office; I am sure my current financial status would qualify me for food stamps. That would be awesome! I would have more money to spend at the bars. Thanks US tax payer!

5/7/2008 4:30:33 PM

you are a student, you do not qualify.

5/7/2008 4:31:21 PM

IRSeriousCat's diet isn't much healthier, and he's spending 3x what I am. I don't see how what he has is 3x better for you than what I chose.

"1loaf of bread, 1bag of bagels, 1bunch of bananas, 1tub of spinach, 1tub of rice, 1bag of HT brand pasta, 1pack of turkey, 1pack of cheese, and 2 - 3lbs chicken"

This is mostly bread and rice, with two types of meat and a pack of cheese. I bought lots of bread, a pack of cheese, and frozen dinners with meat included.

For vegetables, he has 1 tub of spinach and bunch of bananas. I also bought bananas, and could opt to purchase green beans or canned fruit.

I really don't see how what I purchase is much less healthy than what he has.

5/7/2008 4:31:47 PM

His isn't stellar, but it's vastly superior to yours. Vastly.

Quote :

"my advice to you, evaluate what it is that you have typed before you post it, and try to maintain some credibility"

From HUR? Now you're really living in a dream world. Every HUR post is the barely coherent ramblings of a self absorbed reality-challenged frat boy. Fact free. Nothing more, nothing less.

[Edited on May 7, 2008 at 4:35 PM. Reason : edit]

5/7/2008 4:34:10 PM

pantry full of spices and sauces, which really, is the only way you are making 'different' chicken.

I hit the major animal groups every week (fish, beef, pork, chicken) and normally 2 veggie dinners a week. I change up my beef cuts, fish catches based on whats on sale, change my veggies, sauces, and spices. Thats much different then mostly eating pasta.

btw, a loaf of bread, 2lb meat, and 1lb of cheese (which should cost you like what, 13 bucks if its deli cut and not something silly like bacon wrapped smoked turkey) should make you 8 sandwiches, so thats what, 1.60 a piece.

5lb chicken, 5lbs rice, 5lbs frozen veggies should cost you 30-35 bucks depending on the chicken parts, and make 20 meals. thats 1.50-1.75 a meal. so thats lunch and dinner for 3.10-3.35. You are short some fruit and breakfast (eat fruit at breakfast). Drink a v8, and call it a day.

5/7/2008 4:34:11 PM

o, buy your groceries at super target or walmart

5/7/2008 4:36:40 PM

^^^^It's the frozen dinners.

[Edited on May 7, 2008 at 4:37 PM. Reason : .]

5/7/2008 4:36:57 PM

Vix if you can't see how my diet is better than yours then you have no concept of nutrition.


cain I can only imagine that you're responding to me. I admitted that I don't have as much variation as you. please fully read what is posted before you come to a conclusion. while i do have plenty of spices and vary my chicken throughout the week, i said that if i didn't buy only chicken i could spend the same and buy the same additional meats that you do, so my purchases could be more varied if i were so inclined, but i'm not. then i pointed out that it is quantity that dictates the price and not variation. If you need this explained to you more clearly, just say so and i'll be more than happy to oblige. bread is 3.99 itself. The 2lbs of chicken is around 15.00 on its own. My sandwiches are pretty thick. they ahve spinach, banana peppers, salami, turkey, cheeses, olive oil and some spices. i need more than one piece of meat and a cheese slice between two pieces of bread to not starve. as it is i'm hungry again by 4pm or so.

to once again refer to something that has already been covered i do get in more fruits and veggies as well but they are things my gf purchases and brings over to my house. they were not listed because they are not what i pay for and thus wouldn't qualify as part of my budget when purchasing food weekly.

5/7/2008 4:43:41 PM

Quote :

"It's the frozen dinners. Vix if you can't see how my diet is better than yours then you have no concept of nutrition."

