Being poor isn't fun. Being poor and trying to eat well really isn't fun.
And this is in a country where food is subsidized, so food is cheaper here than in some countries. Whenever I go to Canada, I'm always surprised how much more food is there than here.
Yes, the price of food is going up. Corn prices are especially to blame for increased costs, since we eat so much corn in our many food products.
Trying to eat well requires money — most of the time, often money that people can't afford to spend.
Somehow the human body understands this, since we can eat poorly as young adults since our bodies can handle it better, and since we can't afford otherwise. But in the long-term, this isn't a sound strategy.
So what do you do if you are poor and want to eat well?
You can easily argue that eating well is simple: cook meals at home, find cheap produce, and don't rely on meats as much to stretch your food dollar. All of that is good, but young people like to be on the go, and let's be honest, those 79¢, 89¢, and 99¢ options at Taco Bell late at night are sirens on the shore.
Using coupons, even if it is for more food that you can eat at that point, is crucial. After all, if you have a buy one/get one free coupon for a Subway sandwich, the other sandwich could be tomorrow's lunch. At least with a sandwich, you can choose reasonably healthy choices.
When I was in my 20s, I would take advantage of every free or reduced food option you could find, almost like it was a game. But I learned later that the game is to eat well, or reasonably well. Perhaps I learned that too late. Not sure what I would do if the time machine came along, but I might cut down at least.
There is the idea that perhaps less food is the key. Ironically, now I eat better, but when I am cooking, my costs aren't that high because I eat less food.
The practical advice: sometimes you are going to eat crappy meals at crappy times. Don't sweat it. But balance it out with better foods. Go to an AYCE and hit the salad bar. There is fun in eating stuff that isn't good for you because at some point, for most of us, you have to cut down anyway. So have a little fun.
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