The thought bubble is from August from the regular Wednesday WashingtonPost.com food chat. People around the world are caught in a trap, though to different extents, that they would like to eat better, but find the prospects to be too expensive. And you can certainly walk into stores such as Whole Foods and Trader Joe's, if you have those options, and wonder who is buying these products at that price level.
We can certainly have a bit of fun with the misspellings or the idea of needing a 6-figure income to eat "green, local, organic, and support Pro Union causes." And we can offer up a menu of beans, rice, and vegetables that would be cheap along with being green, local, organic, and pro-union. However, let us assume that this isn't practical to this household with a 10-year-old Dodge minivan.
"These are nice ideals but only work for couples and singles who make 6 figures like you at the WP."
People are legitimately struggling with food costs, and we have many more people who are working harder for less money, if they can find work. Food costs are up for a variety of reasons: climate change affects crops, rising petroleum costs impact several links in the food chain. And our money flow, if we have one, isn't going up as fast as the food costs.
I always considered a pound of pasta to be the benchmark of food costs. Yes, whole wheat and whole grain pasta will cost more than the white flour equivalent. And let's be honest, your grocery store is much more likely to have the white flour edition on sale than the whole wheat version, further frustrating your inner accountant.
And in the regular grocery stores, whole wheat pasta does seem expensive compared to what I paid for white flour editions in the past, and even whole wheat versions from years ago.
In a world where we can't control basic costs such as rent/mortgage and gasoline, many race to the bottom on food costs as a way to cut back something they can control. Cheap food is aplenty and very easy to find.
Those who know better on how to find good quality food and the need for that food often don't understand the anger that stems from this comment. After all, most people who eat good quality food struggle to make ends meet and don't make six figures, even in DC.
The disconnect exists, and the first step to reduce the disconnect is to acknowledge its existence.
The tempting action would be to rise to the level of this person's anger and shout about the charges aren't true or fair. They aren't true or fair. But being angry about that won't help.
Chances are that this person isn't reading this blog, but if you run into somebody who feels this way, you can calmly let them know of ways they can make ends meet with better quality food.
Eat less meat. Find local and organic items in your price range, especially in season, and preserve them for later use. Rely more on whole grains and high fiber food, so eating less isn't a sacrifice. Cook more at home, which will save on eating out. Often, people know how much a fast food meal costs down to the penny, but not the cost of a home-cooked meal.
People who don't know a better way need education, but not preaching. Even if you make more than they do, you still shop with saving money in mind, just with different priorities. Share a tip and better the world.
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