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27 Foods You Should Never Buy Again

Cross these items off your grocery store list—whether they're rip-offs, fakes, drastically unhealthy, or just plan gross, here are the 27 foods you should never buy again.

From Dollar Savvy with additional reporting by Rachel Hofstetter
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Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

A few shavings of nice cheese on top of pasta or vegetables can take a simple dish from good to great—but you don't have to fork out $22 a pound for the famous stuff. Instead, look for varieties like Pecorino Romano and SarVecchio, which offer the same flavor at half the price.

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Smoked and Cured Meats

From fancy charcuterie to “dime a dog” night, pass on cured meats in any form—they’ve been linked to cancer, disease, high blood pressure, and migraines. Plus they’re packed with artery-clogging grease: regulations allow up to 50% (by weight) of fresh pork sausage to be fat.

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“Blueberry” items

Ahh, blueberries...now in everything from your breakfast cereal to muffins, granola bars, and sauces—or are they? Turns out that most of the blueberry-flavored items on grocery store shelves don't feature a single actually berry, just artificial blueberry flavor. Buy your own berries and add them to plain cereal for a real health boost.

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Multi-grain bread

This is junk food masquerading in a healthy disguise. Check the ingredient list to make sure whole wheat is the first, and main, ingredient—otherwise, you’re just getting a few grains mixed into regular white bread. Better yet, forgo the bread and enjoy straight-up barley, brown rice, quinoa, or steel-cut oats.

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Reduced fat peanut butter

When companies take out the fat, they have to add something back in to make the food taste delicious. In this case, it’s lots of extra sugar—and who wants that? Instead, spread regular peanut butter on your sandwich for more of the good fats and protein without fake sweetness.

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Bottled tea

Brew your iced tea at home and you'll save both big bucks and your waistline—bottled teas can have more grams of sugar than a soda or slice of pie.

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Tomato-based pasta sauces

A jar of spaghetti sauce typically runs $2 to $6. The equivalent amount of canned tomatoes is often under $1. Our suggestion: Make your own sauces from canned crushed tomatoes or fresh tomatoes — particularly in the summer, when they are plentiful, tasty, and cheap. The easiest method is to put crushed tomatoes (canned or fresh) into a skillet, stir in some wine or wine vinegar, a little sugar, your favorite herbs, and whatever chopped vegetables you like in your sauce — peppers, onions, mushrooms, even carrots — and let simmer for an hour. Adjust the flavorings and serve. Even easier: Coat fresh tomatoes and the top of a cooking sheet with olive oil and roast the tomatoes for 20 to 30 minutes at 425˚F before making your stovetop sauce.

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Swordfish

Large bottom-feeder fish such as tuna, shark, king mackerel, tilefish, and especially swordfish are high in mercury. Choose smaller fish, like flounder, catfish, sardines, and salmon instead.

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Energy drinks

Stick to a cup of coffee for your afternoon boost. Seemingly harmless caffeinated beverages are often sugar bombs—and the FDA has received numerous reports linking brands like 5 Hour Energy and Monster Energy to heart attacks, convulsion, and even death.

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Gluten-free baked goods

If you aren't diagnosed with celiac disease or a gluten intolerance, keep in mind that gluten-free doesn't necessarily mean healthy—and gluten-free baked goods like bread, cookies, and crackers often are packed with more refined flours, artificial ingredients, and sugar than traditional baked goods. Plus, they can cost up to twice as much as you'd normally spend.

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Flavored non-dairy milks

Vanilla-eggnog-caramel soy milk doesn't win you any points in the health department—and it definitely won't help your grocery receipt bottom line. If you prefer non-dairy milks for personal dietary reasons, buy unsweetened versions. And if you're just trying to eat healthfully, skim milk should be just fine.

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Foods made of WOOD

Take a look at the ingredient list for your high-fiber cereal or snack bar, and you'll probably see an ingredient called "cellulose." Turns out that cellulose is a code word for "wood pulp." Food manufacturers use it to extend their products and add fiber, so it looks like you’re getting more food. But really you’re just left with a mouthful of wood shavings.

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White rice

Skip the refined grains and go for whole: a 17% higher risk of diabetes is associated with eating five or more servings of white rice per week, compared to eating white rice less than once a month.

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'Gourmet' frozen vegetables

Sure, you can buy an 8-ounce packet of peas in an herbed butter sauce, but why do so when you can make your own? Just cook the peas, add a pat of butter and sprinkle on some herbs that you already have on hand. The same thing goes for carrots with dill sauce and other gourmet veggies.

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Microwave sandwiches

When you buy a pre-made sandwich, you're really just paying for its elaborate packaging — plus a whole lot of salt, fat, and unnecessary additives. For the average cost of one of these babies ($2.50 to $3.00 per sandwich), you could make a bigger, better, and more nutritious version yourself.

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Premium frozen fruit bars

At nearly $2 per bar, frozen 'all fruit' or 'fruit and juice' bars may not be rich in calories, but they are certainly rich in price. Make your own at home — and get the flavors you want. To make four pops, just throw 2 cups cut-up fruit, 1 tablespoon sugar, and 1 teaspoon lemon or lime juice into a blender. Cover and blend until smooth. You might wish to add 1 to 2 tablespoons of water so the final mix is a thick slush. Pour into 4-ounce pop molds or paper cups, insert sticks, and freeze until solid.

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Boxed rice 'entree' or side-dish mixes

These consist basically of rice, salt, and spices — yet they're priced way beyond the ingredients sold individually. Yes, there are a few flavorings included, but they're probably ones you have in your pantry already. Buy a bag of rice, measure out what you need, add your own herbs and other seasonings, and cook the rice according to package directions.


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Energy or protein bars

These calorie-laden bars are usually stacked at the checkout counter because they depend on impulse buyers who grab them, thinking they are more wholesome than a candy bar. Unfortunately, they can have very high fat and sugar contents and are often as caloric as a regular candy bar. They're also two to three times more expensive than a candy bar. If you need a boost, a vitamin-rich piece of fruit, a yogurt, or a small handful of nuts is more satiating and less expensive.


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Spice mixes

Spice mixes like grill seasoning and rib rubs might seem like a good buy because they contain a lot of spices that you would have to buy individually. Check the label first: We predict the first ingredient you will see on the package is salt, followed by the vague 'herbs and spices.' Look in your own pantry, and you'll probably be surprised to discover just how many herbs you already have on hand, and you can improvise as much as you want.

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Powdered iced tea mixes or prepared flavored iced tea

Powdered and gourmet iced teas are really a rip-off! It's much cheaper to make your own iced tea from actual (inexpensive) tea bags and keep a jug in the fridge. Plus, many mixes and preparations are loaded with high fructose corn syrup and other sugars, along with artificial flavors. To make 32 ounces of iced tea, it usually takes 8 bags of black tea or 10 bags of herbal, green, or white tea. If you like your tea sweet but want to keep calories down, skip the sugar and add fruit juice instead.


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Bottled water

Bottled water is a bad investment for so many reasons. It's expensive compared to what's coming out of the tap, its cost to the environment is high (it takes a lot of fossil fuel to produce and ship all those bottles), and it's not even better for your health than the stuff running down your drain.

Even taking into account the cost of filters, water from home is still much cheaper than bottled water, which can run up to $1 to $3 a pop.

If you have well water and it really does not taste good (even with help from a filter), or if you have a baby at home who is bottle-fed and needs to drink safe water, buy jugs of distilled or 'nursery' water at big discount stores. They usually cost between 79 cents and 99 cents for 1 gallon (as opposed to $1.50 for 8 ounces of 'designer' water). And you can reuse the jugs to store homemade iced tea, flavored waters, or, when their tops are cut off, all sorts of household odds and ends.


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Salad kits

Washed and bagged greens can be a time-saver, but they can cost three times as much as buying the same amount of a head of lettuce. Even more expensive are 'salad kits,' where you get some greens, a small bag of dressing, and a small bag of croutons. Skip these altogether. Make your own croutons by toasting cut-up stale bread you would otherwise toss, and try mixing your own salad dressing.

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Individual servings of anything

The recent trend to package small quantities into 100-calorie snack packs is a way for food-makers to get more money from unsuspecting consumers. The price 'per unit' cost of these items is significantly more than if you had just bought one big box of cheese crackers or bag of chips. This is exactly what you should do. Buy the big box and then parcel out single servings and store them in small, reusable storage bags.


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Trail mix

We checked unit prices of those small bags of trail mix hanging in the candy aisle not that long ago and were shocked to find that they cost about $10 a pound! Make your own for much, much less with a 1-pound can of dry roasted peanuts, 1 cup of raisins, and a handful of almonds, dried fruit, and candy coated chocolate. The best part about making your own? You only include the things you like. Keep the mixture in a plastic or glass container with a tight lid for up to 3 weeks.


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'Snack' or 'lunch' packs

These 'all-inclusive' food trays might seem reasonably priced (from $2.50 to $4.00), but you're actually paying for the highly designed label, wrapper, and specially molded tray. They only contain a few crackers and small pieces of cheese and lunchmeat. The actual edible ingredients are worth just pennies and are filled with salt.

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Gourmet ice cream

It's painful to watch someone actually pay $6 for a gallon of designer brand ice cream. Don't bother. There's usually at least one brand or other on sale, and you can easily dress up store brands with your own additives like chunky bits of chocolate or crushed cookie. If you do like the premium brands, wait for that 3-week sales cycle to kick in and stock up when your favorite flavor is discounted.

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Pre-formed meat patties

Frozen burgers, beef or otherwise, are more expensive than buying the ground meat in bulk and making patties yourself. We timed it — it takes less than 10 seconds to form a flat circle and throw it on the grill. Also, there's some evidence that pre-formed meat patties might contain more e. coli than regular ground meat. In fact, most of the recent beef recalls have involved pre-made frozen beef patties.

Your Comments

  • Venzulla

    People buy what they buy because the world has made it possible to do so. Just like going to a restaurant instead of cooking. It taste better and it’s convenient. Advertisement make all of these thing irresistible. venzulla@yahoo.com

    • Drknight63

      no people have just became lazy and want to do things the quickest way possible ex. look what McDonald has done to america and is trying to do to the rest of the world. obesity is the biggest health factor in america and it is largely due to McDonald and other fast food chains that made us all lazy and not want to cook good healthy meals the next would be your local grocer who stocks everything with preservatives and little whole healthy foods

      • Vortrit

        You’re blaming McDonald’s for obesity? That seems like a very unintelligent statement to make since I’m pretty sure no one is forcing people to go there.

      • Vortrit

        You’re blaming McDonald’s for obesity? That seems like a very unintelligent statement to make since I’m pretty sure no one is forcing people to go there.

        • Arlene853z

          He used McDonalds because they have been around the longest and are most popular.  However, YES people have become lazy and just want to eat fast and the fast foods are the worst for obesety.  It is certainly not unintelligent to say this.

          • Heather

            …but still nobody is forcing them.

          • Oytser

            Of course not, just a lot of subliminal advertising especially around meal times. Mass advertising programs you to do what they want you to do. It’s called the 25th image that the human eye can’t see but the human brain picks up.

          • Oytser

            Of course not, just a lot of subliminal advertising especially around meal times. Mass advertising programs you to do what they want you to do. It’s called the 25th image that the human eye can’t see but the human brain picks up.

          • Guest

             Subliminal advertising is one of those urban myths that won’t die. There is no such thing.  The “study” that purported to examine the phenomenon wasn’t even actually done. The dude lied. Check SNOPES for the full scoop.

          • Bill

            Either way, the point made is still accurate. Billions of dollars are spent annually because marketing works.

          • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1761086974 Rebecca White

            Right. If it didn’t work, those companies wouldn’t be spending millions a year on their advertising and research budgets. They know exactly the triggers to push. THEY have a responsibility too, for what deeds they commit.

          • Oytser

            Of course not, just a lot of subliminal advertising especially around meal times. Mass advertising programs you to do what they want you to do. It’s called the 25th image that the human eye can’t see but the human brain picks up.

          • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_H6MFT4FPSLZLZUE4LFNZAOHBQU Me Too

             Actually sometimes this is the case.  If your schedule is busy enough you don’t have time to prepare food and your budget is low enough that you can’t eat at a fancy health food restaurant, McDonalds or similar is a good bang for the buck.

            What is the real problem?  Consuming too many calories.  Cut out the empty calories from french fries and soda pop, and excess sodium from certain sauces and cheese, then McDonalds is actually not all that unhealthy, providing a good source of protein with a reasonably good protein to fat ratio for the money.

          • Deaconess_2000

            I agree. I’m not sure that McDonalds has such a bad rap considering they have many more healthy options than many other fast food restaurants. The problem is many people lack the self control to make those choices, but instead opt for the high calorie angus burger with cheese, fries, and a shake. That isn’t the restaurant’s fault.And who is to say that some people can’t enjoy an occasional Big Mac and fries or a milk shake. I might after running ten miles earlier in the day or doing a 30 mile bike ride. Usually I just get a snack wrap, small side salad, and courtesy cup of water and mooch a few fries from my husband. The salads with chicken are pretty good too.

          • Krys

            It’s become too expensive to eat healthy. Remember when fish was the cheapest thing you could buy? Fruits and veggies were also inexpensive; now they are the most expensive.

          • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1761086974 Rebecca White

            That’s really not true. Processed food is very expensive. Meat is very expensive. I don’t eat either, eat a lot of good whole foods and I spend much less than I did before.

          • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_H6MFT4FPSLZLZUE4LFNZAOHBQU Me Too

             Actually sometimes this is the case.  If your schedule is busy enough you don’t have time to prepare food and your budget is low enough that you can’t eat at a fancy health food restaurant, McDonalds or similar is a good bang for the buck.

            What is the real problem?  Consuming too many calories.  Cut out the empty calories from french fries and soda pop, and excess sodium from certain sauces and cheese, then McDonalds is actually not all that unhealthy, providing a good source of protein with a reasonably good protein to fat ratio for the money.

          • Vk34

            Well, you do not have to force lazy people…

          • Bill

            It’s a fact that if you only know and only have unhealthy diets available to you, it forces the person to be lazy. That’s one of the many reasons it’s important to eat healthy. A lazy person is not a healthy person.

          • Calermista

            Actually there are people taking them there. People who take their kids to Mcdonald’s from an early age are essentially ingraining the idea in their minds that Mcdonald’s should be their staple food source. Then their kids will probably go through the same process. Kids are easy to manipulate with ads and fun things like that. 

          • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1761086974 Rebecca White

            True!

          • Anonymous

            …but still millions are spent every year to manipulate them. 

            I know where the “restaurant” is, I know pretty much what they have. What are the incessant ads for then? To implant the idea into your mind that you need to eat their food-like substances.

          • Mrsir

            That is correct, no one is forcing them to eat there.  They are just forcing us to pay for their medical expenses.

          • Bill

            Those people are not forcing us to pay for their medical expenses any more than you’re forcing me to pay for your cancer, when you get it, from using cleaning items and shampoos that contain sodium laurel sulfates, fragrance, and methyl and/or polyparabens. BUT, what we ARE ALL BEING FORCED to do is to pay for the subsidies places like McDonalds has lobbied Congress to force us to via taxes. So if you want to look at it like you’re being forced to pay for someone’s medical bill since they eat horribly, it could even be argued that places like McDonald’s is the one forcing you to do it. They make the food “cheaper” (thanks to our tax dollars), they’ve got stores all over the place (this is often again due to our tax dollars), and they have specialists on staff that create the food to be highly addictive. Oh, I almost forgot about marketing, they hypnotize people into going there that way too. That’s why, if you’re going to use that argument, you should blame the junk food companies for the medical bills and not the people who are in ill health due to them.

          • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1761086974 Rebecca White

            True. Don’t forget the government subsidies for corn, which enables junk food to be so cheap.

          • Rsmith12345

            Actually, I was once kidnapped by the manager at my local McDonald’s who held a gun to my head and ordered me to eat 5 Big Macs, 3 large fries, and an apple pie.

          • JSD

            I’ll disagree. Mostly. First of all, every child brought to McDonalds for a meal IS being forced to eat there. Whether they like it or not; whether they know it or not. It was not their decision.

            The criminal part of McD’s is that once they get you in there, they feed you awful food that has at least been suggested (if not proven) to be addictive. That is a willful act by the company’s business model. They’re like freaking crack dealers that rely on someone to bring them their prey. Some people are stronger than others when it comes to addiction. That’s why we’re not ALL lining up for meals there everyday.

            So fine, adults are not being forced to eat there, but they are being manipulated by disgusting, addictive ingredients that for whatever reason compel us to return … often. If you ask me, tricking people into doing things they wouldn’t otherwise do is worse than forcing someone to do something.

          • gtcher

            The criminal part is that idiots reproduce.

          • Jking825

            Heather that is a simplistic answer.  Many socioeconomic factors weigh upon those who struggle to live on minimum wage or are working poor struggling to keep a family going. Either you are blessed enough to not be in this position or you are not capable of understanding. Either way, there’s more to it. 

          • Jim

            The price point is and the availability of a McDonalds is as well

          • Mogen001

             Nobody said anything about forcing anybody.

          • PAH46

            The issue is more complicated than being ‘forced’ to eat at McDonald’s or elsewhere. McDonald’s offers low price, prepared foods. They do this by benefitting from govenrment subsidies–from farm subsidies to tax benefits. These subsidies comes from taxpayers, in turn the products sold by large food corporations are cheaper. So, a consumer has a ‘choice’ of what to do with their $10 after a long day of work… stop at McDonald’s for a meal (that was made cheaper by government subsidies) or stop at the grocery store and purchase the fresher, healthier fruits, vegetables, and proteins that don’t come with a reduced price tag?  No, no one is force feeding Americans Whoppers or Big Macs, but our choices are to buy the fast food (that is partially paid for by tax dollars) or buy unsubsidized food that is paid for entirely by the consumer.