I agree that your diet is better, but not "vastly superior". I'll be happy to give you a complete breakdown of each thing I eat in terms of the nutritional label if it will help you explain why your diet is "vastly superior"

5/7/2008 4:48:02 PM

Vix i intake nothing with high fructose corn syrup for starters. my bread is heavy with nutrients. i also don't have all the sodium you encounter from frozen dinners. i receive a heavier amount of protein. i actually get the number of calories i need while your list would not provide me with that. thats just some of it.

5/7/2008 4:51:02 PM

Quote :

"1bag of HT brand pasta,"

I believe it is you that is reality challenged if you think that the gov't handing out free food coupons to a plurality of americans even if not in poverty as well as free health care will somehow turn the US into some happy Utopian liberal paradise.

5/7/2008 4:51:04 PM

Vix - your diet is shit. That's all there is to it.

5/7/2008 4:53:10 PM

^ Yeah, and you're talking about solid white albacore over brown rice, organic foods and out-of-season fruits / vegetables. That shit ain't necessary. A family of 4 that is economizing doesn't need all that fancy junk.

I don't know about $20 unless you are making some sacrifices, but the reality is that you can easily make it on less than $50 per week in food costs just by cutting coupons and shopping at discount groceries. When you've got a family, it's even easier to keep the costs down with wholesaler memberships, etc.

[Edited on May 7, 2008 at 5:03 PM. Reason : 2]

5/7/2008 4:59:17 PM

^you're right, they could surely eat dollar menu for much less for two meals a day and skip breakfast, but would you not find that unreasonable?

5/7/2008 5:03:04 PM

Quote :

" intake nothing with high fructose corn syrup for starters. my bread is heavy with nutrients. i also don't have all the sodium you encounter from frozen dinners. i receive a heavier amount of protein."

I intake less than 100% of the RDA of protein over breakfast, lunch, one snack, and dinner - 59% to be exact. How much sodium do you get a day?

I get about 35 g of protein per day. The RDA for protein is 0.8g/2.2 lb. I weight 111 lbs, so I need 40 g per day. How much protein are you getting per day?

My bread has 1 gram of fiber, 8% RDA for thiamin, 4% RDA for riboflavin, 6% RDA for niacin, 6% RDA for folic acid, and 4% RDA for iron per slice. What nutrients does your bread have in it?

True, my food does have high fructose corn syrup in it. I'm more worried about trans fats, however.

5/7/2008 5:04:21 PM

^^That's exactly what I posted, that they should skip meals and eat dollar menu shit

The reality is that economizing in the kitchen is not difficult. Stop buying overpriced junk from Whole Foods, learn how to cook, and look for good deals. Hell, if you're not a spoiled idiot, you should already be doing that while in college. If a college student can do it, why can't some parents trying to raise a family?

[Edited on May 7, 2008 at 5:06 PM. Reason : 2]

5/7/2008 5:06:14 PM

I can see myself surviving perfectly fine on a 50K family budget in Raleigh. I won't own a home. Nor will I have a nice car. Nor my 47" Samsung TV. But, I could do it.

Right now I'm not making much above 50K. And we own a home, a new car, 47" LCD + 7.1 surround sound + cable TV, and enjoy the everyday middle class luxuries. So, I'm living pretty comfortably. Of course, no kids yet. Once a kid comes along, the car will probably have to go. I'll have to go with something small and cheap. May have to pawn off my nice entertainment system for a simple one.

But, I doubt that will be the case. Once my wife finishes school and picks up a career, we'll be almost into the triple digits and above. Even if I don't I find a new job or continue to get the regular raise.

--------------------------

Again, if you are making $50K+ and complaining about health insurance you need to get a reality check. Your priorities are way off.


P.S. My wife cooks 4-5 days out of the week. I picked a good one

[Edited on May 7, 2008 at 5:14 PM. Reason : ]

5/7/2008 5:13:20 PM

Maybe the woman who complaining about $70/wk not being "enough" and some people in this thread can take a lesson from the hispanic american community.

