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jayparkinsonmd:

THE “fact” that junk food is cheaper than real food has become a reflexive part of how we explain why so many Americans are overweight, particularly those with lower incomes. I frequently read confident statements like, “when a bag of chips is cheaper than a head of broccoli …” or “it’s more affordable to feed a family of four at McDonald’s than to cook a healthy meal for them at home.”
This is just plain wrong.
(via)

“Doctor,” you understand that pre-packaged foods such as potato chips and / or fast food restaurant meals are, by virtue of already being prepared, “cheaper,” yes? And that 99-cent menus at establishments such as Wendy’s and McDonald’s means that, realistically, no one is actually spending “$27.89” at McDonald’s on a regular basis, right? Since you’re assuming a family of four (ah, gotta love the idea that every family in America is a family of four!) and you’re also assuming that most families have the time and resources to prepare a meal of “pinto beans and rice” and that somehow in your America the price of milk is still in the vicinity of $1.49 for even a half-gallon.
Doc, how much time do you spend in lower-income neighborhoods? And do you realize that one in five children now lives below the federal poverty level? Which means their families aren’t well-off, either, and believe it or not, working a ten- to 12-hour workday five days a week and those 99-cent foodstuffs at the dozens if not hundreds of fast-food establishments littering your neighborhood — especially in larger cities such as New York, LA or Chicago — are suddenly, and sadly, an all-too-real option to preparing a meal of “chicken, salad and potatoes for four.” (Look at this study, for God’s sake, that has a five-fast-food-joint-to-one-supermarket ratio across the U.S.)
As I’ve said before, the methodology behind studies like this are flawed — especially when taking into account that it uses data that is more than 15 years old. (I’d find you a link to my original post stating this, but I’m getting hungry.)
I’m genuinely curious, as a medical professional and an MPH, whether you’re as fully informed as you think you are — or if you’re basing your presumptions on having only ever served one segment of the population. You know, the well-off kind that always seems to have the time and resources to buy ingredients for, then prepare, every single one of their very healthy meals.

THE “fact” that junk food is cheaper than real food has become a reflexive part of how we explain why so many Americans are overweight, particularly those with lower incomes. I frequently read confident statements like, “when a bag of chips is cheaper than a head of broccoli …” or “it’s more affordable to feed a family of four at McDonald’s than to cook a healthy meal for them at home.”

This is just plain wrong.

(via)

“Doctor,” you understand that pre-packaged foods such as potato chips and / or fast food restaurant meals are, by virtue of already being prepared, “cheaper,” yes? And that 99-cent menus at establishments such as Wendy’s and McDonald’s means that, realistically, no one is actually spending “$27.89” at McDonald’s on a regular basis, right? Since you’re assuming a family of four (ah, gotta love the idea that every family in America is a family of four!) and you’re also assuming that most families have the time and resources to prepare a meal of “pinto beans and rice” and that somehow in your America the price of milk is still in the vicinity of $1.49 for even a half-gallon.

Doc, how much time do you spend in lower-income neighborhoods? And do you realize that one in five children now lives below the federal poverty level? Which means their families aren’t well-off, either, and believe it or not, working a ten- to 12-hour workday five days a week and those 99-cent foodstuffs at the dozens if not hundreds of fast-food establishments littering your neighborhood — especially in larger cities such as New York, LA or Chicago — are suddenly, and sadly, an all-too-real option to preparing a meal of “chicken, salad and potatoes for four.” (Look at this study, for God’s sake, that has a five-fast-food-joint-to-one-supermarket ratio across the U.S.)

As I’ve said before, the methodology behind studies like this are flawed — especially when taking into account that it uses data that is more than 15 years old. (I’d find you a link to my original post stating this, but I’m getting hungry.)

I’m genuinely curious, as a medical professional and an MPH, whether you’re as fully informed as you think you are — or if you’re basing your presumptions on having only ever served one segment of the population. You know, the well-off kind that always seems to have the time and resources to buy ingredients for, then prepare, every single one of their very healthy meals.