          • Beardog1

            I agree with most of what you have to say, but the food in grocery stores are highly subsidized! Most of our food comes from KAFOs such as ADM, etc. where animals and crops are brought to market by the use of chemicals (from BGH and Antibiotics to tons and tons of pesticides). Gone is the small farm. Gone are healthy crops at a reasonable price. It’s not impossible to free yourself from this horrendous cycle, but it does take some work on your part. Both in educating yourself about who grows what and how, to discovering what foods will keep you out of the doctor’s office. It may not appeal to many of you, but instead of renting the latest Bruce Willis kill-a-thon, rent “The Perfect Human Diet”. Not much action, but a whole lot of common sense and good advise!

          • Bill

            You are right except that I want to specify that vegetables are NOT subsidized, and stores that sell them are not as available to us as junk food is. Also, junk food is still in the store, and it’s usually way cheaper than the garbage.

          • Anonymous

            Not one mention of economics in all of this blabbering? Really? The cheapest food is generally the worst food. The woes of the American food systems are as much a socio-economic issue as a health issue. See the big picture!

          • Undead-earth

            Would you agree that people have free will as long as it doesn’t impact another’s free will?

            These people have a right to eat McDonald’s. But only up to a point. Afte that. We pay for their long term health issues. As soon as you become obese I think we have a right to modify the things available to you so I don’t have to pay for you triple bypass

          • Beardog1

            Second paragraph – good points. First paragraph makes no sense whatsoever. I believe you’re confusing free will with freedom!

          • Bill

            I’m just copy pasting since I have sore arms and since this response applies to your comment as well.”Those people are not forcing us to pay for their medical expenses any
            more than you’re forcing me to pay for your cancer, when you get it,
            from using cleaning items and shampoos that contain sodium laurel
            sulfates, fragrance, and methyl and/or polyparabens. BUT, what we ARE
            ALL BEING FORCED to do is to pay for the subsidies places like McDonalds
            has lobbied Congress to force us to via taxes. So if you want to look
            at it like you’re being forced to pay for someone’s medical bill since
            they eat horribly, it could even be argued that places like McDonald’s
            is the one forcing you to do it. They make the food “cheaper” (thanks to
            our tax dollars), they’ve got stores all over the place (this is often
            again due to our tax dollars), and they have specialists on staff that
            create the food to be highly addictive. Oh, I almost forgot about
            marketing, they hypnotize people into going there that way too. That’s
            why, if you’re going to use that argument, you should blame the junk
            food companies for the medical bills and not the people who are in ill
            health due to them.”

          • Beardog1

            There’s a difference between physical force and psychological force. All the ads for fast food chains use psychology in the form of “mouth watering” commercials for their non-nutritional menus.

          • Msnjr65

            No one put a weapon to anyones head to make them buy Macdonaldsor any other fast food ,it up to us as responsibe indivuals to eat a smaller portion,or cook at home,i very rarely eat mcdonalds or any of that maybe 5 times a year,sometimes if i have a taste for it ,i have seen and heard of people who go everyday,what happened to home cooking.

          • Amy

            has anyone factored in the two parent working household, not to mention the single parent trying to work, care for th kids, and cook. my mother didn’t work and her job was to cook meals each day. We never ate out and I grew up in NYC where there was plenty of choices. I continued to cook daily for my children in addition to working full time and we often ate at 8:30 PM. If I had the extra dough, I think I would have made 1 night a week take out night. I was constantly overwhelmed with their after school sports, school meetings, and homework help. I think prepared foods are more of a convienence for most people.

          • Beardog1

            What is missing from your rational is priorities. Are some of these activities less important than providing your family with a healthy lifestyle? ABSOLUTELY.

          • Howardvw45

            Arlene853z.  Curiuos how you know what he was thinking when he wrote the statement about McDonalds.   McDonalds didn’t make people lazy.  Lazy people are just lazy people and usually end up eating at one of the FF places.  It’s all about personal responsibility

          • mccoy346

            It’s really nobody’s business what someone CHOOSES to eat!!  I’ll bet a lot of these posts criticizing McDonald’s are from women who are pro-choice.  This especially applies to the government!!

          • Beardog1

            What a douche!

          • http://www.facebook.com/pete.snurd Pete Snurd

            Right On!!!!!

          • http://www.facebook.com/pete.snurd Pete Snurd

            Ignorance is curable with education. Stupidity has no cure. I am not a women and I am pro choice. It is nobody’s business what someone chooses to eat, BUT if you are not aware of the dangers of some of the food you eat then you are just plain stupid. So people are having a (Mostly) civil discussion and here you come, the smart one with a sub normal IQ.

          • Johansen

            Yes it is unintelligent

          • Frank

            it’s unintelligent to blame any restaurant for obesity. look in the mirror if you’re obese – that’s your problem, right there.

        • Alex

          McD’s has lobbyists.  Thanks to lobbyists, the ingredients of McD’s fast food (like corn) are ridiculously subsidized, while healthier alternatives (like fruits and vegetables) are not.  For lower-class people, unhealthy food at McD’s is far cheaper than healthier food.

          Nobody is putting a gun to people’s head to make them walk into the golden arches, but we are collecting their tax money and using it to make McD’s the most affordable option.

          Look at the wealthiest people in this country: they’re almost without exception in great health.  They can afford to buy healthy food every day.

          • Meridithmfa

            According to many who are in a position to know, McDonald’s is one of the biggest recipients of corporate welfare. That’s how they are able to offer such low prices. I don’t care at all for their food and only buy an occasional cup of coffee there.

          • Ethne_

            Actually it’s not even close to being more
            affordable.  If someone was to buy 1 pound of beef, rolls, cheese
            and a vegetable  -it would cost dramatically less than  four person
            “extra value meals.”  80% fat free beef is about 3 dollars a
            pound in NY – generic rolls are 1.89 and generic cheeses are probably about 2
            dollars a pound.  If someone purchased an
            in season vegetable or even bought generic frozen veggies, that would probably
            cost (at most) 3 dollars.  That’s at most
            9 dollars for the entire meal for four people. (Versus the 15- 20 dollars you
            spend at McDonalds) If you want it to be more healthy, 2 dollars for tomato
            sauce is not expensive, regardless of this article.  It would allow you to stretch the ground beef
            out to possibly 2 meals for your family when added with pasta.  It’s also much lower in fat.  It’s laziness of mind to argue that McDonalds
            is a cheaper alternative. It is far from it. If someone wanted to take the
            time, comparison shop, learn how to cook and cut some coupons, they could make
            themselves very healthy meals and save themselves a ton of money. 
            There are even cookbooks that explain how to do this. 

          • tony

            What you write makes sense, but one could argue the time spent preparing that home meal makes up the rest of the cost from buying at McD’s or anywhere else.  It is the convenience more so than price.  Health>Time>Money

          • Lf555555

            Dollar menu is cheaper for many. Especially  tempting for young single men, & moms that are so tired after working. I couldn’t believe how the prices went up!  1st time in long time since been there & prices are outrageous & products seem less. I noticed the fruit parfaits are smaller too, they changed the shape of the container so holds less, very sneaky. Good marketing I guess.  Very unhealthy, but is cheaper for  some single people, sadly the elderly & disabled are often victims too, I live in elderly/disabled apts w/mc d’s around corner It’s too hard to cook,shop, & can’t afford high price fresh fruit & veg etc. so they eat from dollar menu.

          • Lf555555

            Dollar menu is cheaper for many. Especially  tempting for young single men, & moms that are so tired after working. I couldn’t believe how the prices went up!  1st time in long time since been there & prices are outrageous & products seem less. I noticed the fruit parfaits are smaller too, they changed the shape of the container so holds less, very sneaky. Good marketing I guess.  Very unhealthy, but is cheaper for  some single people, sadly the elderly & disabled are often victims too, I live in elderly/disabled apts w/mc d’s around corner It’s too hard to cook,shop, & can’t afford high price fresh fruit & veg etc. so they eat from dollar menu.

          • Lf555555

            Dollar menu is cheaper for many. Especially  tempting for young single men, & moms that are so tired after working. I couldn’t believe how the prices went up!  1st time in long time since been there & prices are outrageous & products seem less. I noticed the fruit parfaits are smaller too, they changed the shape of the container so holds less, very sneaky. Good marketing I guess.  Very unhealthy, but is cheaper for  some single people, sadly the elderly & disabled are often victims too, I live in elderly/disabled apts w/mc d’s around corner It’s too hard to cook,shop, & can’t afford high price fresh fruit & veg etc. so they eat from dollar menu.

          • Chels

            Alex i totally disagree with you. There are many meals that can be made by poor people that are a lot cheaper, time saving and healthier than McDonalds. I’m talking about beans, legumes, rice, potatoes, meat (if possible), eggs, powdered milk, etc. I think it all comes down to being lazy, rich or poor, either one has the means to eat healthy. And i’m saying this as someone who grew up doing bread, sugar, flour lines; milk wasn’t available for a while so we bought powdered milk, had oatmeal for breakfast or even potatoes! I never felt deprived & grew up healthy. I do give all the credit to my parents for their creativity and frugality in the way they managed through hardship.

        • Meridithmfa

          Some people don’t know any better. Others go because their friends do. Yet others go because they think they’re saving money which they definitely are not. I personally do not like McDonald’s and don’t patronize it but if someone else likes it, who am I to tell them not to?

        • desertgirl

          While nobody is “forcing” people to eat at fast food, these restaurants still use every technique they can to get you hooked on their food.  These techniques range from the subtle hyponotizism in their advertising to too much addicting sugar in their foods.   Even that delious flame broiled smell is made by chemical additives. 

        • StopGreed

           Knucklehead, Mc Donalds has its part in the obesity factor in America. They care not about anyone’s health but only care for a profit margin (GREED is their crime), and that leads to unnecessarily unhealthy ingredients which aids obesity (like excess fat & sugar).

        • Andrewb1221

          Although Mcdonald’s isn’t helping, either.

        • Anonymous

          forcing? no. Spending millions every year to brainwash people into thinking they should go there? Yes. If millions of print, radio, tv, and sport sponsor-ship ads didn’t work, they would not spend the money. Is it your own personal choice if you see 15 McDonald’s ads per day? You’ve been had.

        • uram

           I agree with you

        • Kelly

          Amen Vortrit, quit peoplel need to quit blaming Fast Food and be responsible for your own actions…..   Noone forces you to eat crap food.  Sheesh!

        • Kelly

          Amen Vortrit, quit peoplel need to quit blaming Fast Food and be responsible for your own actions…..   Noone forces you to eat crap food.  Sheesh!

        • Jjflash083

          Duh.  Then why were cigarette commercials remved from TV?????  Maybe because children need some protection. 

        • Beardog1

          I’d definitely blame McDonalds for our obesity epidemic. They started the fast food craze that turned Americans into blimps. Part of it has to do with busy schedules, but mostly it’s just laziness. “I don’t feel like cooking, let’s go to Burger King” should be “cooking is critical to our health and well being – I can skip an episode of The Kardashians and do the right thing”. Nutrition is everything! Not a statement we hear very often from allopathic doctors since they are tasked with curing what ails us rather than preventing it. Grocery store shelves are lined with crap, while Whole Foods has priced themselves out of the reach of many Americans. Both of these cases are so wrong! There’s so much more I’d like to say about this for the sake of a healthy population, but I’m not the author here, merely making a statement. Think NUTRITIONAL, and do the leg work for yourself!

        • Bill

          McDonalds doesn’t hold a gun visibly to anyone’s head, but they were the
          ones who started and encouraged the fast food drive thru craze, and in
          many ways that are subliminal. Not to mention they, like Kraft and many
          other co’s, have nutritionists on staff that their sole purpose is to
          make their food more addictive, so they’ll sell more. Marketing is very
          tricky too, and has been done so in a way that we’re not always as aware
          of it either. Also, many of these companies have lobbied Congress to
          subsidize both their foods, and their stores, making our tax dollars pay
          for them to be super cheap (way cheaper than fresh fruits and veggies
          etc.), and for them to be on every corner. It’s usually much cheaper and
          more available to eat pure junk, that’s been made addictive to boot, than it is to eat celery. Also, eating an unhealthy diet will make a person lazy.

      • Finally

        At what point does personal accountability enter into the picture? There are many people out there who make healthy food choices and don’t eat fast food or eat it in moderation. How can you blame fast food restaurants for offering people an option that they can easily not choose?

        • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1615090593 Robert McCallum

          We are social animals, we are influenced by peers, by flashing lights, by impulse, by odors. Your holier than thou attitude serves no one. 

           I once tried to eat nothing with HFCS for  a month, it is in so many things I eat that, other than work(i work over 60 hours a week), i spent most of my waking hours finding a balanced diet that would sustain me! 
           We count on our society NOT to purposely put us or our health in jeopardy. And to even think advertising does not influence is moronic to the extreme! Why would anyone advertise if it did not, in effect, hypnotize the masses to make poor choices? It would be a colossal waste of money, and stockholders won’t stand for that.  
           

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Sin

            What’s moronic is blaming someone else because we can’t control urges.  I guess if you see flashing lights at a bar you need to drink and, of course, the flashing lights of cigarette machines causes people to smoke, too!    Wow!  With your theory we can find a way to blame everyone for something!

          • Smoke

             If you made a conservative effort, owned three crock pots and a microwave, a roomy freezer, was super-organized, and had a decent budget, you could whittle down to HFCS rare on a 60-hour workweek after one year, maybe two if you own a lot of condiments.  (This is uncounting of drinking habits.)

            I can’t remember how much it cost me or how long it took, but I have more time to chop vegetables than you do.  I brought HFCS down to BBQ sauce, the undocumented amount in honey, and I forget what else beyond looking in the natural disaster kit.

          • Chels

            @ Robert – Holier than thou? I didn’t get that at all from the previous comment. To quote you “we are social animals influenced by peers, by flashing lights, by impulse, by odors”, so that means we can’t control ourselves? If i’m being bombarded by ads of brand new vehicles that tell me how good i’d feel if i owned one, then i purchase it, get way over my head in debt because of it, i can just blame the car company & their marketing for my poor financial choices? Or if a great computer program for children is advertised, i buy it and my child is stuck all day using it & gains weight, i’m going to blame the product provider??? is it not my responsability to educate & guide my child through life? I don’t think that’s a holier than thou attitude, it’s just common sense. The easy way is to blame others for our faults & shortcomings.

        • Pezzdude

          I agree, fast food are there to indulge when we are traveling or any means that require us to be in and out.  But at no way should they be blamed for the obesity or “lazyness” that people have come to blame,   everyone else but their own selfs.  You can get fat and ask the fast food industry to make a “safer” hamburger, that’s like asking the cigarette companies to make a safer cigarette.  We as a people are responsible putting those things into our bodies, NO one is forcing us to do it BUT our own selfs. COME one people take RESPONSIBILITY for your own actions.  There is not Obesity Bailout!! All in moderation!

          • Guest

            Those food companies are hardly innocent in this game.  Just an example: when they lobby the government for subsidies, thereby making their junk cheaper than the good stuff, they’re responsible for the obesity epidemic, too.

          • Guest

            Those food companies are hardly innocent in this game.  Just an example: when they lobby the government for subsidies, thereby making their junk cheaper than the good stuff, they’re responsible for the obesity epidemic, too.

        • Neal Jackie

          Thank you so much for saying this!!  I am so tired of this society blaming everyone for everything instead of looking at themselves.  I myself have had a weight problem most of my life, however, I am the only one putting food in my mouth.  It is not the responsibility of anyone else but me.  People need to take responsibility for their actions!

      • Finally

        At what point does personal accountability enter into the picture? There are many people out there who make healthy food choices and don’t eat fast food or eat it in moderation. How can you blame fast food restaurants for offering people an option that they can easily not choose?

      • Willow

        Just think what you could accomplish if you could actually communicate intelligently!

      • Amboyle7

        It’s not just laziness–it’s time pressure, too.  Unlike when I was a child, in many families both parents have to work and time becomes an issue.  Because of this, many folks opt for convenience food, such as jarred pasta sauce, instant iced tea and fast food.  

        • http://www.facebook.com/candi.lombard Candi Allen-Lombard

          I worked full time…we had fast food one meal every two weeks, the rest of the time I cooked in crock pots, or made ahead and froze.

        • http://www.facebook.com/candi.lombard Candi Allen-Lombard

          I worked full time…we had fast food one meal every two weeks, the rest of the time I cooked in crock pots, or made ahead and froze.

        • http://www.facebook.com/candi.lombard Candi Allen-Lombard

          I worked full time…we had fast food one meal every two weeks, the rest of the time I cooked in crock pots, or made ahead and froze.

          • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_UJXCFQD6J6N65QH4N7KZP4E7KE Angela

            I’m guessing you weren’t working at the job I’ve got putting in 70 hours a week for just over minimum wage to help support my family of 7 (my kids are 11,9,7,4,&2) plus living on a farm which means more physical work and way more laundry But I also only eat fast food about once a month as a treat off the dollar menu -did you know you can feed 7 people for $14 if you bring it home &drink tap water I generally cook real meals (meat &potatoes) but that means not keeping up with the housekeeping

          • Michelle

            I’m guessing  you shouldn’t have had so many kids if you couldn’t feed them healthily, with variety.  This definitely means that you need to blame someone else for not making it easier for you to have time to provide your kids with what they need.  Is it your job?  The education system?  Food prices?  All of these definitely excuse your adding to the overpopulation of the world on a minimum wage job.

          • Michelle

            I’m guessing  you shouldn’t have had so many kids if you couldn’t feed them healthily, with variety.  This definitely means that you need to blame someone else for not making it easier for you to have time to provide your kids with what they need.  Is it your job?  The education system?  Food prices?  All of these definitely excuse your adding to the overpopulation of the world on a minimum wage job.

          • Michelle

            I’m guessing  you shouldn’t have had so many kids if you couldn’t feed them healthily, with variety.  This definitely means that you need to blame someone else for not making it easier for you to have time to provide your kids with what they need.  Is it your job?  The education system?  Food prices?  All of these definitely excuse your adding to the overpopulation of the world on a minimum wage job.

          • monielynn

            wow mean much?

          • Ccocsls

             Does that make her wrong???  There is a certain amount of truth in insensitivity, that is a cold hard fact.