I am sure for those illegal immigrants here rising food prices have hit them the worst, since most likely do not qualify for food stamps. They do not seem to be dying of hunger in the streets and probably know some very thrifty ways to cook for the family while often making < minimum wage.

[Edited on May 7, 2008 at 5:32 PM. Reason : l]

5/7/2008 5:31:40 PM

they also live in substandard housing with too many occupants per location. migrant workers also live in huts on farms and only get a mattress and a blanket. Great standard you have tehre.

5/7/2008 5:35:01 PM

but at least they work their asses off in order to provide the opportunity for their american citizen children to have a better life. Not sit around blaming others for their lack of success and expecting the government to subsidize their existence throughout life.

5/7/2008 5:36:51 PM

Because this is clearly what the thread is about.

5/7/2008 5:38:08 PM

^Actually, it's exactly what the thread is about. Most people (particularly those with incomes more than 200% above the poverty line) should be able to live without direct government assistance. Mexican immigrants are a great example of a group of people not only getting by, but frequently flourishing and sending hundreds of millions of dollars back to their families every year because they are so economical with their money.

[Edited on May 7, 2008 at 6:51 PM. Reason : 2]

5/7/2008 6:50:30 PM

because they clearly aren't working as HUR's post implies. Therefore, what does that have to do with what this thread is about?

5/7/2008 7:06:04 PM

Vix

To answer your questions.

In your first line you said you receive 59% of your protein intake but i'll assume for consistency's sake you meant sodium. I receive about 90% of my daily amount. I assumed you took in more than that because of the frozen dinners you eat. however, given that you intake less than i do I can imagine how you'd receive less sodium. Either way, i'm not above 90%, so its not bad.

As for protein per day I receive around 115 - 130g a day, which gives me about what I need since I don't live a sedentary lifestyle and weigh ~160.

Your bread is weak.

Quote :

" Nutrition Facts Serving Size: 1 slice (43g) Amount per Serving Calories 100 Calories from Fat 15 % Daily Value * Total Fat 1.5g 2% Saturated Fat 0g 0% Polyunsaturated Fat 1g Trans Fat 0g Cholesterol 0mg 0% Sodium 170mg 7% Total Carbohydrate 20g 7% Dietary Fiber 3g 12% Sugars 2g Protein 4g 8% Vitamin A 0% Vitamin C 0% Calcium 15% Iron 6% Thiamin (B1) 8% Riboflavin (B2) 4% Niacin (B3) 6% Folic Acid (Folate) 4% "

Also, note that a serving size for my bread is one slice, and if yours is food lion brand your serving size is probably two slices.

Also, transfats are also non-existent in my diet. If you need for me to continue to paint this picture for you, i will.

Quote :

"If a college student can do it, why can't some parents trying to raise a family?"

College kids aren't exactly known for their high standards for nutrition. proper nutrition is a major factor in preventative care. when i was in college i ate food that was cheap because i didn't want to spend a lot of money, however, college kids spend a lot more than they realize on food. A sizable portion of college kids don't cook and eat out with frequency greater than even they realize. When I was in college i bought food lion 99cent burritos because they were decent tasting and inexpensive, but they are also horrible for you. Perhaps since you're not a parent this isn't a sacrifice or choice you have to dwell over, but as a [decent] parent you'll most likely want your child to not only receive a adequate caloric intake but also will desire it to be nutritious. College kids manage the former, but more often than not miss the latter.



xvang

what percentage are you putting in your 401k, as well as aside in general to save for your future retirement? are the funds for your house in part coming in the form of student loans that your wife has, or are you paying solely for that too. something tells me that you're not, and even if that is the case then your situation of making over 50k and not having two kids is vastly different than than someone who makes right at 50k or under and does have two kids for which they have to provide.




[Edited on May 8, 2008 at 11:07 AM. Reason : users]

5/8/2008 10:53:55 AM

You're right, I meant to say sodium on that first line.

The serving size for my bread is one slice, not two.

