8 January 2012
Deja vu?
It so often seems more like a stuck record than deja vu. Yet again today, I'm browsing comments on a current affairs story and see the stupidity being parlayed. The story was a thumbing of the nose at the "food Nazis", saying that the obesity problems are due to individuals, not advertising or corporations.
Regardless of the merits of that argument - and I think the truth, as usual, is somewhere in the middle - one typical comment came through: about how families forgo good, fresh food to instead eat a "$10 takeaway deal".
Now, I'm sick to death of this idiotic bullshit being spouted. It's on par with the shitheads who claim that "90% of charitable donations never reaches the target".
Yet, in an even less-surprising result, there had been 57 Facebook likes of the response about the "$10 meal deals", by far the most likes of any response, and there were over 200.
Let me get this straight, once and for all: I frequently produce five adult-sized meals for under $25. That is a good portion of good-quality meat, fresh vegetables and potato/rice/pasta.
A quick comparison between takeaway food at actual market prices rather than some dickweed's masturbatory fantasies shows us:
McDonald's, Burger King, KFC and Pizza places will require an absolute minimum spend of $7 per person, while my $25 meal will leave you feeling far fuller and more satisfied, plus, you've dropped an extra $10. (not to mention the petrol going and getting it, which I'd bet is more than my gas & electric bill.)
Fish & Chips. You can probably do a single fish and portion of chips for the same $5, but one fish and a small portion of chips will leave you looking for more very early on - that's more a snack than a meal, and two fish & chips are about the same & each as above.
Chinese Takeaway, again, you could order small portions for just over $25, but for a meal, you'll need to spend the same $35.
I challenge anyone, anywhere, any time, to find a meal that is cheaper than a sensibly-prepared home meal. I won't say cooked meal, because you make awfully cheap fish/chicken/beef and salad at times of the year, too. All preparing cheap food takes is a tiny little amount of foresight.
If you can beat me with takeaways, I'll donate $1000 to the National Party. (and everyone who knows me will recognise that as the harshest punishment you could find - I'd personally rather donate to finding homeless blokes hookers than the National Party!)
Copyright © Alan Charman