          • monielynn

            wow mean much?

          • monielynn

            wow mean much?

          • Amy Eichelberger

             With all those kids, couldn’t one or two of them pitch in and help prepare meals?  I did as a child.  And seriously, to consider McDonalds a “treat” actually turns my stomach. 

          • Guest

             You must have had one of the good old Rival crockpots from the 70s. The ones that actually were slow cookers so you could put food in at 6:30 am and not find an unappetizing pot of mush when you return home at 6:30 pm.  They just don’t make ‘em like they used to. I mourn the loss of mine. On the other hand, those pot liner thingies are pretty nifty.

            Single person. Work full time. When I get home all I want to do is eat and either watch NetFlix or read a book. I try to cook on weekends, but am completely sick of the 2-3 dishes I make by the end of the week. Also hate to chop veggies for salads, but love love love salad bars. I would love to eat at one of those weekly if I didn’t have to drive 45 minutes to get there. Gas too much these days. Sad.

        • http://www.facebook.com/candi.lombard Candi Allen-Lombard

          I worked full time…we had fast food one meal every two weeks, the rest of the time I cooked in crock pots, or made ahead and froze.

        • http://www.facebook.com/candi.lombard Candi Allen-Lombard

          I worked full time…we had fast food one meal every two weeks, the rest of the time I cooked in crock pots, or made ahead and froze.

      • Amboyle7

        It’s not just laziness–it’s time pressure, too.  Unlike when I was a child, in many families both parents have to work and time becomes an issue.  Because of this, many folks opt for convenience food, such as jarred pasta sauce, instant iced tea and fast food.  

      • Cin

        obesity was not caused by McDonalds– it is caused by parents who don’t teach their children what to eat and what not to.   Food like that which McDonalds serves should be a rare treat not a weekly meal.  Let’s take responsiblity for our selves.

        • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_UJXCFQD6J6N65QH4N7KZP4E7KE Angela

          It has very little to do with what you eat genetics & excersize play a much larger role in how in shape you are I have family members tell me I’m getting too skinny 5’6″ 130lbs I out eat most of the people I know (oh &stress is also a factor -too much & the lbs just fall off)

          • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_D2MRKSY62OOD5CL6YCH7WBYTMM amzdevrydy

            Angela, You may be an exception but nutrition does play a large role in your overall health and weight.  You can exercise everyday but if you are consuming more calories than you are burning then you will gain weight.  

        • http://www.facebook.com/people/Yvonne-Nelson/100000814706240 Yvonne Nelson

          These parents you refer to likely don’t know how to cook themselves – Home Ec isn’t taught in high schools any more. I’ve seen “home cooked” meals that are MUCH worse than fast food.  At least with fast food, it’s usually fresh, and a grilled burger with lettuce and tomato, or a bean burrito, or a soft taco is healthier than pre-packaged “home cooked” food – Hamburger Helper, microwave pizza, frozen or shelf-type “meals”. I think fast food has been needlessly demonized. You really think parents who take their kids to McDonalds 5 days a weeks are going to, suddenly, start serving them lightly steamed vegetables, whole grain pasta, and grilled salmon? Yeah, right – it’s going to be Hamburger Helper or Pasta-Roni or Totino’s pizza rolls, washed down with Sunny-D or Capri-Sun (it’s all-natural!) - “home-cooked” meals made with huge amounts of HFCF and salt.  We’re preaching to the choir here. Ignorant parents can’t cook and, imo, are better off getting fast food meals than the dreadful crap they might otherwise feed their kids.

      • Freethinker

        No outside entity “makes” anyone lazy. They just enable those who are.

      • http://www.facebook.com/people/Tina-Larson/100001246068172 Tina Larson

        Nobody holds a gun to someone’s head and says “EAT fast food or die a quicker death!” It’s not the fast food industry that is to blame for obesity. It’s the choice and right to eat what you want when you want and ignore the consequences. People work 20 to 80+ hours a week and need quick fix options and some of us have functionality/mobility issues and can’t always make something from scratch. The last time I made cookies between my functionality/mobility issues and some of the ingredients and the fact that I baked them in a toaster oven in batches it took 8 hours. But I got them made and I split the cookies and saved half for my boyfriend and took the other half to my church for a special function. Frozen veggies with or with out sauce are a lot healthier than canned veggies and fast food.

      • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_6TMCWA2T5ZS7SD2GOJFLWYI5IA msntnkrbll

        I don’t think McDonalds is “trying to do” anything to anybody. It’s all about making as much money as possible.  They don’t care if people are fat or skinny, healthy or sick….they just want the $$$$.  They will continue to make money the #1 priority because that’s the capitalist goal, and the overall health of their customers?  Not their problem………………

        • michelle2

          Would you prefer them responsible for your health?  The creators of popular video games, should they be held responsible for the laziness of people, and the lack of running around outdoors?  Of course not.  When you have a society that is forward mobilizing, you incur the need for personal responsibility.  A services is provided for you, not because someone saw that a supply would be “necessary” but that a demand could be created.  Even McDonalds was a small corporation once.  Just as we are responsible for those who are celebrated in society, those who influence politics, etc, we are also responsible for the the corporations which proliferate the most.

        • Meridithmfa

          Amen to that, these corporate welfare parasites couldn’t care less if we all dropped dead of obesity-related illness as long as they get theirs.

        • Tom

          amen it always comes down to money

        • Tom

          amen it always comes down to money

      • Lovedisappears

         EXACTLY. We’re killing ourselves with all this pre-packaged, preservative filled crap.

      • Chels

        @drknight- to paraphrase you, McDonald’s has made us all lazy and not want to cook healthy meals and they are out to get the rest of the world. I agree with them trying to get the rest of the world but in a business sense, of course! they are a money making machine, cutting down costs wherever possible even if it means to put junk in their meals. Now as to them making people lazy? that’s a bunch of c-ap, people are accountable for what they do & if they want to stuff their stomachs with junk it’s their own fault, no one is forcing them to do it.

      • Slbdapper

         Nobody “made” you do anything you moron. People have free choice. Unless you’re a Democrat.

      • FredNoonan

        McDonalds even makes people so lazy they don’t even want to capitalize and punctuate their “It’s not my fault” comments.

      • Msimmons0708

        McDonald’s or any other fast food joint is not to blame for American’s being lazy. They don’t cook because they’re (insert whiny voice here) I’ve worked all day and have kids BLAH BLAH BLAH….seems to me our parents and grandparents managed and they worked a hell of a lot harder then 99% of thise nation…..and most STILL DO!
        Most stores carry foods with natural preservatives, but what you can’t get around is the hormones added to most meat and all the splicing and cross breeding of vegitation…we have litterally created a unsustainable food supply by F*cking with it so much to mass produce…it even has lost it’s taste….eat a hierloom tomato then eat one from the store and you’ll see what I mean, eat a farm fresh chicken (very small) then eat a store bought one…huge….the taste of the farm one is big, the other is pretty tasteless….

      • Msimmons0708

        McDonald’s or any other fast food joint is not to blame for American’s being lazy. They don’t cook because they’re (insert whiny voice here) I’ve worked all day and have kids BLAH BLAH BLAH….seems to me our parents and grandparents managed and they worked a hell of a lot harder then 99% of thise nation…..and most STILL DO!
        Most stores carry foods with natural preservatives, but what you can’t get around is the hormones added to most meat and all the splicing and cross breeding of vegitation…we have litterally created a unsustainable food supply by F*cking with it so much to mass produce…it even has lost it’s taste….eat a hierloom tomato then eat one from the store and you’ll see what I mean, eat a farm fresh chicken (very small) then eat a store bought one…huge….the taste of the farm one is big, the other is pretty tasteless….

      • Msimmons0708

        McDonald’s or any other fast food joint is not to blame for American’s being lazy. They don’t cook because they’re (insert whiny voice here) I’ve worked all day and have kids BLAH BLAH BLAH….seems to me our parents and grandparents managed and they worked a hell of a lot harder then 99% of thise nation…..and most STILL DO!
        Most stores carry foods with natural preservatives, but what you can’t get around is the hormones added to most meat and all the splicing and cross breeding of vegitation…we have litterally created a unsustainable food supply by F*cking with it so much to mass produce…it even has lost it’s taste….eat a hierloom tomato then eat one from the store and you’ll see what I mean, eat a farm fresh chicken (very small) then eat a store bought one…huge….the taste of the farm one is big, the other is pretty tasteless….

      • Msimmons0708

        McDonald’s or any other fast food joint is not to blame for American’s being lazy. They don’t cook because they’re (insert whiny voice here) I’ve worked all day and have kids BLAH BLAH BLAH….seems to me our parents and grandparents managed and they worked a hell of a lot harder then 99% of thise nation…..and most STILL DO!
        Most stores carry foods with natural preservatives, but what you can’t get around is the hormones added to most meat and all the splicing and cross breeding of vegitation…we have litterally created a unsustainable food supply by F*cking with it so much to mass produce…it even has lost it’s taste….eat a hierloom tomato then eat one from the store and you’ll see what I mean, eat a farm fresh chicken (very small) then eat a store bought one…huge….the taste of the farm one is big, the other is pretty tasteless….

      • Msimmons0708

        McDonald’s or any other fast food joint is not to blame for American’s being lazy. They don’t cook because they’re (insert whiny voice here) I’ve worked all day and have kids BLAH BLAH BLAH….seems to me our parents and grandparents managed and they worked a hell of a lot harder then 99% of thise nation…..and most STILL DO!
        Most stores carry foods with natural preservatives, but what you can’t get around is the hormones added to most meat and all the splicing and cross breeding of vegitation…we have litterally created a unsustainable food supply by F*cking with it so much to mass produce…it even has lost it’s taste….eat a hierloom tomato then eat one from the store and you’ll see what I mean, eat a farm fresh chicken (very small) then eat a store bought one…huge….the taste of the farm one is big, the other is pretty tasteless….

      • Msimmons0708

        McDonald’s or any other fast food joint is not to blame for American’s being lazy. They don’t cook because they’re (insert whiny voice here) I’ve worked all day and have kids BLAH BLAH BLAH….seems to me our parents and grandparents managed and they worked a hell of a lot harder then 99% of thise nation…..and most STILL DO!
        Most stores carry foods with natural preservatives, but what you can’t get around is the hormones added to most meat and all the splicing and cross breeding of vegitation…we have litterally created a unsustainable food supply by F*cking with it so much to mass produce…it even has lost it’s taste….eat a hierloom tomato then eat one from the store and you’ll see what I mean, eat a farm fresh chicken (very small) then eat a store bought one…huge….the taste of the farm one is big, the other is pretty tasteless….

      • Msimmons0708

        McDonald’s or any other fast food joint is not to blame for American’s being lazy. They don’t cook because they’re (insert whiny voice here) I’ve worked all day and have kids BLAH BLAH BLAH….seems to me our parents and grandparents managed and they worked a hell of a lot harder then 99% of thise nation…..and most STILL DO!
        Most stores carry foods with natural preservatives, but what you can’t get around is the hormones added to most meat and all the splicing and cross breeding of vegitation…we have litterally created a unsustainable food supply by F*cking with it so much to mass produce…it even has lost it’s taste….eat a hierloom tomato then eat one from the store and you’ll see what I mean, eat a farm fresh chicken (very small) then eat a store bought one…huge….the taste of the farm one is big, the other is pretty tasteless….

      • Keduddy

        Spoken like a true democrap – if a person prefers to eat food that may lead them to obesity – let them. I don’t see the sale of cigarettes or alcohol being limited; and you know they cost more to healthcare than obesity. If a person chooses to eat McDonalds it is their right and if they are military,they have fought for your rights and freedoms. So if you ever see a military man in a restaurant I hope you offer to buy their meal!

        • Jarred O’Dell

          If you seriously think obesity doesn’t create as much health care need as alcohol and tobacco, then you really are as ignorant as your “democrap” comment made you sound. 

      • lucia

        It’s not to blame anyone but if these restaurants is going to serve the public and take part in our hard earned monies, why can it not be healthy.  It shows how important we are as a people to each other.  I hope one day that we can enjoy a healthy meal at a restaurant that cares for people.

      • lucia

        It’s not to blame anyone but if these restaurants is going to serve the public and take part in our hard earned monies, why can it not be healthy.  It shows how important we are as a people to each other.  I hope one day that we can enjoy a healthy meal at a restaurant that cares for people.

      • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_4QV25MTBQFUX6XWY2QSIIDBQEA Anonymous

        why McDonalds who servs everyday healthier foods if you don’t buy them it’s yoiur fault…McDonalds is always attacked even though they have the best fast food of all the fast food chains…

      • Avice

        You obviously never tried to eat my MIL’s “good healthy meals.” After she served pork steak that was burned on the outside and bloody in the middle, we made sure to stop at McDonald’s before going to her house.

      • Emt_aw

        It isn’t so much McDonalds or any fast food place – Try lack of exercise. How many hours do kids sit in front of computers and video games? When we were kids, we loved to run outside to play, take walks,and ride our bicycle after our meal was finished. Now kids hate to interrupt their video games or Facebook, etc, and go right back to them after wolfing down their dinner. 

      • Comprose59

        Become lazy?  Maybe its because we have to work so do dang hard to make ends meet these days.  When I was young moms were able to stay home and cook home made meals.  After putting in 8 hours plus an hour or more commute, there isn’t much time to cook and clean and all the other household chores. 

      • Anonymous

        Laziness is not the root…the root of our obsession with “convenience” is having no time to get anything done because we work our butts off to make a living AFTER taxes.  Sure, Government would call us lazy, but that’s just a deflection to shroud its tyranny (note to deaf, dumb, and blind Obamorons: the Middle Class pays twice the tax rate of the rich, elitist slave-owners who started the Revolutionary War and founded this Nation). If we cut everyone’s taxes in half…people would work less feverishly and have time to be frugal. Ironic, but economically true!

      • Ldougherty

         Hey, wake up, nobody drives you to the store or McDonald’s and demands you to buy and eat what they are selling.  If you are weak and can’t think for yourself in whats right then you suffer and don’t blame the stores.

      • Dave Keays

        I still don’t understand why food with preservatives are less healthy than starvation. 

        If my memory is correct, 19th century farms were feeding almost 50 times fewer families than they are now. Food poisoning is almost non-existent compared to what it used to be. 

        Old fashioned practices like heating (cooking), pickling, salting, and refrigeration all create chemical changes in the food just like the preservatives of today. I understand the claim that the preservatives used yesterday should be preferred to those used today. But I don’t understand the claim that all preservatives are bad and no preservatives should be used which means that all foods should be raw (not cooked or preserved by heat).

        If a food is more likely to make one obese it is that person’s responsibility to use the food well and not over-do it. Maybe the person is on the run and under pressure of a job or a school. If so it would be too much for that person to plant, grow, reap, and prepare a healthy meal. Purchasing an already prepared meal (hamburger for example) could be beneficial to that person’s life-style. You don’t know and condemning all in such ignorance is irresponsible at best.

      • Anonymous

        I’d chalk up obesity more to physical inactivity more than to diet. You don’t see too many (like none) fat skaters (who love fast food and lots of it).

      • Anonymous

        I’d chalk up obesity more to physical inactivity more than to diet. You don’t see too many (like none) fat skaters (who love fast food and lots of it).

      • http://profile.yahoo.com/JZ2FYII75U3NTKIBIBGRAC5Y5M Ms. Ruby Slippers

         McDonalds didn’t do anything to America. People make choices, just because they can’t make the right ones or choose not to feed their families fast food six times a week, doesn’t mean we need to close down all of the fast food places and inconvenience the rest of us. How about personal responsibility? How about we all stop blaming everyone else for our problems? Why should everyone be inconvenienced because a few people lack common sense or self control? I’m sorry, if you can’t find the time to feed your kids a real dinner, then maybe you shouldn’t have had kids? Thats a pretty basic skill set needed for parenting isn’t it. So if you overindulge your kids, is it McDonald’s fault or is it because you’re a bad parent who lacks the necessary skill set to provide for your children? Hmm? How about that? How about learning to cook before you start a family? Its people like you who blame everyone else for their problems WHO are the problem.  Stop your whining and your senseless complaints and take some responsibility, because it isn’t McDonald’s thats the problem, (you lazy, self centered twat) they have them in almost every country all over the world, its people like YOU that are the problem. As far as I’m concerned they should open a McDonalds on every corner, its Darwinism at its finest.

      • http://www.facebook.com/people/Will-Malven/1197420353 Will Malven

        Nothing can MAKE anyone “lazy,” it is a choice, just like every other vice and bad decision people make.  Fast food is convenient, but the decision to go to McDonald’s or Pizza Hut or any other FF restaurant is up to the individual.

        “Individual responsibility” is a phrase that seems to be used less and less in our society, and “victims” more and more.  That is the pathway to enslavement.

        We don’t need any more nanny-staters like Mayor “Nanny” Bloomberg or “Doctor Obama/Pelosi dictating how we chose to live our lives.  Americans have fought wars to defeat dictators, now we people electing them to office.

      • Guest

        Obesity is NOT McDonald’s fault. I’ve passed there several times and no one has chased me down and stuffed a big mac with supersized fries and drink into my mouth! Individuals are responsible for what they eat and buy. People should learn to live on less, eat wholefoods and stop wanting a fast, supersized, easy life. Good health takes work. Americans are L-A-Z-Y and smart businesses capitalize on that.

      • Deedem3

        McDonalds only sells to you IF you buy just as any other food chain…..

      • Donna

        Micky d’s also offers yogurt parfaits and salads, fruits,creas and juice, it really is all abot choices and what a person chosestoeat and how much. I seen people get 2 of their doble burgers ad fries and a soda and they are already ver weight. o ppl have to want to change the way they eat and not make Micky D’s take the blame for their inability to monitor their personal food intake. imjustsaying!

      • Krys

        Not really – it’s gluten. Wheat is being produced with twice as much gluten than 50 years ago – makes it more filling.

