[quote=CA renter]That 5 lbs. of fruit wouldn’t be the only produce item for families who eat a lot of fruits and vegetables. For us (family of 5), we can go through three packages of berries in just one meal — and that’s just dessert. We often eat around 3-6 oranges and/or apples (usually a combo) just for lunch, alone. An average salad for our family consists of a head of lettuce, a tomato, half an onion, a few sticks of celery, 1 bell pepper, and (maybe) a cucumber…and that’s just the *salad* for one meal.
My husband catches most of our fish, so he says it’s “free.” Of course, if you count all the costs for fishing, it probably comes in at $50/lb. (or more), but that’s a whole ‘nother issue.
If you buy organic/hormone-free eggs, they’re closer to ~$5.00/dz., and our family can easily eat 10 eggs in one sitting.
Seriously, AN, if you’re living on a budget that is anywhere close to what you claim, you’re very much in the minority, IMHO. That’s not a put-down, BTW, I wish we could do it; but our diet is very protein and produce-heavy, and there’s no way we could do it on your budget. I think the fact that you use rice all the time (just basing this on your posts) is what helps you stay within budget.[/quote]
You’re spending more on food by choice. That’s the luxury you afforded yourself. I never said you can’t spend more for food. Many people do. All I said is, if you really wanted to, you can have many healthy home cook meals with a budget that falls under the $4.44/person/day.
You’re right, I’m in the minority. After all, Asians are the minority in this country. However, I’m not a minority among Asians. If anything, compare to other Asians, I bet I can do a lot better. That might also be why you’re seeing Asian supermarkets always super full. Just look at H-Mart, Zion, and 99 Ranch’s parking lots. Maybe Asian in general cook more and the Asian diet have rice/noodle at the center of every meal. You’ll rarely see an average Asian meal without rice or noodle.
So, bottom line is, if you can’t do it, that’s your personal choice. Not because it’s not doable. BTW, stuff like organic eggs is a luxury. Regular 18-count carton of eggs goes for $2.50 at Vons right now. So, if you’re willing to pay over 2x more than regular eggs, don’t complain that you can’t possible come under budget. You can’t come under budget if you spend like that. Also, 10 eggs/family/sitting, if you just buy regular eggs, you just feed 5 people for $1.39 worth of eggs. 2 eggs per person is not unreasonable. That’s only $0.27/person. So, if I use my diet, that 2 eggs + rice + veggie + 1 apple, I’d be full. All for probably around $1-2.
Really, it’s not that hard for us to stay under our budget I just described for food. I know people who spend even less. We’re hardly the frugal ones in our circle of friends/family. The type of food/diet makes a huge difference in how much you spend though. Along with portion size. So, if you have the desire to lower your food bill, think outside the box.