If the RDA for protein is 0.8 g/2.2lbs, you'd need 58 g per day, not 115-130. I bet bodybuilders need more than that, but I'm guessing you're not one.

Too much protein stresses out your kidneys and increases the amount of calcium in your urine, putting you at increased risk for osteoporosis. You might want to rethink how much protein you're eating.

5/8/2008 2:23:33 PM

Quote :

"than someone who makes right at 50k or under and does have two kids for which they have to provide."

once again, can you answer me the question of why it is MY fault that someone had kids they cannot afford? Should I pay for that? Everyone has danced around that question the entire thread. We are talking about people who make this kind of income on as a regular salary, not someone who temporarily is in this situation. So they should have known what they can or cant afford, and if they cant, it is not my job to bail them out.

5/8/2008 2:26:11 PM

Quote :

"Too much protein stresses out your kidneys and increases the amount of calcium in your urine, putting you at increased risk for osteoporosis. You might want to rethink how much protein you're eating."

Please cite any source. I'd love to see it!

5/8/2008 2:28:34 PM

"When people start consuming too much protein (over 2.0 g/kg/d), the extra protein can become a stressful stimulus for the kidney. This is even more of a concern as we get older and our organs are less efficient and effective.

Very high levels of dietary protein have also been correlated with increased urinary calcium excretion. The loss of calcium through urine could potentially be harmful for bone turnover, with the added risk of osteoporosis. Finally, protein requires vitamin B6 in order to be metabolized and ultimately utilized in the body. Very high levels of dietary protein increase the requirement for this B vitamin."

Robert M. Russell, M.D.

5/8/2008 2:30:04 PM

Quote :

"Please cite any source. I'd love to see it!"

If you're actually challenging her(sorry lol) on that point I hope you're joking. If you were generally interested in seeing if this was true, then sorry for sounding like a prick.

For anyone who has been athletic and gotten diet advice this is one thing that is stressed (at least in my experience). I took protein powder the entire time i lifted for wrestling and was very careful about not just overloading my body with it since it is very hard on your kidneys. I took more than I normally would since I was really pushing my muscles, but too much over an extended period of time can be taxing on your body.

[Edited on May 8, 2008 at 2:38 PM. Reason : ]

5/8/2008 2:33:30 PM

^ I'm a girl

"once again, can you answer me the question of why it is MY fault that someone had kids they cannot afford?"

Also, good point.

5/8/2008 2:37:26 PM

:x im sorry.

and lol i meant to say answer my question not answer me the question. doh.

[Edited on May 8, 2008 at 2:39 PM. Reason : ]

5/8/2008 2:38:21 PM

Quote :

"what percentage are you putting in your 401k, as well as aside in general to save for your future retirement? are the funds for your house in part coming in the form of student loans that your wife has, or are you paying solely for that too. something tells me that you're not, and even if that is the case then your situation of making over 50k and not having two kids is vastly different than than someone who makes right at 50k or under and does have two kids for which they have to provide. "

So should the gov't also have universal housing to assist americans up to 250% of the poverty line??

5/8/2008 2:39:06 PM

^^Why should the kid suffer because of the parents?

5/8/2008 2:39:35 PM

^ I love kids and I can see where you are coming from but a line has to be drawn somewhere. We cant use that scenario when someone continues having kids and all of a sudden has 5 kids on a 50k income and we keep supporting them. Thats not my responsibility.

Maybe the get their kids taken away since they cant support them. Better life for the kids anyways probably.

[Edited on May 8, 2008 at 2:42 PM. Reason : ]

5/8/2008 2:42:15 PM

Anyone who has kids "suffering" with a household income of 50K should be arrested for child neglect.

As the current system already provides the new [childrens health insurance] and food stamp payments for those parents who legitimately lack the income to provide the essentials to their children.

Why should i have money taken from me to which i could be providing for my family, to pay for another's child who intentionally makes poor financial choices since they know the government has their back.

[Edited on May 8, 2008 at 2:45 PM. Reason : aa]

5/8/2008 2:42:25 PM