      • sunbeams

        McDonalds doesn’t make people fat. People eating junk food, and too much food, makes people fat. McDonalds is not “trying to make” the “rest of the world” fat; McDonalds is trying to make money; and doing a pretty good job of it. Garden grown tomatoes plus herbs makes for great sauce!

      • Nowaynohow

        Yup, brainwashed non american. Probably gets spoon fed all this garbage about how “McDonalds is evil” in his local news. Yawn. Dude, come to America first before you bash it mmmmkay?

      • Pleiades357

        Lazy? Dear, some of us have 32 hour days of responsibilities. And look at the variety of options available, can you produce that in your kitchen in a reasonable time? Do you have a wife who cooks and cleans all day for you? It takes a little more thought to keep on the healthy side, but prepared foods succeed because they serve an excellent service in freeing many to spend more time at work or with families or other activities. Fast food chains don’t make “us” (unjustified generalization) lazy, some people eat thoughtlessly. One of the greatest problems in America today is the lack of responsibility taken by too many for their health and likelihood. McDonald’s offers food, no one is forced to buy it any more than people are forced to purchase things they cannot afford.

        No one but the individual is ultimately responsible for their health and support.

        Sadly too many in our government encourage this concept of helplessness and too many have lost the concept of self sufficiency and self determination that made this nation great in earlier days. It is the same practice as blaming another group of Americans for social problems… it has the appearance of a solutions but does in fact only add to the problems.

    • L-martin

      i agree but i would add that alot of things we buy are for our own convenience.

    • Rlyoldfool

      “It tastes better” – you say?
      Where are you from – Sweden?
      You don’t know zilch about herbs and spices, then.
      Look up “Eyetralian cooking” on the internet and start all over.
      Or – - “Frog” (French) cooking.
      OK;  you start with a handful of garden snails . . . add garlic . . .
      I’m off and running to the golf course.
      At age 85, you know dang well I’m not running.
      But don’t try to catch me.
      Sparky.

      • Juvie

        As a former manager at McDonalds:  One may have salad, but those frenchfries are far more enticing.  McD’s strategy is to have consumers never have to drive more than 3 miles to get to a McDonalds; thid does not apply to less densely populated areas.  Fortunately, because I was a manager, I ate 2 meals at mcDonalds daily.  If I ever have to eat another fastfood burge, it will be too soon.

        Furthermore: childhood obesity is because they sit with thhis or her videogames far too long,and not being physically active.  Note that this  became a problem with the arrival of videogames.  Earlier decades did not have this issue.  If you love your kids, limit the screen time and take them out for some physical activity.

        “if you can’t feed them, don’t breed them”

        • lynn

          I worked for the top McDonalds food supplier for 15 years. They don’t pass those goverment moneys on to their employees! If we “ran” to pick up a fast lunch to eat at our desk, it better be McDonalds or face diciplinary action!

          I agree about the video games, that’s why my four kids never had one! They play outside for fun, not planted in front of the tv.

    • Paulcohen

      you lost your brain

    • Anonymous

      Cooking at home tastes better, is much cheaper and more convenient. Don’t have to leave the kitchen! There’s not much at restaurants you can’t make at home for yourself. I save them for special occasions or special dishes.

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1761086974 Rebecca White

      It hardly EVER tastes better.

  • Venzulla

    People buy what they buy because the world has made it possible to do so. Just like going to a restaurant instead of cooking. It taste better and it’s convenient. Advertisement make all of these thing irresistible. venzulla@yahoo.com

  • Venzulla

    People buy what they buy because the world has made it possible to do so. Just like going to a restaurant instead of cooking. It taste better and it’s convenient. Advertisement make all of these thing irresistible. venzulla@yahoo.com

  • Guest

    I’m not sure the spaghetti sauce is on-target. Here, I can get a jar of spaghetti sauce (i.e. think “Ragu”) for less than two dollars. It contains more sauce than 1 can of tomato sauce (which can be $1 or more per can…can you believe that?!?!) , plus spices (which are quite expensive and really add up if you use a lot of them. I think that, barring sales, the tomatoes, spices, onion, mushrooms, and energy needed to cook the sauce would probably outweigh any savings.

    • cheryl

      Jar sauces are good but they contain alot of salt and some contain sugar. Take the time to make your own and you control the contents.

      • Shellls77

        make ur own? really? just be a smart shopper, watch the ads and save a buck when u can. most tomatoe base products come with salt and sugar and has 4 many many years. now adays we have 2 feed our families on a tight budget, and the cost 4 good tomatoes r crazy high. the answer is 2 shop smart and serve up smarter dishes. limit the sauce 2 a small amount, w/veggie and salad.

        • Bren

          Hello! Many Italians put a little sugar in their sauce, it cuts the acridness of the tomato and gives a smoother flavor to the sauce, but the amount we’re talking about is negligible.  The tomato sauces are way better for you than the pasta, so why cut out a good thing?  Tomatoes are an awesome source of lycopene. 

          • Remhlehensler

            You can put a bay leaf or 2 in the sauce when cooking, and leave out the sugar, gets the same results

          • Kateirini

            Italian sauce without the bay leaf additive, is not great sauce.
            It is my favorite spice for a delicious plate of “spaghetti.
            NO NO sugsr!

          • Kateirini

            Italian sauce without the bay leaf additive, is not great sauce.
            It is my favorite spice for a delicious plate of “spaghetti.
            NO NO sugsr!

          • Me

            Add all the sugar you want if you’re making the sauce for yourself. No one else has to eat it but you.

          • http://www.facebook.com/holly.stowe.1 Holly Stowe

            They are talking a PINCH of sugar, not a tablespoon or even a teaspoon…a pinch, a negligible amount but it does make the difference in a good sauce and a great one. Never heard of adding bay leaf to Italian “gravy”.

          • Gerty

            My mom always used sweet onions instead of sugar…It’s a little secret that makes the sauce soooo sweet and good!

          • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_UING2KDCEZ45FUXK73W7CNONOE LibertyLover

            I’m not a fan of sweet sauce. I like it zesty! Bay leaf, oregano, tiniest bit of basil, rosemary, and a dash of crushed red pepper.

          • Mslark3

            I add fennel seeds instead of rosemary. 

          • http://www.facebook.com/holly.stowe.1 Holly Stowe

            Rosemary in spaghetti sauce? Yuck.

          • Css101066

            Put a white potato in the sauce while it cooks, takes all the acid out and you don’t have to add sugar

          • Css101066

            Put a white potato in the sauce while it cooks, takes all the acid out and you don’t have to add sugar

          • Attila

            Traditional tomato sauce contained generous amounts of sweet basil, but food processors and some uninformed cooks found they could substitute sugar which is much cheaper. Herbs like basil and oregano are very easy to grow in a small space (free and self seeding) and add so much real zest to cooking. Shhhh, also very healthy.

          • Anonymous

            really sorry about this …. mom was first generation Italian…and never EVER put in sugar…if you cook the sauce like she did for 6 hours…aint NO bitter or UNSMOOTH taste! she used to cringe when the TV chefs put in sugar….ah well…those were the good old days…now it’s all packaged JUNK

          • Meridithmfa

            I wouldn’t dream of adding sugar to my tomato-based sauce.

          • gtcher

            The good old days are still here in my house as a second generation Italian.

          • rickcain2320

            Spaghetti sauce from a jar tends to have high fructose corn syrup, not sugar. Its in there for taste as Americans love sugary stuff. Personally I can’t stand sugary pasta sauce.

          • E Dziadowicz

            How disgusting!. Sugar ruins the sauce and is intended for those who don’t really like tomatoes

        • Bren

          Hello! Many Italians put a little sugar in their sauce, it cuts the acridness of the tomato and gives a smoother flavor to the sauce, but the amount we’re talking about is negligible.  The tomato sauces are way better for you than the pasta, so why cut out a good thing?  Tomatoes are an awesome source of lycopene. 

        • http://www.facebook.com/people/Tina-Larson/100001246068172 Tina Larson

          We save by growing our own and canning the extra how ever we want.

        • lynn

          just grow your tomatoes, it takes very little money and you can even grow them in a pot if you have no yard

        • Ur is not a word

          Yes, make your own. What’s the matter with that? It will taste better, and chances are if you shop right you can make enough to freeze and use later in different dishes–for less than the same amount of jarred sauce.

          Or are you lazy? I’m guessing lazy.

        • George

          Please don’t use text speech when you’re on your keyboard. It makes you sound dumb.

        • http://www.facebook.com/markmcsw Mark McSweeney

          Use words, not numbers please.

      • crisley

        a lot is two separate words

    • cheryl

      Jar sauces are good but they contain alot of salt and some contain sugar. Take the time to make your own and you control the contents.

    • cheryl

      Jar sauces are good but they contain alot of salt and some contain sugar. Take the time to make your own and you control the contents.

    • Maureenam85

      AGREED! That’s one store short cut that is totally worth it.

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Cathy-Rogers/100000149498689 Cathy Rogers

      I buy Hunts Roasted Herb and Garlic Spag. Sauce for under $1 a can

      • Lalala6popcorny

        awesome! thnx 4 the tip

      • NG

        I usually buy Hunt’s too.  They have a ton of flavors and it’s usually super-cheap.  Too bad their ketchup stinks!

      • BuildingAirplanes

        I’ll buy Hunt’s or Del Monte. Usually 88c per 25-oz can. Then, I just add herbs, spices, Italian sausage and olive oil to it.

      • http://www.facebook.com/holly.stowe.1 Holly Stowe

        The sauce is the lowest rated one on the market BUT you can doctor it up and make it better than straight out if the can by sautéing garlic, tossing in some fresh chopped basil or oregano ad adding a drizzle of good olive oil. A decent grate of Parmesan or Romano can make a huge difference as well. Hunts is an excellent choice to begin a “nearly homemade” sauce and it is more than budget-friendly.

    • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_BB37ADPGG4DIFP2QWJEXFEGDKY Randall K

      Ragu is disgusting

    • Waldenfarmemuzoo

      I agree. Spaghetti is my fast dinner option and Hunts no sugar added or the chunky veg. is well worth the cost and time it saves.

    • Mandylea82

      Ditto. I buy the 99 cent canned stuff. I might need to toss a few pennies worth of herbs in it to make the flavor a bit better, but that’s about it.
      We have food allergies in our family (barley and milk). With that in mind, I do the vast majority of our cooking from scratch- right down to our bread. Considering pasta sauce is one of the few allergy-free (at least for us) foods out there, I’m more than happy to consume a little extra sugar and sodium if it means I get a little bit of a break from the kitchen. LOL

      • Meridithmfa

        I’m sensitive to wheat so I use rice pasta whenever I eat Italian food which isn’t that often. I prefer Thai or Mexican food.

      • Anonymous

         We try to find sales on spaghetti sauce between $1.00 and $1.50.  We don’t buy the more expensive sauces with meat added.  Instead we add a small can of sliced button mushrooms, which you can hardly tell from meat in the sauce.  It’s portion controlled and you don’t have to precook them like meat.

      • surftoes

        Great. Sounds like your a great cook. We all need a break from the kitchen.

    • Dyyyyurrrrp

      I can urinate better spaghetti sauce.

    • papa11

      I’m with you Bro.

    • geoherb1

      I buy herbs and spices at places that sell them in bulk. I put them into my own jars and end up saving a ton of money over buying them in jars. Plus if I’m trying out a recipe that has an unusual herb or spice, I can buy just what I need and don’t end up with any leftover.

  • Guest

    Good article. I buy packaged salad mixes when they go on sale 2 for 1 which seems to happen every few weeks. Also, I would say that premade/frozen hamburger patties contain a lot less beef than if you make the burgers yourself. I also agree with the other commentor; you can easily get a good jar of spaghetti sauce for around $2. Making sauce from scratch isn’t worth it unless you simply enjoy doing that.

    • Marie

      YOU NEVER HAD GOOD HOME SPAGHETTI SAUCE THEN…I MAKE ENOUGH SO I CAN FREEZE
       2 OR 3 TUBS OF IT AND US IT DOWN THE ROAD. WILL LAST FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS AND HAS EVEN A BETTER TASTE WHEN WHEN IT WAS 1ST MADE….
        DON’T TALK ABOUT HOW GOOD JAR SAUCE IS, UNLESS YOU REALLY KNOW…

      • Bunbunzz

        Thank god some one else cooks and thinks like me. And if you can make good sauce…you don’t call it sauce! IT’S GRAVY! In ole country!

        BunBunzz

        • Kateirini

          You are right!  Italian Gravy, not sauce…..I forgot!!
          ……. cuz I’m not Italian……..  :-(

        • Kateirini

          You are right!  Italian Gravy, not sauce…..I forgot!!
          ……. cuz I’m not Italian……..  :-(

        • Anonymous

          Actually it is not called gravy in Italy. Only some people of Italian decent in America use that term. 

      • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=777067165 Donine Connally

        Hey, to each his own…….

      • Potatoebug999

        I totally agree you with……. Nothing like home made sauce! I also make enough to put in the freezer for another day….. Also I do the same with lasagna , pulled pork and etc….. I have a full freezer from doing just that have dinner in a jiff, especially when you had a tiring day and don’t want to cook….
        P.S . I also make my own bread a couple days a week…. I refuse to pay 2.00 to 3.00 dollars a loaf ….. totally rediculous!! now a days you need to be self sufficient because prices are not going to get any better….. I always by my meat on sale… Never pay full price…..

        • http://www.facebook.com/people/Tina-Larson/100001246068172 Tina Larson

          Ok I have to justify buying a $3+ loaf of bread. I have dental and eating issues and prefer “wheat” breads. My favorite isn’t a national brand which is a shame. It’s HEB’s (Texas grocery store) Walnut Multigrain. and I love the taste and texture of it. I don’t own a bread making machine so I’ll keep shelling out the $$$$ for it until I learn how to make my own from scratch. 1 loaf stays fresh up to a month after the “best buy date” with out freezing it, so for that $3+ I get bread that lasts me 2 months. Well ok maybe not 2 months in the near future as I’m almost done with the dental issue that was part of the eating issue. Not knowing what I want to eat, what I can eat, staring confusedly at the jumble of mostly can’t eat stuff in the house, or forgetting to eat, then losing all my teeth and then breaking and dislocating my jaw isn’t a weight lose plan I’d ever recommend to any one.

        • Meridithmfa

          I buy my bread at the 99-cent store.

      • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_6TMCWA2T5ZS7SD2GOJFLWYI5IA msntnkrbll

        Good for you Marie! The same goes for chili in this house….I make a huge pot-full then freeze in meal-size containers.  Now, canned chili tastes like…..icky canned chili.   Homemade spaghetti sauce rocks over any jar sauce, absolutely!  I found I can substitute added salt by using a small chopped jalapeno pepper, we like it spicy, too!

      • http://www.facebook.com/people/Yvonne-Nelson/100000814706240 Yvonne Nelson

        WOW MARIE – YOU WRITE IN ALL CAPS – WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY MUST BE MORE IMPORTANT AND RELEVANT THAN ANYONE ELSE!!!!! I PROMISE I’LL NEVER TALK ABOUT JAR SAUCE AGAIN SINCE YOU SAID NOT TO!!! Good grief, turn the caps lock key off already. FWIW, I’ve tasted friends’ (supposedly Italian) home-made pasta sauces – yuk – Ragu wins, hands down, and it’s cheaper. It’s not like I eat spaghetti more than once or twice a month.

      • http://www.facebook.com/people/Yvonne-Nelson/100000814706240 Yvonne Nelson

        WOW MARIE – YOU WRITE IN ALL CAPS – WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY MUST BE MORE IMPORTANT AND RELEVANT THAN ANYONE ELSE!!!!! I PROMISE I’LL NEVER TALK ABOUT JAR SAUCE AGAIN SINCE YOU SAID NOT TO!!! Good grief, turn the caps lock key off already. FWIW, I’ve tasted friends’ (supposedly Italian) home-made pasta sauces – yuk – Ragu wins, hands down, and it’s cheaper. It’s not like I eat spaghetti more than once or twice a month.

  • Mackenzie

    About a year ago I gave up all canned and processed food or at least as much as I could, I’ll admit that some things cannot be made at home, but these can usually be purchased at a local whole goods store excluding most additives, etc. Almost everything my family eats comes from fresh, frozen or non-preservative added ingredients (about once a week I allow for a “can dinner” where all I do is dump ingredients into a pan to cook.) I live in a fairly cold climate that doesn’t have a long growing season, I work full time and have three kids and still have plenty of time to do this. It’s not really that hard once you get started.

    We make our own peanut butter, bread, sauces, spices, noodles, beans, everything. Sometimes we do cheat and buy the non-preservative alternatives at the whole good store, but less and less the further we go along. We are vegetarians so meat wasn’t an issue and we get our eggs from a local farmer who sells farm fresh eggs for cheaper than the grocery store. (Just FYI, I also know a few carnivores who have changed their diets this way with equal success. I believe they get their meat from a local farmer as well.)

    It really doesn’t take as much time as you would think as long as you do necessary prep and think ahead. I probably spend a total of 45 minutes of prep time a day in the kitchen. A food processor is a “must have” as well as a good organic cookbook and a good sense of humor. I plan meals a week in advance, get all the fresh ingredients I can at a whole goods store, pick up the rest at a grocery store and in addition grow what I can during the summer so I can freeze it for the winter. I plant many of my own herbs and spices in an indoor herb garden.

    I will say that the initial start-up was kind of expensive until I got all the base ingredients and tools. We also haven’t realized a huge savings at the grocery store with all the fresh, organic food we buy. What I can say though is that I am much more comfortable and confident that what we are eating is actually doing good for our bodies, minds and spirits as opposed to eating processed junk American’s are addicted to. Even as vegetarians, we used to be the same; fast food junkies, replacing nutrition with convenience at the grocery store. However, now that we’ve changed our diets, both my husband and I have lost all our extra weight and neither we nor our kids ever get sick anymore.

    I know many people who would say that they don’t have 45 minutes a day to spend in the kitchen, but if you’re serious about healthy eating, then this time would be a priority. I would challenge anyone to give it a try. The food tastes better, you can eat more of it, you’ll look great, you’ll feel great and you’ll never go back.

    • Kateirini

      Either The Doctors or The Doctor Oz Show(forgot which show) stated that frozen or canned vegetables or fruit are better for you than fresh, because the fresh food is picked far earlier than the frozen or canned.
      However, I have to add to that, that I prefer canned and frozen fruits and vegetables that are salt free.

      • Potatoebug999

        I am not quite sure of the canned vegetables are better than fresh…. We grow our vegetables in the garden… No perservatives and etc……. We blanch them and freeze them for the winter…… I just finished making 15 pints of pickled beets and it cost me a bag of seed for 1.00 dollar…. I already had the jars and etc  …… I have lettuce, tomatoes, peas, carrots, spinach, cucumbers , oregno, parsley, chives , acorn squash… All ready to go…. I will can the tomatoes, freeze the peas and carrots, spinach….. very tasty during the winter months…. and will not have to buy any of those awful imported tomatoes…. that are never tasty or ripe…..I also froze peaches, blueberries and strawberries for the winter.

        • SM Russell

          I think Kateirni means the fresh vegetables at the grocery store. Frozen and canned stuff are usually quick processed the day they’re picked, while vegetables for the store have to picked early and not ripe so they aren’t spoiled when they get to the store. Not everyone has a garden, although it’s easier to get stuff at farmer’s markets in many places now. My problem is that there aren’t many things at the farmer’s market, even in season, that are cheaper or even the same price as at the store. I can’t afford $6 for a half dozen eggs when they’re less $1 at the store.

        • talk

          Wish I could grow things  :(

    • Ymsolis

      How do you make the peanut butter I would love you to share this with me. Thank you ymsolis@att.net

      • Mandylea82

        Peanuts. Food processor. Maybe some salt. Alton Brown has good nut butter recipes.

      • Lisa Bergdahl

        My father would place peanuts in the food processor, and a drizzle of oil, then blend, and you have instant peanut butter. Salt is optional and is not needed. I would also try Almonds.

        • http://www.facebook.com/people/Tina-Larson/100001246068172 Tina Larson

           I’m thinking of cashews or walnut butter! :D

          • K G

            You can get cashew butter at the health food store, along with sunflower butter. Walnut I have never seen, it may not make good butter, but try making it yourself or adding finely chopped walnuts to apple butter…

          • Anonymous

             Here is a little known item that will blow your mind.

            Did you know cashews and poison ivy are in the same family of plants.

            No wonder people have reactions to cashews1

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Tina-Larson/100001246068172 Tina Larson

      OOOOO can I tap/pick your brains on how you did/do this? We’re at the beginning stages of what you are doing.

  • Lindsey

    why would you want to wait 6 hours to make your own when you can buy healthy and better tasting ice cream? these suggestions are just silly

    • 1936zan

        why not have you ever had home made ice cream….well you don’t know when you missing…don’t knock it unless you’ve tried it..

      • Mizistat

        Good home made food is about family it takes a long time to cook and a long time to sit and eat it is suposed to be the time the family has to talk if you rush a meal that takes a few hours to make it is disrespectful to the cook. I am 40 and we try to keep this tradition even with the  busy schedules we have. We all need time away from tv  video games cellphones computers etc. Mabye there is not enough time to cook a 2 hour meal but at least sit at a table without electronic devices for 30 minutes a few times a week parents would know a little about thier kids.  Tomato sauce  Italian americans say sauce and macaroni no matter what type of pasta is easy 3-4 cans of whole peeled plum tomatos crushed in a blender  1/2 onion chopped small  oil to coat bottom of pot a little salt pepper. simmer the onion in oil till transparent add the rest and simmer on low 2 hours so good you can drink it. Garlic makes the sauce bitter. Meat sauce just brown sausage or a small pc of beef or pork or some ribs or all and add it with the tomatos simmer 2-3 hours good stuff !!! Its still not gravy whatever you call it try so spend time with your family call it Dinner time.

        • Dldenne

          It is so annoying to hear it called “gravy”. My very Italian grandparents never called it gravy. They would have Never used onion in their sauce, and Always garlic – lots of garlic – and olive oil and oregano, and meats (esp home made- pork butt braciole – so yummy). Sausage, meatballs, pork ribs(or chops), bones in, make for the best homemade sauce. I love a little hot pepper for an added zing.  If you don’t use Locatelli grated Romano cheese, you’re missing the best part of the truly Italian dinner!  Oh, my Mom said to be sure to remove the tomato seeds, they make the sauce bitter. She and Dad used to grind their own home grown tomatoes when making their family famous sauce.  And, by the way, Never add sugar!!  Bay leaves are used for that purpose.

    • ar

      Just so you know, a 49.99 ice cream maker takes all of 30 minutes from idea to actually eating it. Cream + sugar. Or, dump in yogurt. Easy. 

    • ar

      Just so you know, a 49.99 ice cream maker takes all of 30 minutes from idea to actually eating it. Cream + sugar. Or, dump in yogurt. Easy. 

  • Litlejo

    Trail mix is normally thought of as healthy. Wrong. A lot of trail mixes contain roasted nuts, when nuts are roasted, the HDL in them, which is actually good for your cholesterol, becomes rancid and converts to LDL. Nuts are always best consumed raw and eating up to 40gms of raw nuts per day is excellent in any weightloss diet. Trail mix also contains dried fruit, which, if you are watching your intake of sugars, is really best avoided. 50gms of sultanas is equivalent to about 200gms of grapes, don’t have to be a genius to work out which is more filling.

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Dana-Seilhan/526832595 Dana Seilhan

      There is no cholesterol in nuts.  They are a plant food.  HDL and LDL are lipoproteins that carry cholesterol.  They’re not in nuts either.

      The *very* best way to consume nuts is soaked in salt water overnight and then slowly dehydrated in a low-temp oven or in a dehydrator.  Nuts are seeds and all seeds have enzymes that mess with digestion; soaking shuts them off.

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Dana-Seilhan/526832595 Dana Seilhan

      There is no cholesterol in nuts.  They are a plant food.  HDL and LDL are lipoproteins that carry cholesterol.  They’re not in nuts either.

      The *very* best way to consume nuts is soaked in salt water overnight and then slowly dehydrated in a low-temp oven or in a dehydrator.  Nuts are seeds and all seeds have enzymes that mess with digestion; soaking shuts them off.

    • Andy

      LOL @ roasting converts HDL to LDL. Your so-called science is well off the mark. The reason roasted nuts may be worse for you has to do with the fact that they are often roasted in oil.

    • Andy

      LOL @ roasting converts HDL to LDL. Your so-called science is well off the mark. The reason roasted nuts may be worse for you has to do with the fact that they are often roasted in oil.

    • Andy

      LOL @ roasting converts HDL to LDL. Your so-called science is well off the mark. The reason roasted nuts may be worse for you has to do with the fact that they are often roasted in oil.

    • Andy

      LOL @ roasting converts HDL to LDL. Your so-called science is well off the mark. The reason roasted nuts may be worse for you has to do with the fact that they are often roasted in oil.

    • Andy

      LOL @ roasting converts HDL to LDL. Your so-called science is well off the mark. The reason roasted nuts may be worse for you has to do with the fact that they are often roasted in oil.

    • Andy

      LOL @ roasting converts HDL to LDL. Your so-called science is well off the mark. The reason roasted nuts may be worse for you has to do with the fact that they are often roasted in oil.

    • Andy

      LOL @ roasting converts HDL to LDL. Your so-called science is well off the mark. The reason roasted nuts may be worse for you has to do with the fact that they are often roasted in oil.

    • Andy

      LOL @ roasting converts HDL to LDL. Your so-called science is well off the mark. The reason roasted nuts may be worse for you has to do with the fact that they are often roasted in oil.

    • Andy

      LOL @ roasting converts HDL to LDL. Your so-called science is well off the mark. The reason roasted nuts may be worse for you has to do with the fact that they are often roasted in oil.

    • Andy

      LOL @ roasting converts HDL to LDL. Your so-called science is well off the mark. The reason roasted nuts may be worse for you has to do with the fact that they are often roasted in oil.

    • Andy

      LOL @ roasting converts HDL to LDL. Your so-called science is well off the mark. The reason roasted nuts may be worse for you has to do with the fact that they are often roasted in oil.

    • Andy

      LOL @ roasting converts HDL to LDL. Your so-called science is well off the mark. The reason roasted nuts may be worse for you has to do with the fact that they are often roasted in oil.

    • Andy

      LOL @ roasting converts HDL to LDL. Your so-called science is well off the mark. The reason roasted nuts may be worse for you has to do with the fact that they are often roasted in oil.

    • Andy

      LOL @ roasting converts HDL to LDL. Your so-called science is well off the mark. The reason roasted nuts may be worse for you has to do with the fact that they are often roasted in oil.

    • Andy

      LOL @ roasting converts HDL to LDL. Your so-called science is well off the mark. The reason roasted nuts may be worse for you has to do with the fact that they are often roasted in oil.

    • Andy

      LOL @ roasting converts HDL to LDL. Your so-called science is well off the mark. The reason roasted nuts may be worse for you has to do with the fact that they are often roasted in oil.

    • Andy

      LOL @ roasting converts HDL to LDL. Your so-called science is well off the mark. The reason roasted nuts may be worse for you has to do with the fact that they are often roasted in oil.

    • Andy

      LOL @ roasting converts HDL to LDL. Your so-called science is well off the mark. The reason roasted nuts may be worse for you has to do with the fact that they are often roasted in oil.

    • Andy

      LOL @ roasting converts HDL to LDL. Your so-called science is well off the mark. The reason roasted nuts may be worse for you has to do with the fact that they are often roasted in oil.

    • Andy

      LOL @ roasting converts HDL to LDL. Your so-called science is well off the mark. The reason roasted nuts may be worse for you has to do with the fact that they are often roasted in oil.

    • Andy

      LOL @ roasting converts HDL to LDL. Your so-called science is well off the mark. The reason roasted nuts may be worse for you has to do with the fact that they are often roasted in oil.

    • Andy

      LOL @ roasting converts HDL to LDL. Your so-called science is well off the mark. The reason roasted nuts may be worse for you has to do with the fact that they are often roasted in oil.

    • Andy

      LOL @ roasting converts HDL to LDL. Your so-called science is well off the mark. The reason roasted nuts may be worse for you has to do with the fact that they are often roasted in oil.

    • Andy

      LOL @ roasting converts HDL to LDL. Your so-called science is well off the mark. The reason roasted nuts may be worse for you has to do with the fact that they are often roasted in oil.

    • Andy

      LOL @ roasting converts HDL to LDL. Your so-called science is well off the mark. The reason roasted nuts may be worse for you has to do with the fact that they are often roasted in oil.

    • Andy

      LOL @ roasting converts HDL to LDL. Your so-called science is well off the mark. The reason roasted nuts may be worse for you has to do with the fact that they are often roasted in oil.

    • Andy

      LOL @ roasting converts HDL to LDL. Your so-called science is well off the mark. The reason roasted nuts may be worse for you has to do with the fact that they are often roasted in oil.

    • Andy

      LOL @ roasting converts HDL to LDL. Your so-called science is well off the mark. The reason roasted nuts may be worse for you has to do with the fact that they are often roasted in oil.

    • Andy

      LOL @ roasting converts HDL to LDL. Your so-called science is well off the mark. The reason roasted nuts may be worse for you has to do with the fact that they are often roasted in oil.

    • Lswiger

      A very good example of Internet experts giving advice, not always true.

  • dogmom913

    I had bought some of thes to make popsicles myself and I’ve never bought another store bought popsicle. The combinations are endless and are great for someone who wants to avoid all the sugar and calories.

  • dogmom913

    I bought a Brita pitcher several years ago and love it. I’ve also went to the thrift store and found nice, inexpensive (49 cents) rubbermade drink bottles. Brought them home and cleaned them thoroughly. They are great..

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Dana-Seilhan/526832595 Dana Seilhan

      I found a *Brita pitcher* at Goodwill.  I think it was less than five bucks.  I just buy the filters now.  Look for sales on them, sometimes Target will have a gift card attached to the sale.  Also, Whole Foods accepts the filters for recycling.

  • Lovetotango

    Good to see a bunch of high priced food items called into question. Bottled water especially grinds me. People drag it out of the stores in cases thinking they are doing their families a great service. Not so! Just another rip off and as you pointed out a really bad scene for the environment.

    Thanks much for informative articles like this one.

    • Bren

      I don’t drink bottles water because it’s better for you. I drink it because I don’t like how the hard tap water makes my tea and coffee taste, and because I can grab a bottle on my way out the door when it’s a  hundred degrees outside.

      • Scmang3

        You’re call Bren, but I highly recommend looking into a water cooler and a BPA-free reusable bottle. I don’t remember what I paid for my water cooler but the one at work was bought used for like 15. It has a 5 gallon water jug that we refill for 39 cents a gallon. Also, there are generally a ton of water fountains that have clean water for you to refill your bottle.

         The water bottle itself was 2 for 9 on amazon, brand is SGS. I found another two through Woot, for abrand called Eco Canteen. Either way, this is much cheaper than bottled water, which the majority of bottled water itself is from public sources and not distilled. I hope this helps because I recommend not using bottled water.

        If you have a ton of water bottles, I would recommend putting some in your car. There are times when I see a homeless man panhandling for change, and I will hand them a bottle of water if I have one.

        • sonshine

          What a wonderful idea!

        • TupperwareGuy

          Also Tupperware has a selection of water bottles too.

          • TupperwareGuy

            OH BTW there reuseable.

      • Mandylea82

        Ugh. No kidding!
        We live in the Ozarks and our water tastes like gravel smells. I can’t describe it and it took forever to get used to. The funny thing is that there is a spring water bottling company not too far from us! I like to tell people that we have mineral water on tap. LOL

      • Dldenne

        When I’m on vacation in Florida, I buy bottled water in cases to drink and to make our coffee/tea/hot chocolate, etc., at my timeshare. If you’ve never tasted tap water in Florida you have no idea what bad water tastes like, and can therefore understand why some people drink bottled water.   But, I do agree, it’s not better for you and it is worse for the environment, for those others of you who care about the environment. 

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Amy-Daugherty/1711925374 Amy Daugherty

    This information is completely false. Check out the IBWA’s website for real information on bottled water and how much better it is for you than dirty tap water. These people do not know what they are talking about!

    • Kylie Jo

      I found a happy median. I get the 5 gallon water jugs and have a water cooler. I admit I do buy a case of water about once a year but instead of throwing the bottles away I refill them using the water cooller. It is nice to be able to take bottles with me but I don’t have to worry about replacing them if I lose them. The tap water in my area is terrible! I love ice cold water (it is pretty much all I drink) and this solution works for me. It is not as environmentally concious as using a water filter but for someone who works full time and goes to school full time in the evening it is a great blend of convenience and practicality.

      • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_UJXCFQD6J6N65QH4N7KZP4E7KE Angela

        also great when you can just put them in the freezer then you have cold water 2 hours later when you are not at home the special overpriced reusable bottles are a total ripoff just reuse the bottled water bottles they usually lasst quite a while

    • 1936zan

      well honey I’ve been drinking that dirty tap water you are talking about for 75 years and I’ll bet u I’m as healthy as you are or more so….I don’t look 75, have been told, by Doctors or act 75,  so don’t talk about something you know anything about..You look to be around 15 or 16…you may be older, but it not the water that’s done it, ot’s the genes…

      • jsmith

        yes…. you’re acting 75.  it’s never too late to adopt some new healthier habits

      • jsmith

        yes…. you’re acting 75.  it’s never too late to adopt some new healthier habits

      • Tom

        you know you could drink piss if you want to

    • Morrylauder

      YOU NEED TO DO MORE RESEARCH. MOST TAP WATER IS FINE. SOME BOTTLED WATER IS TOO.

    • Puff1paco2

      You are very misinformed

    • Puff1paco2

      You are very misinformed

    • Rbyrd7tn

      I agree with you Amy.  Every time my husband or I drink water from the tap we get urgent diarrhea.  It also leaves a black sediment in the toilets and any where else that it sits for a while.  We had it tested and it has a high concentration of manganese in it and that is what is causing all our problems.  We are in the process of getting a whole house filter for the water, but in the meantime only drink bottled water and I filter the water before I cook with it.
      The water company sends out a report once a year.  This report states on it that the bacteria levels are within normal range for healthy people.  Then in small print it says that infants, the elderly, and people with lowered immunity should not drink the water because the bacteria might make them sick.  Pretty  bad when even the people selling the water tell you not to drink it.

    • Rbyrd7tn

      I agree with you Amy.  Every time my husband or I drink water from the tap we get urgent diarrhea.  It also leaves a black sediment in the toilets and any where else that it sits for a while.  We had it tested and it has a high concentration of manganese in it and that is what is causing all our problems.  We are in the process of getting a whole house filter for the water, but in the meantime only drink bottled water and I filter the water before I cook with it.
      The water company sends out a report once a year.  This report states on it that the bacteria levels are within normal range for healthy people.  Then in small print it says that infants, the elderly, and people with lowered immunity should not drink the water because the bacteria might make them sick.  Pretty  bad when even the people selling the water tell you not to drink it.

    • Merrymo

      YOU are misinformed. Bottled water is often taken from “municipal” water sources.. in other words from the faucet of a factory which they bottle and ship to YOU. Filtered water that hasn’t gone through several cycles of getting hot in a plastic bottle (ever heard of BPA? yeah that’s GOOD for ya’) is much better for you and the environment. Thirty years ago you rarely saw people drinking bottled water and yet we managed to stay hydrated in 100 degree weather.  Amazing that what IS a simple convenience  has become something people believe they can’t live without.  Get a water filter for your sinks and cup to carry it in and I promise … your world won’t stop turning. You might not look as cool as your buddy with his “designer” water and that’s all this is really about isn’t it?  If all you want is safe, good tasting water there are alternatives to water in plastic bottles. 

  • Mary Lotempio

    I love the idea of this stove top sauce. I made a list of ingredients, plan to try this the next time i make pasta.

  • Dana92085

    these are all great ideas…..if you have a ton of free time. If I had an hour to cook dinner then I would not be making spaghetti!

    • 1936zan

      it takes longer then an hour to cook good spaghetti sauce…. try 4 or 5 hrs. at a slow low flame..

    • 1936zan

      it takes longer then an hour to cook good spaghetti sauce…. try 4 or 5 hrs. at a slow low flame..

      • Shea49

        That’s why you plan to make it on one of your day’s off.  Start it in the morning, cook extra and freeze it in batches to use at a later date.  You will have better sauce, and it will end up costing you less than half of what you would spend on bottled sauce.  Plus, you have the added benefit of not having all those empty glass bottles cluttering up the landfills (for those states that do not recycle glass…)

        • Panthera75_1999

          Just put the stuff in the crock pot and it can cook away while you’re at work. For that matter, you can do that with a ton of meals. Crock pots win!

      • Anonymous

        Nonsense you can make good sauce in 20 to 30 minutes.  Most of the long cooked sauces are over cooked and not very good. Despite what their makers think.

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Dana-Seilhan/526832595 Dana Seilhan

      Try cooking the sauce in a slow cooker.  But I agree, I’d rather make something like beef stew.  (Which can also be cooked in a slow cooker.)

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Dana-Seilhan/526832595 Dana Seilhan

      Try cooking the sauce in a slow cooker.  But I agree, I’d rather make something like beef stew.  (Which can also be cooked in a slow cooker.)

  • Dollybembo

    ..lot’s of vitamins ..that were taken in the vegetables…good source of vitamins that needs of our body..?

  • Chakrateeze

    Ragu is loaded with high-fructose corn syrup. And sugar. Two things I have to avoid since I was diagnosed with diabetes. No matter, because homemade sauce is way better! My recipe is simple: whole canned tomatoes divested of their seeds and watery juices, crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, chopped carrots and onions for sweetness (to ensure it’s sweet enough for you, it’s 2 parts carrots-to-onions), olive oil, herbs, including a tiny pinch of fennel seeds, low-sodium chicken broth and a entire head garlic (1/3 goes in at the beginning, 1/3 in the middle, 1/3 as finely chopped as you can manage at the end). The tomato paste goes in at the end. It tastes great and freezes even better.

    Or, if you didn’t want a shortcut, nuke a huge, warehouse-sized package of grape tomatoes with finely chopped garlic, seasonings and a little olive oil. Instant sauce!

    • 1936zan

      if you really know how to make spaghetti sauce, you don’t put carrots in it,,,

      • Shea49

        Depends on your taste.  We always put carrots into the sauce…and celery, as well.  Tried it once without the carrots and it tasted mediocre.  Luckily, spaghetti sauce recipies are not “right” or “wrong”.  No two people make it exactly the same way…it is always tweeked for taste preference.  That’s what makes it so interesting.  If you’ve never tried it with carrots, give it a shot.  Just might surprise you how much flavor it adds :o)

        • Kateirini

          In my opinion, carrots are great in a tomato based beef stew, not Spaghetti Gravy (sauce).  :-)

      • Lucille

        I observed this Italian priest who was known as an excellent cook, make a tomato sauce:  He used a mini processor and put in a peeled carrot, one celery stalk, 1.2 yellow onion, blend it into smaller chunks.  He then add it to canned tomatoes. To it he added a bay leaf, salt & pepper…no sugar needed… the carrot cut the acidity.
        He then took a package of stew meat (still in whole chunks) &  added this,   He cooked ALL ingredients from a COLD start in olive oil slowly stirring all for a few minutes before purring the lid on it and cooking it for an hour or so in a stainless steel pressure cooker.  Sometimes he added a cup of red wine.  When this wonderful Comboni priest left for the African missions he gave me the twin to the Italian stainless pressure cooker.
        I get tears in my eyes thinking of this wonderful priest who only recently died.  A true treasure as a pastor and skilled cook who showed his love thru his culinary skills. 
        P.S. His sister who lived in Italy baked this same recipe in the oven in a heavy ceramic bowl with lid.
        Before getting my Italian stainless pressure cooker I used a heavy 4 quart pot like Martha Stewart sells.

      • Lucille

        I observed this Italian priest who was known as an excellent cook, make a tomato sauce:  He used a mini processor and put in a peeled carrot, one celery stalk, 1.2 yellow onion, blend it into smaller chunks.  He then add it to canned tomatoes. To it he added a bay leaf, salt & pepper…no sugar needed… the carrot cut the acidity.
        He then took a package of stew meat (still in whole chunks) &  added this,   He cooked ALL ingredients from a COLD start in olive oil slowly stirring all for a few minutes before purring the lid on it and cooking it for an hour or so in a stainless steel pressure cooker.  Sometimes he added a cup of red wine.  When this wonderful Comboni priest left for the African missions he gave me the twin to the Italian stainless pressure cooker.
        I get tears in my eyes thinking of this wonderful priest who only recently died.  A true treasure as a pastor and skilled cook who showed his love thru his culinary skills. 
        P.S. His sister who lived in Italy baked this same recipe in the oven in a heavy ceramic bowl with lid.
        Before getting my Italian stainless pressure cooker I used a heavy 4 quart pot like Martha Stewart sells.

    • Bren

      Avoiding high-fructose corn syrup is a good idea for anyone, but just because you’ve been diagnosed as diabetic, it doesn’t mean you should avoid sugar. That’s ridiculous and would probably lead to binging, or eating a ton of artificial sweetener, which are really bad for you. Strangely enough switching a little sugar for artificial sweetener doesn’t seem to help your blood sugar at all.  Oh well, I’m gonna go drink my morning cup of tea, which I always have with two sugars. LOL

      • http://www.facebook.com/people/Dana-Seilhan/526832595 Dana Seilhan

        Yes, actually, being diabetic DOES mean you should avoid sugar.  Since sugar is what you are having trouble processing, and since it’s the sugar that causes the foot loss and the kidney loss and the blindness later in life.

        Avoid starches too.  They turn into sugar almost instantly in the body.

        I’m not diabetic yet and there’s a reason for that.  I recognized that I was suffering symptoms of metabolic syndrome.  My  mother was diagnosed with type 2 at age forty and I’m three years away from that age.  I would like to buy myself some time.  And as someone who actually experimented and didn’t just believe what the grain-eating, evaporated-cane-juice-swilling health nuts had to say, I can say with some authority that Splenda is a LOT easier on my body than sugar is.  Tastes just fine, too.

        If you want to avoid binging, switch over to a low-carb, moderate-protein, high-fat diet.  The fat will both satisfy you and blunt blood-sugar responses.  Allow for an adjustment period of anywhere between a few days and a few months, but after that you should feel fine.

        • Lucille

          HI, you might want to try a natural sweetener called stevia….made from the petals of the chrysantymum

      • http://www.facebook.com/people/Dana-Seilhan/526832595 Dana Seilhan

        Yes, actually, being diabetic DOES mean you should avoid sugar.  Since sugar is what you are having trouble processing, and since it’s the sugar that causes the foot loss and the kidney loss and the blindness later in life.

        Avoid starches too.  They turn into sugar almost instantly in the body.

        I’m not diabetic yet and there’s a reason for that.  I recognized that I was suffering symptoms of metabolic syndrome.  My  mother was diagnosed with type 2 at age forty and I’m three years away from that age.  I would like to buy myself some time.  And as someone who actually experimented and didn’t just believe what the grain-eating, evaporated-cane-juice-swilling health nuts had to say, I can say with some authority that Splenda is a LOT easier on my body than sugar is.  Tastes just fine, too.

        If you want to avoid binging, switch over to a low-carb, moderate-protein, high-fat diet.  The fat will both satisfy you and blunt blood-sugar responses.  Allow for an adjustment period of anywhere between a few days and a few months, but after that you should feel fine.

    • Bren

      Avoiding high-fructose corn syrup is a good idea for anyone, but just because you’ve been diagnosed as diabetic, it doesn’t mean you should avoid sugar. That’s ridiculous and would probably lead to binging, or eating a ton of artificial sweetener, which are really bad for you. Strangely enough switching a little sugar for artificial sweetener doesn’t seem to help your blood sugar at all.  Oh well, I’m gonna go drink my morning cup of tea, which I always have with two sugars. LOL

    • Bren

      Avoiding high-fructose corn syrup is a good idea for anyone, but just because you’ve been diagnosed as diabetic, it doesn’t mean you should avoid sugar. That’s ridiculous and would probably lead to binging, or eating a ton of artificial sweetener, which are really bad for you. Strangely enough switching a little sugar for artificial sweetener doesn’t seem to help your blood sugar at all.  Oh well, I’m gonna go drink my morning cup of tea, which I always have with two sugars. LOL

  • Alwaysmics

    What about Crystal light flavored tea mixes that are low in calories and sugar free?

    • http://profile.yahoo.com/SDXB2LIELTNNUHGYRBWQ4UHJHI TED

      That is sweetened with aspertame which is the most unhealthy of the artificial sweeteners.  (It says right on the label that it causes cancer.)  Check out the Zevia brand drinks which are a more healthy alternative.

  • Alwaysmics

    What about Crystal light flavored tea mixes that are low in calories and sugar free?

  • Alwaysmics

    What about Crystal light flavored tea mixes that are low in calories and sugar free?

  • Alwaysmics

    What about Crystal light flavored tea mixes that are low in calories and sugar free?

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_MXRUF56RLW2CHDWEALW6XSTD2I JoLo

    Ok, this should be re-titled, “15 DIY Foods for the ultra poor with tons of time on their hands with a HUGE family and love to clean-up and consume bulk quantities to get the lowest price per gram”! And if your family is huge that is why you’re poor in the first place and need to spend an hour preparing a couple of said items on the list just to save frickin TWO bucks!!!

    • LaceyLee1

      Obviously YOU are wealthy! You also seem biased; some peopleactually ‘like’ to eat good food that is chemical free. Do you ‘really’ believethat when you do out to eat, or buy packaged food that it is loaded with preservatives’?I know it is convenient, but you should read ‘all’ the ingredients (includingthe preservatives) in what you are eating and if you still feel like eating it,I have no problem with that!:)  But PLEASE don’t try to make it about poor vs. rich; that’s just not what it is about.

    • LaceyLee1

      Obviously YOU are wealthy! You also seem biased; some peopleactually ‘like’ to eat good food that is chemical free. Do you ‘really’ believethat when you do out to eat, or buy packaged food that it is loaded with preservatives’?I know it is convenient, but you should read ‘all’ the ingredients (includingthe preservatives) in what you are eating and if you still feel like eating it,I have no problem with that!:)  But PLEASE don’t try to make it about poor vs. rich; that’s just not what it is about.

    • copykitty

      don’t need to be poor to be health conscious. Time is more available than you think. Just sacrifice a couple hours tv watching time and I bet you can do a little healthy cooking. If you dont like to cook or care about your health, please don’t speak like an ignorant jerk.

      • luc37

        It is better to not response in like manner or you just lower yourself to that persons level.  Just consider their ignorance and let it go.

    • Sapphirecactus

      If you have a HUGE family, then you SHOULD be preparing your own food and not buying pre-packaged garbage with questionable nutrition and high prices.  Do you really think you aren’t paying anything extra for the packaging all that processed stuff comes in?  Besides…who wouldn’t want to save “ TWO bucks” for each meal!  Let’s see….$2.00 times three meals a day times 30 days a month…..that adds up to $180.00.  Sounds like a bargain to me!  Shop the sales to get good bargains on that “bulk quantity” stuff.  Last night I cooked dinner for 6…stirfried two pounds of diced chicken breasts with 8 ounces sliced mushrooms, 1  onion, 3 shredded carrots, 3 stalks sliced celery, 1 thinly sliced red bell pepper, 1/2 thinly sliced cucumber, soy sauce, cornstarch, 5 green onions, and a splash of cooking sherry and sesame oil, all over rice.  Cost?  $7.00  That workes out to $1.16 per person…for DINNER.  Took me 15- 20 minutes to chop up everything, and 5 minutes to stirfry it. Cleanup?  one cutting board, one knife, one large skillet, one wooden spoon.  I think that is a great bargain.  Try it for a week.  You might just surprise yourself .  Of course, it does take a little effort on your part, but if you have a huge family, try having them help you with the prep work.  If each person chopped one of the ingredients, you could have the prep work done in 5 minutes…and THEY might actually enjoy learning how to cook.    

      • Florence Wohl

        Really! Why waste money on packaged junk when you can make fresh at home for almost nothing? Salad dressing is something I’ve always made – oil (olive or Canola) vinegar (so many options – Balsamic, Cider, Rice, white, Wine, etc…) mustard (yellow works but Dijon is the usual at my house) a shot of tabasco or hot sauce, maybe a pinch of sugar (depends on the vinegar & the salad items). Maybe lemon or orange juice too. All items on hand and reletively cheap since you only use a little at a time. I make it right in the salad bowl and that’s it. Took me longer to type this than to make dressing. I don’t do this to save money but I do save money and I don’t have all that processed dressing wasting space in the fridge.

        Red sauce is simple too-any recipe here works but I buy a box of tomatoes at a farm stand and make 2 batches, one veggie (just basil and garlic) and one meat (usually spareribs for the flavor and thickening). It takes an afternoon in the early fall and we freeze it in meal size containers. Many meals for a year and it can be used in so many ways.

      • Lucille

        Hey why wasn’t I invited?

      • Anonymous

        Whether you have a huge family or are just one person you should be preparing your own food and not buying pre-packaged garbage. Whether or not you save money on the food is irrelevant as you will save in medical bills in the long run.

    • http://twitter.com/MaidMirawyn Dea Carey

      Why would I need to be poor to want to save money? Or have a huge family?

      My husband and I are middle class and don’t have kids yet. We make more and more foods from scratch, because we can get good, nutritious food at a much better price that way. (Not only that, but it’s easier on the environment, in general.) We usually cook enough for three or more meals and freeze extras, which is handy when the unexpected pops up.

      It’s gotten to the point that my husband is disappointed if we BUY bread! And once I made homemade ranch dressing–which takes only minutes–he doesn’t want to eat store bought anymore. (My family and his love it, too.)

      Spaghetti sauce is next on my list.

      • Dencamp1

        By homemade ranch, I’m guessing that you added a package of ranch dressing to mayonnaise and milk. You’re right, it does taste much better but its the package that is in question.

      • Dencamp1

        By homemade ranch, I’m guessing that you added a package of ranch dressing to mayonnaise and milk. You’re right, it does taste much better but its the package that is in question.

    • http://twitter.com/MaidMirawyn Dea Carey

      Why would I need to be poor to want to save money? Or have a huge family?

      My husband and I are middle class and don’t have kids yet. We make more and more foods from scratch, because we can get good, nutritious food at a much better price that way. (Not only that, but it’s easier on the environment, in general.) We usually cook enough for three or more meals and freeze extras, which is handy when the unexpected pops up.

      It’s gotten to the point that my husband is disappointed if we BUY bread! And once I made homemade ranch dressing–which takes only minutes–he doesn’t want to eat store bought anymore. (My family and his love it, too.)

      Spaghetti sauce is next on my list.

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Dana-Seilhan/526832595 Dana Seilhan

      What else would you do with that hour?  Watch “America’s Top Model”?

    • Yikes

       Wow, you sound like a complete ignoramus.  Good luck with that.

    • http://www.facebook.com/Arkail Danny Carter

      lol I don’t think is a rich vs poor thing. I think its more a matter of wanting to know whats going into what you are eating. I make plenty of money but refuse to buy premade products because to me they never taste as good as making the same things from scratch. As for spaghetti sauces there are lots of sauces options that don’t take hours to make. I simply dice up some fresh tomatoes and saute them with garlic, onions, fresh veggies, and some fresh herbs then toss with pasta. I then have a wonderful and healthy simple pasta meal that takes maybe 15 minutes to cook.

    • Potatoebug999

      I save as much as I can….. two bucks is two bucks….. add it all up and it totals quite a lot…. But I sure you were not taught how to budget, or you just got lots of two bucks…….. and like to squander it ….. so be it…. your choice….. not to smart. but your choice.

    • ra735

      I don’t understand why people have to be so negative and hateful towards one another.  Alot of people get alot of enjoyment out of spending time cooking and its whatever floats your boat :)

    • Lucille

      tsk tak…..sorry you lost your taste buds

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_MXRUF56RLW2CHDWEALW6XSTD2I JoLo

    Ok, this should be re-titled, “15 DIY Foods for the ultra poor with tons of time on their hands with a HUGE family and love to clean-up and consume bulk quantities to get the lowest price per gram”! And if your family is huge that is why you’re poor in the first place and need to spend an hour preparing a couple of said items on the list just to save frickin TWO bucks!!!

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_MXRUF56RLW2CHDWEALW6XSTD2I JoLo

    Ok, this should be re-titled, “15 DIY Foods for the ultra poor with tons of time on their hands with a HUGE family and love to clean-up and consume bulk quantities to get the lowest price per gram”! And if your family is huge that is why you’re poor in the first place and need to spend an hour preparing a couple of said items on the list just to save frickin TWO bucks!!!

  • Rain Woman

    Tomato sauce is packed in cans lined with BPA laden plastics.  If not, then the acid of the tomatoes leaches metals out of the seam in the can….you can’t win.
    Buy in glass jars, and buy organic when you can.

  • Samalone1839

    For an added twist, I sometimes flavor my tea with a splash of peach or other fruit juice. I always have juice in the fridge and this is much cheaper than buying the mixes. I’ve seen flavored teas if that’s your thing, too.

    • Mancerab3

      Great tip!!

  • givemeabreak

    “Nursery water” ??? what is that except another way to sell you bottled water? Didn’t our parents give us water out of the tap? If you really think it’s not safe boil it! What is wrong with people?

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Dana-Seilhan/526832595 Dana Seilhan

      The worst part about the nursery water is it’s laced with fluoride.  They are actually finding increased rates of dental fluorosis now (fluoride overdose permanently scarring tooth enamel) since people started buying that garbage.

  • Samalone1839

    When good ground beef goes on sale, I like to stock up and make my own patties and freeze them. Then I have my own patties ready to go whenever I need them. (I save some of the ground beef for other uses, too.)

    • makessense

      I got to the butcher and he makes the patties for free.  Also, his beef tastes better and is cheaper than the grocery store!

    • makessense

      I got to the butcher and he makes the patties for free.  Also, his beef tastes better and is cheaper than the grocery store!

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Dana-Seilhan/526832595 Dana Seilhan

      It’s possible to get a patty mold for the purpose, too.  I find I have better luck with those than with forming the patties myself–for some reason I can never get it to cook right.

    • Drknight63

      there is no way you can buy good ground beef. it’s impossible they load it with fat and other fillers to make money. recently my girl’s sister in law gave us 1 pound packages of ground beef from a cow that she had slaughtered and froze and that one pound was double the amount of any 90%lean ground beef you can buy in any market. supermarkets are always ripping you off but there’s nothing that can be done about it unless we complain. oh yea they also fill it with dyes to make it look fresher when it is ready to expire. watch out for sales on ground beef. your better off buying the steak you want and have it ground right in front of you. i guarantee it will be the best ground beef you have ever eaten.

      • Potatoebug999

        If you have a meat grinder you can also grind your own from part chuck and part sirlion….. great hamburger …. Especially when you buy the chuck and sirlion on sale…..

      • TED

        You can buy good ground beef.  Look for Laura’s Lean Beef in your local grocery or visit Whole Foods and buy their 91% lean (or 85% lean depending on your taste) ground beef.  Both options are free from artificial growth hormones (and make great burgers).  They do not contain fillers.

  • Attracey48

    Great, I am much wiser now.

  • Anonymous

    Some of this advice is good – but most walks the line between sanctimonious and absurd.  For instance:
    * Don’t buy the one-ounce bag of trail mix – make up 5 pounds and keep it for up to three weeks!  (Except that I like an ounce every few months – buying a pound of nuts, half a pound of M&Ms, a bunch of sunflower seeds, and some dried fruit costs WAY more than the one-ounce bag that is all I really want!)
    * Don’t buy bottled water!  (I mostly drink tap water, which tastes fine to me, but I always keep bottled water on hand – it goes in kids’ school lunches to help keep them away from the soda machines, there’s always some in the car because it keeps much, much longer than a sealed bottle of tap water, etc.)
    * Don’t buy gourmet ice cream – dress up store brands with chocolate chunks or crushed cookies!  (Are you kidding me?  Besides the fact that it’s hard to get fudge and caramel ripples into already-frozen ice cream, what, exactly, am I going to do with the rest of the one-pound bag of Oreos that I bought so I could crush one on my store brand vanilla ice cream?  Now I wish I’d bought the single serving of Oreos that you told me not to!)
    * Don’t buy a jar of spaghetti sauce – spend an hour making your own!  (So, out of the hour and a half between when I get home with the kids and when they have to start getting ready for bed, I’m supposed to spend two thirds of the time making spaghetti sauce?  I don’t think giving up most of the time I have to play with my kids is worth the dollar or so I would actually save by doing this!)

    The useful information in this 15-page article could have been put in a single sentence – “Buy in bulk when it’s significantly cheaper, look at the ingredients of prepared foods to see if they’d be quick and easy to make, and watch for sales.”  That’s ironic, since the too-long article is from Reader’s Digest. :-)

    • Markonopka

      I bought a slow cooker with an aluminum (sp) insert. It can go on the stove to sear meats etc, and can go to the slow cooker. What a convient way to long simmering of tomatoes and spices to make a home made sauce. I guess that would take care of the hour of making your own. You could simmer all night at a low temperature to produce a great sauce. Bt the way, this slow cooker has a 6.5 qt capacity.

      • Markonopka

        My spelling is not the best. Bt should read (by). Sorry

      • copykitty

        This is a great idea. Just pop the ingredients in the Slow Cooker and let cook all night. Can’t get more convenient than that.

      • Drknight63

        cooking with aluminium is a bad idea. it is linked to Alzheimer disease

        • Anonymous

          Thats not all it’s linked to.  Anyone who cooks with aluminum should have their head examined.  Probably will have to one day from the effects.

      • Acarasales7

        Please tell me what brand you bought and where?

    • Drknight63

      60 minutes did a report on bottled water about 10 – 15 years ago with lab tests showing trace amounts of arsenic and Trichloroethane (witch both are carcinogenic) which they use to filter the water. they package the bottle saying natural spring water but yet they filter it which takes it out of it’s natural state. sounds like false advertisement to me and these companies are making billions off of us consumers. tap water is fine and if you let it set for 24 hours all the impurities will settle to the bottom leaving you with pure water

      • Lucille

        I have heard that water companies are forced to put certain additives to the water before they sell it to the public.  For example:  Arrowhead water from you guessed it….up in Arrowhead.  

    • sonshine

      Yea!  I agree with you.  I found most of the 13 …. column is just “common sense” except I guess sense doesn’t seem to be that common any more :)

  • Samalone1839

    I make my pasta sauce from scratch, and in season use fresh tomatoes. I make large quantities so I can freeze some. I freeze it in 1 cup servings in ziploc bags so when I need some, I just drop the bag in boiling water to thaw, then transfer to a saucepan to heat through. Voila! Homemade pasta sauce in 15 minutes! (Or less)

    • 1936zan

       and it taste better too.  then that jar stuff..good idea put it in plastic bags, i use Butter tubs..

  • Anonymous

    I hate sun made Tea. I love the powder, i tried the sun made Tea with cane suger i added to the glass, UCK. Allways will buy powdered tea or bottled sweet tea

  • Anonymous

    I hate sun made Tea. I love the powder, i tried the sun made Tea with cane suger i added to the glass, UCK. Allways will buy powdered tea or bottled sweet tea

    • 1936zan

      try your tea with HONEY to sweeten it…It’s great…

    • http://twitter.com/MaidMirawyn Dea Carey

      Have you tried making it the traditional way with boiling water? Also, if you like your tea sweet, I recommend sweetening it while it’s still hot!

    • http://twitter.com/MaidMirawyn Dea Carey

      Have you tried making it the traditional way with boiling water? Also, if you like your tea sweet, I recommend sweetening it while it’s still hot!

  • Royal4339

    Maybe we should never buy Reader’s Digest again. They have no clue of the modern world, just the world my mother read back in the 1950″S

    • copykitty

      I for one are thankful to this article for reminding me that the world is not just about buying expensive-junk food, convenient only if you wish to live fat and die young. I’m happy that we still have the choice to spend a couple of hours on Saturday or Sunday and prepare good stuff to freeze and use later on, cheaper, better stuff. I’m not poor, but I’m still thankful that I am in no obligation to make big companies richer at my expense, thus making the Health System richer too, for every doctor visit I don’t have to make… or any medication I would have to buy by eating the “convenient way”.

      Everyone is free to live their lives according to their means and inclinations, but at least admit that this information is good for the growing numbers of people who want to improve their lives and their health, and are as such, willing to spend more time preparing as much as they can from scratch

    • Shea49

      The “modern world” is a prisoner of Madison Avenue advertising executives brainwashing people (i.e. telling you that sugar-laden “organic” and “natural” cereals are actually “healthy” and good for you when they have more sugar and calories than other popular brands….like Count Chocula –ugh!.  Try shredded wheat or other unsweetened cereals sold in bulk bags in the grocery stores!  Can’t get better than that, and saves a TON of money!) I, for one, would love to go back to the 1950′s…especially if the “modern world” revolves around 6-minute mocrowave meals,  sugar-laden toaster pastries, and over-processed canned veges.  Back in the ’50′s it was wonderful to walk into the house and smell the dinner actually simmering on the stove.  We were healthier, food tasted better, we didn’t have the obesity problem we have now, and when we spent money on food it actually all went toward food and not to some fancy, high-cost advertising-based packaging that hid the truth about what was inside.  Sure…freezing food is convenient – we don’t have to shop every day or two – but I still find buying a few pounds of ground beef on sale, then using it to make my own chili or hamburgers is a lot tastier, healthier and more satisfying than stopping by McDonalds or Burger King!  My vote goes to the 1950′s!  

    • Shea49

      The “modern world” is a prisoner of Madison Avenue advertising executives brainwashing people (i.e. telling you that sugar-laden “organic” and “natural” cereals are actually “healthy” and good for you when they have more sugar and calories than other popular brands….like Count Chocula –ugh!.  Try shredded wheat or other unsweetened cereals sold in bulk bags in the grocery stores!  Can’t get better than that, and saves a TON of money!) I, for one, would love to go back to the 1950′s…especially if the “modern world” revolves around 6-minute mocrowave meals,  sugar-laden toaster pastries, and over-processed canned veges.  Back in the ’50′s it was wonderful to walk into the house and smell the dinner actually simmering on the stove.  We were healthier, food tasted better, we didn’t have the obesity problem we have now, and when we spent money on food it actually all went toward food and not to some fancy, high-cost advertising-based packaging that hid the truth about what was inside.  Sure…freezing food is convenient – we don’t have to shop every day or two – but I still find buying a few pounds of ground beef on sale, then using it to make my own chili or hamburgers is a lot tastier, healthier and more satisfying than stopping by McDonalds or Burger King!  My vote goes to the 1950′s!  

      • http://www.facebook.com/people/Dana-Seilhan/526832595 Dana Seilhan

        Have you taken a good look at what you’re spending per pound for that shredded wheat?  Total waste of money and it is NOT good for you.  If you want the 1950s, go back to bacon and eggs.

    • Shea49

      The “modern world” is a prisoner of Madison Avenue advertising executives brainwashing people (i.e. telling you that sugar-laden “organic” and “natural” cereals are actually “healthy” and good for you when they have more sugar and calories than other popular brands….like Count Chocula –ugh!.  Try shredded wheat or other unsweetened cereals sold in bulk bags in the grocery stores!  Can’t get better than that, and saves a TON of money!) I, for one, would love to go back to the 1950′s…especially if the “modern world” revolves around 6-minute mocrowave meals,  sugar-laden toaster pastries, and over-processed canned veges.  Back in the ’50′s it was wonderful to walk into the house and smell the dinner actually simmering on the stove.  We were healthier, food tasted better, we didn’t have the obesity problem we have now, and when we spent money on food it actually all went toward food and not to some fancy, high-cost advertising-based packaging that hid the truth about what was inside.  Sure…freezing food is convenient – we don’t have to shop every day or two – but I still find buying a few pounds of ground beef on sale, then using it to make my own chili or hamburgers is a lot tastier, healthier and more satisfying than stopping by McDonalds or Burger King!  My vote goes to the 1950′s!  

    • Shea49

      The “modern world” is a prisoner of Madison Avenue advertising executives brainwashing people (i.e. telling you that sugar-laden “organic” and “natural” cereals are actually “healthy” and good for you when they have more sugar and calories than other popular brands….like Count Chocula –ugh!.  Try shredded wheat or other unsweetened cereals sold in bulk bags in the grocery stores!  Can’t get better than that, and saves a TON of money!) I, for one, would love to go back to the 1950′s…especially if the “modern world” revolves around 6-minute mocrowave meals,  sugar-laden toaster pastries, and over-processed canned veges.  Back in the ’50′s it was wonderful to walk into the house and smell the dinner actually simmering on the stove.  We were healthier, food tasted better, we didn’t have the obesity problem we have now, and when we spent money on food it actually all went toward food and not to some fancy, high-cost advertising-based packaging that hid the truth about what was inside.  Sure…freezing food is convenient – we don’t have to shop every day or two – but I still find buying a few pounds of ground beef on sale, then using it to make my own chili or hamburgers is a lot tastier, healthier and more satisfying than stopping by McDonalds or Burger King!  My vote goes to the 1950′s!  

    • http://twitter.com/MaidMirawyn Dea Carey

      “No clue of the modern world”? This is marked as “Dollar Savvy,” and with the current economic troubles across the country, there’s nothing more modern than needing to slash your bills! :)

      Besides, why should cooking from scratch be limited to 1950s housewives?

  • Anonymous

    When making sun tea add the sugar prior to the sun’s exposure so that the sugar dissolves. I use three bags of peach flavored tea and it is wonderful. In the winter months I nuck 2 cups h20 with three tea bags, add sugar to hot water to dissolve and then add cold water. Makes two quarts. Works out fine. You can purchase the bottled tea or powdered tea, but tea bags offer a wide range of flavors.

    • Smoke

      We always had a problem with iced tea going moldy if we didn’t boil ALL of the water.  Letting it cool in a lidded pan was fine, straight from the tap wasn’t.

  • Patriciardrnr

    I have made meatballs and sauce for fifty year or more. I use sauteed chopped onions and garlic in crushed tomatoes or tomato sauce and season with worcestershire sauce ( it contains all kinds of spices, even anchovies). Mix ground meat, italian bread crumbs and eggs, form meatballs and brown.  Brown about a pound of italian sausage.   Put meatballs and sausage in sauce and simmer 1 hour or more.  Serve over cooked  spagetti or any pasta.  Enjoy

  • Patriciardrnr

    I have made meatballs and sauce for fifty year or more. I use sauteed chopped onions and garlic in crushed tomatoes or tomato sauce and season with worcestershire sauce ( it contains all kinds of spices, even anchovies). Mix ground meat, italian bread crumbs and eggs, form meatballs and brown.  Brown about a pound of italian sausage.   Put meatballs and sausage in sauce and simmer 1 hour or more.  Serve over cooked  spagetti or any pasta.  Enjoy

    • Guyonguam

      Bread crumbs absorb all the grease. Yuk.

      • Shea49

        Then you are using too much grease, and not heating it enough before browning the meat balls.  Besides…as with anything….once you simmer it, it releases the grease.  Just skim it off the top of the sauce before you serve it. 

      • http://www.facebook.com/people/Dana-Seilhan/526832595 Dana Seilhan

        Bring it.  My mental health is so much better since I started eating more animal fat.

        • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_UING2KDCEZ45FUXK73W7CNONOE LibertyLover

          Yep! Fat has gotten a bad rap. 

    • Shea49

      Sounds delicious!.  I make it almost the same way, but I mix the ground beef and ground sausage together, and add a little marjorum, thyme, parsley and oregano. Never thought of adding the Worcestershire sauce.  (Thanks for the idea – I’ll give that a try.)  I make large balls (about 2-1/2 inches), so I simmer them for around 5-6 hours after I brown them. YUM!  I know what I’m going to fix tomorrow (already have today’s meal planned – LOL) 

    • Anonymous

      Yum!   I’ll be over for dinner!   : )

  • Steamchase

    Most ice cream is sold in 1.5 Qt carton, which means that you need to buy 3 to get a gallon.  Even on sale for 4/$10, that about $7/gallon.  Making your own isn’t cheap either,

  • Steamchase

    Most ice cream is sold in 1.5 Qt carton, which means that you need to buy 3 to get a gallon.  Even on sale for 4/$10, that about $7/gallon.  Making your own isn’t cheap either,

  • Mackeandmary

    thank you for the warnings and making me aware of what I should not do and all the great things I do do  unconsicously.  loved this article as I love to cook healthfully for my family.  Thanks and keep all the great info coming.  Mary Williams   mackeandmary@yahoo.com

  • Mackeandmary

    Included ll items that are of interest to me.

  • Mackeandmary

    Easy to get info.  Very user friendly

  • Theresidentbaker

    I disagree with portioning out your own chips, etc. I buy the smaller bags because once the big bag is open, there’s no turning back. Plus, sealed individual things last longer.

    • copykitty

      Just think of all those little bags and how bad they are for the environment.

    • http://twitter.com/MaidMirawyn Dea Carey

      Storing your goods in an airtight container will keep opened foods fresher longer. Cheaper, plus it cuts down on packaging. That usually cuts down on shipping (and petroleum use, too), since they can fit a more goods in a smaller space.

  • Theresidentbaker

    I disagree with portioning out your own chips, etc. I buy the smaller bags because once the big bag is open, there’s no turning back. Plus, sealed individual things last longer.

  • Theresidentbaker

    I disagree with portioning out your own chips, etc. I buy the smaller bags because once the big bag is open, there’s no turning back. Plus, sealed individual things last longer.

  • Betty Nakiganda

    Very right.  On my side I boil my own water and put in my water bottle instead of buying.  Very expensive and people do not realize it.

  • Betty Nakiganda

    Very right.  On my side I boil my own water and put in my water bottle instead of buying.  Very expensive and people do not realize it.

  • Jim Lawson

    It’s “painful” to watch someone pay $6.00 for a gallon of ice cream???  Here in Grand Rapids, Michigan, $6.00 is a terrific bargain for a gallon of ice cream.  Our sale prices are usually much higher than that.

  • TINA-IL

    With all the information out there on water; you do take risks drinking tap water, and you take the same risks drinking bottled water.  Most bottled water is just someone elses tap water and this has been in the news for over a decade.   They do say the plastic does leach into what’s in the container.  Recently on the internet was the best waters to buy and Nestle pure was #1.  I use to buy it, but recently got in to distilling my own and adding the trace minerals (buy at health food store).  I was eager to test to see if the claim of the nestly pure was true, so I did distill a gallon I still had, and it did distill with no residue.   My tap water and the water I have going through my fridge (which I have a solid carbon filter on, not the one that comes with the fridge) both have sludge/thick residue left behind when distilled.   For a home distiller I went on line H20 labs and got a stainless steel one at the best price.    Now saving tons of $, no more lugging gallons, no running out for water.

    • copykitty

      Honestly, just buy a good filter!  That way you make your tap water good for drinking while putting a stop to the use of all those plastic bottles which are so awful for the environment. That should make everyone happy

    • copykitty

      The only thing your distiller is telling you is that the water still has minerals in it. It means the Nestle water doesn’t have any minerals. The residue is not dirt, or bacteria… is minerals. Having a healthy amount of minerals in water is not a bad thing.

    • copykitty

      The only thing your distiller is telling you is that the water still has minerals in it. It means the Nestle water doesn’t have any minerals. The residue is not dirt, or bacteria… is minerals. Having a healthy amount of minerals in water is not a bad thing.

    • Me

      Strange thing about Nestle water. I cannot STAND THE TASTE of that mess.

      I have filtered water (Brita), and I can still taste whatever it is that makes it nasty. I’ve changed the filter a number of times, washed the pitcher…nothing helps. So we drink jugs and bottled water only.

    • chris

      kangan water. look it up!

    • chris

      kangan water. look it up!

  • Clovis

    Designer ice cream for 6 dollars a GALLON?   Where?    Most ice cream now is sold in half-gallon containers (well, it used to be half gallons, but they have cut that down by about 1/4).    Most designer ice cream is a lot more than $6 per GALLON.  

  • charli

    ha.. my local grocery store is running hunts spagetti sauce for .77 a can … large size.. all flavors.. you cant beat that..

  • Slapthefatcat

    I’m a cook, and I can vouch that oven-roasted tomatoes are delicious, especially using halved Romas.

  • Mailman1947

    For families this may be true, but if you are a single male it makes more sense to buy packaged salad. By the time I buy lettuce, dressing, and all the extras I like in a salad it cost way more for me. Given that alot of the “make your own” salad fixin’s spoil or look terrible in a short time I’d throw away more that buying packaged salads.

  • Gailstevenson13

    I think if you make the sandwich yourself it tastes a lot better!!! Some of the premade sandwiches don’t seem to taste very good at all.

  • Mallory

    I like to make a lunchable myself for my daughter. I get the mini cookie cutters and use them to cut off different shapes of cheese and meat. Then add some Ritz crackers and there you go. It takes a little time but it puts a little personal touch on her lunch.

  • Mallory

    I like to make a lunchable myself for my daughter. I get the mini cookie cutters and use them to cut off different shapes of cheese and meat. Then add some Ritz crackers and there you go. It takes a little time but it puts a little personal touch on her lunch.

  • DANAOVERALL

    If yOU HAVE ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD and YOUR STORE WILL SELL YOU JUST A HANDFUL IF THREE DIFFERENT LETTUCES, DRESSINGS ETC. YOU MAY BE RIGHT BUT FOR THOSE OF US WHO MAY ONLY EAT OR SERVE A GREEN SALAD ONCE TWICE A MONTH AT HOME THERE IS ALOT IOF WASTE.  I RECOMMEND YOU USE THE STORE’S SALAD BAR.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_HGSI4IYOGBAJTSL6TK5G6NN5N4 Mr. Mister

    Ah, such a perfect example of the utter stupidity of Yahoo’s writers.  Yes, great idea.  List each point separately so we have to wait for each page to load, which with Yahoo, usually takes about two minutes.  God, please give us back the printed page where writers and journalists actually had some brains and education. These lists are such contrived filler it is beyond belief.   

  • Foxglove Kent

    Gotta tell ya – I made it to item 9.  I cannot handle the ad popup after each and every “page turn” to see the next one.  It takes forever to load and I could not be less interested in “Best You” or “Dave and Busters.”  Thanks, but I guess I’ll have to take my best guess as to the final 6 Foods I should never buy again.  So much for this site.  I won’t be visiting again.

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Dana-Seilhan/526832595 Dana Seilhan

      Or you could, I dunno, update your browser because all the new versions have popup blockers.

    • Poworker

      Turn on your popup blocker!!!!

  • Jim

    This is all written by a reporter, not a working mom or single parent.  IF YOU HAVE THE TIME, then fine.  But it would be better to never by chips again, and get a good water purifier for your tap.

  • HeyiDebslanddog

    I disagree when it comes to ice cream. Some gourmet brands taste a LOT better than other cheaper brands!!

    • hannah

      I totally agree. Haagen Dazs is the only ice cream brand that doesnt make me sick. I work hard and if I want to treat myself to a pint of my favorite ice cream every few weeks i deserve it. It might be over priced but its still more than you get at an ice cream shop for less!

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Dana-Seilhan/526832595 Dana Seilhan

      If you’re going to buy premade, you do get what you pay for.  But the best way to tell is to read the ingredients list, don’t just go for the price tag.  Breyer’s is usually really good too.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1450921315 Melissa J Bignell

    Many of the tips you have included in this section are helpful, however frozen vegetables have been proven to have more vitamins and nutritious value than fresh, because many fresh veggies sit around losing those precious minerals and vitamins one desires in them.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Dana-Seilhan/526832595 Dana Seilhan

    Melissa, they mean those stupid gourmet sauced-up veggies that have stuff on them already.  Regular frozen veggies *are* good, but the fancy frozen veggie meal things with the sauce are horrid.

    Re: popsicle molds:  Go ahead and spend the extra money and get a Tupperware set.  (No, I don’t sell it.)  You don’t know whether the dollar-store molds have BPA in them, and many dollar-store popsicle molds are poorly designed.  Plastic sticks will slide right out of the finished popsicles and leave them in the molds.  It is profoundly annoying, especially if you have a bunch of kids hopping up and down waiting for you to give them theirs on a hot day.  The Tupperware popsicle sticks have holes through them so that the popsicle solution will freeze through the sticks.  Unless the ones you find in the dollar store are designed like that, don’t waste your money.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Dana-Seilhan/526832595 Dana Seilhan

    Oh and as for homemade stuff, look into getting a Donvier pot for ice cream.  I use one and it’s awesome–it only takes a few minutes to make the ice cream!  Found it at Goodwill but I can’t imagine they’re that expensive.  There are no electrical parts.

  • Guest

    We have a well and our well water filtration system adds quite a bit of salt to the water. We bought a home distiller many years ago. A great alternative to jugs of distilled water.

  • Guest

    We have a well and our well water filtration system adds quite a bit of salt to the water. We bought a home distiller many years ago. A great alternative to jugs of distilled water.

  • Stethescoper

    an important point here.   The reason for commercial pasta sauces is it takes only 5 minutes to heat up.   This recipe according to the directions takes 2 hours.

  • Cindy

    But…this is real life!  You’ve got two overworked, stressed adults coming off hectic days at work, two tired children picked up from an after school program or daycare, dinner, homework, some quality time together, baths, stories, bed, clean up the kitchen, probably throw a load of laundry in.  Come on!  Grab the jar of tomato sauce, sweetie, and don’t think twice. I was a stay at home Mom…so not an option for my daughters or most women these days.  You’re juggling the world these days, so give yourselves lots of slack!

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_LCH5ANS4C6CATFTHGA5R7WUB6Y Mary

    #16  Mystery meat.  I never buy ANY kind of ground meat.  What is in it?  Where did it come from?  Leftover trimmings.  Old roasts.  Why anyone would buy that mush is beyond me.  I have a nice roast ground up for me and know what’s in it.  And yes, I watch the butcher do it so there are no tricks.  Trust no one.  

    • Kateirini

      Smart girl!

    • Madam

      You DO know what’s in it. It’s beef. From a steer. There’s this group called the FDA, and all these laws dealing with food packaging and labeling.  If you buy ‘ground chuck’ — then it’s chuck.  If the package says ‘ground sirloin’ it’s from the sirloin. If it says ’90%’ fat, that’s how much fat will be in it. Now …. if it just says ‘ground beef’ it WILL be higher in fat … because the law says it can be. (70%, I think), but it’s still beef,  and if comes from meat trimmed off a roast …. who cares? It’s beef, and it still tastes the same. (I usually buy the sirloin when I buy hamburg, because I don’t like draining off all the wste fats from the pan. It costs more per pound, but works out the same per edible ounce.)

  • Judith

    We have so many choices these day.  For me an older person (76) it is mind boggling.  It used to be when you went grocery shopping you didn’t have so many choices.  For example: if I wanted a can of sliced peaches there might have been two brands. Now there are six or seven brands, plus if you want them in their own juice, sugar free, or thick syrup, etc.   Everything choice is a big production. Now I read that you should not buy foods in cans because they are plastic lined.  If you don’t want a plastic lined can then you have to pay extra for a regular one.  Where does it end?  It’s almost as if I don’t want to eat anything.

  • J. R. Vazzo

    Research is slowly but surely proving that poor health and serious illness are the result of what one eats.
    A famous doctor at the Cleveland Clinic, Essellstyn advises never to buy packaged foods, avoid salt like the plague, don’t eat anything that has a face….meat, fish, chicken.  These industries fill their products with
    antibiotics, growth hormones, and a host of other synthetics that people should not ingest.  Shun those
    cinnamon rolls, pie, cake, all FRIED FOODS, chips, pretzels, on and on.  Load up on friuit, lots of fruit, vegetables, greens, lots of fruit, lots of fruit, lots of fruit.  It is not easy, but along with exercise, you can
    a healthy, lean, happy individual.   The Doctor has just released a documentary film, “FORKS OVER KNIVES”. Watch for it in the entertainment section of your paper!!!  Follow his diet and exercise regime and you will be a much happier and healthier person.

  • oldcook

    please understand that these tips are not for anyone.
    I always prided myself on cooking and preparing everything from scratch.  Now I am disabled, standing more than 1 min. causes excrutiating pain. And so, to my disappointment but great relief I find myself looking for pre-combined and prepared foods – not without the knowledge that I am spending more but grateful for not having to stand, even a minute longer..
    Please be tolerant of the disabled – people who can read labels for nutrition but must make choices for their particular needs.

  • Jayne

    Most people feel they are too busy to cook from scratch. With a little planning you can cook much better food, better tasting and better for you. Get your priorities straight people, with out good health what do you really have?

  • Anon.

    Yeah. I’ll remember your stellar advice to always drink tap water when our water becomes, according to health officials, undrinkable some time in the next two weeks due to Missouri River flooding impacting the water treatment facility. Bottled water serves a purpose and we can never completely get rid of it. 

  • jsmith

    This is the only one on the list I didn’t agree with, for reasons mentioned by other posters here.  I get what’s on sale and add my own fresh onion garlic and basil, or simply get some Paul Newman Sockarooni- proceeds go to charity.

  • Ursaresearcher

    its all about priorities. Just how important is it to grow your own produce and cook together at home. My kids are young and soon they will have their own lives so I enjoy them as much as I can now and they learn by what we do. 

  • Graymouse12022

    I found nothing helpful, it’s all common sense stuff. If you haven’t read it already, please don’t bother.

  • Tallwoman524

    Frankly, I don’t agree with these findings completely. I don’t pay anywhere near the prices listed by shopping smart and using coupons. Plus, we use pre-made burgers because they don’t fall apart on the grill, and my teenage son can make a quick lunch or dinner meal without having to work with the meat, and make a mess. All of these products are not necessary, but some times saving a few minutes time is totally worth it,,,at least in the world that I work in.

  • Frugal Momma

    I think the #1 thing you should NEVER buy is jars of baby food!  $0.75 for 4 ounces of ground up green beans is CRAZY!  I would buy fresh or frozen fruits and veggies, cook them until they are a bit mushy, and grind them up in a food processor with enough of the cooking water for the right consistency.  Then I would freeze them in an ice cube tray, and pop them into a ziplock baggie when they were frozen, and label the bag.  When the babies got a little older, I’d add some oatmeal, brown rice or whole grain pasta to the mix.  Waaay cheaper and tastier than the Gerber stuff!!

  • Sbishop 2

    Most of the stuff here makes sense, and actually I never bought most of this in the first place. But to take the time to make pasta sauce and trail mix, really? If you guys want to save a dollar or two every now and then by making your own sauces, by all means go right ahead. I buy 99 cent cans of sauce, I can buy Ragu for about a buck and a half at Winco, and I like it, as well or even better than ANY homemade, restaurant made or other wise sauce. I’m sure not going to spend my time in the kitchen making it from scratch. Cannot convince me it is any better.
    I will concur that many of the premade “gourmet” sauces are priced pretty high, and I think they are terrible tasting compared to the cheap stuff! So if you have been buying the pricey awful tasting stuff, making your own sauce might indeed be a smart thing to do.

  • Lilones5

    All of these suggestions are great when you have the time to do them, but I HAVE to keep some of the quick prepare things on hand because we both work and our kids play competitive sports, and are very involved in church youth group and fine arts activities. I don’t always have the luxery of time that it takes to do everything from scratch.

    • Lilones5

      oops! that’s LUXURY not luxery!

    • TED

      If I might offer a suggestion, you can control what types of “quick prepare” foods you keep on hand.  For example a peanut butter and jelly sandwich can be white bread with jelly and peanut butter that are full of sugar (and preservatives, additives, etc etc.) OR it can be good quality wheat bread with jelly that is 100% fruit and natural peanut butter that contains only peanuts and salt.  The second option is much healthier, tastes great, and really doesn’t cost much more.  You can keep some organic fruits on hand for quick snacks.  You can improve your diet a lot even without making things from scratch.  The strategy I have followed is not to try to change all at once.  I have tried to gradually eliminate bad things while gradually adding good things.  Just eliminating food from fast food restaurants will go a long way towards health.

    • TED

      If I might offer a suggestion, you can control what types of “quick prepare” foods you keep on hand.  For example a peanut butter and jelly sandwich can be white bread with jelly and peanut butter that are full of sugar (and preservatives, additives, etc etc.) OR it can be good quality wheat bread with jelly that is 100% fruit and natural peanut butter that contains only peanuts and salt.  The second option is much healthier, tastes great, and really doesn’t cost much more.  You can keep some organic fruits on hand for quick snacks.  You can improve your diet a lot even without making things from scratch.  The strategy I have followed is not to try to change all at once.  I have tried to gradually eliminate bad things while gradually adding good things.  Just eliminating food from fast food restaurants will go a long way towards health.

  • Grannylady1000

    I can’t agree with #13.  Home made Cherry Garcia?  I think not.

  • Guest

    Boiling tap water to get rid of chlorine etc isn’t such a good idea.  The water may taste better but
    you will be breathing chlorine.

  • Guest

    Boiling tap water to get rid of chlorine etc isn’t such a good idea.  The water may taste better but
    you will be breathing chlorine.

  • Alsidfu

    This whole article is ridiculous. I have priced out many of these things and it is cheaper to buy the things the writer doesn’t like. The writer doesn’t consider time or the fact that to things like spices go bad and each spice found, for instance, in a spice mix, is expensive. Wouldn’t it be nice if we all had the time and money to make everything by hand? Oh wait, I will just higher me a cook while I am it. Seriously stupid article

    • Alsidfu

      Meant HIRE

  • Xxx

    Whatever crap you’re putting on your nnThings … pages that lock up IE when using tabbed browsing have convinced me to never access such pages in the future.  I suspect this is true for many others as well.  Hope your advertisers appreciate the reduced hits resulting from your poor programming.

  • Bluekittygp

    I make my own everything,  It still cost a lot for groceries.  Articles make it sound like produce is reasonable.  Mid summer and tomatoes are over $2/lb. Yet I find that the dollar store has a can of Hunts spaghetti sauce and I just add browned meat, wine and mushrooms for a designer-type pasta meal. 

  • Rosanne

    What I get from this article is that one should not buy “gourmet” or single serving packs of food or frozen meat patties. 

    I never buy tomato sauce or iced  tea;  its so easy to make my own.  I have a great recipe for marinara sauce using fresh or canned tomatoes that takes about 20 mnutes to cook.   I also have a recipe for mac and cheese that takes about ten minutes;  as long as it takes to boil the macaroni.  

    I never buy bottled water;  I have a pitcher that has a filter.  A full pitcher is the amount of water that I need to drink daily.  I keep it in the fridge and add a slice of lemon when I drink a glass.

  • Lensinfocus

    I buy prepackaged salad because it’s cheaper than buying lettce(s), cabbage, and carrots separately.

  • Sandig

    Indian housewife know and implement them all !!

    • Willow

      First, what does your nationality have to do with anything.  Second, “know and implement” all what?  Please, if you’re trying to make a point, make it comprehensible!

  • Rachel

    I don’t do any of the above except for the spaghetti sauce – that’s a time thing for me. It’s very easy to warm up jarred sauce – add a few mushrooms and spices, cook spaghetti and serve – voila, dinner in a 1/2 hour or less. Also some of us don’t have chest freezers or lots of storage space (and canning supplies to keep sauce fresh if storing it in a cupboard) to make up jars of sauce ahead of time and store it! I can’t see myself making sauce from scratch every time I want to have pasta for dinner – otherwise I’d be eating at 10 at night!

    • Madam

      Except that you CAN make your own from (almost) scratch in the same time.  Sure, it tastes a little better to let it ssimmer for a few hours (while you’re doing something else), but I’ve often made pasta sauce from canned tomatoes in the time it takes to cook the pasta. (Brown a package of ground turkey. While it’s browning, fill your water pot and set to boil.  Open a can of ordinary canned tomato sauce. Give the turkey a stir. Add to the top of your open can some oregano, basil, pepper, garlic powder, (or you use fresh garlic set to brown with the meat if you have an extra 30 seconds), and thyme. (No salt — there’s already salt in the tomatoes.) Meat should be browned by now. Dump in tomatoes and seasonings, stir, cover, turn down, go do something else for 5 minutes. Water should be boiling. Add pasta, check sauce. If it’s a little thin , add a squirt of tomato paste from the open tube in teh fridge.Stir.  Set table. Drain pasta. Serve. Eat. Enjoy.
      I’ve tried several brands of jarred pasta sauce when they’ve been on sale. The only one I’ve EVER bought more than once has been Barilla’s fresh garlic sauce, which is indeeed very good and handy for odd moments.  But if I’m making spagetti for dinner, I make my own sauce.

  • Marcellawachtel

    Great tips.  But you don’t take the time saving aspects into consideration Time is money, too, and making tomato sauce is a 15-20 minute deal under the best of circumstances, and sometimes there is just not enough time.  Ditto for a lot of your other suggestions.

  • Guest

    Not to mention the fat in salad mixed is really high!

  • Leelazychick

    im 12 years old i weigh 119.1 lbs HELPPP

  • Joray38

    We do what is convenient.  And why shouldn’t we?  If you dont like to cook or bake most of this was not meant for you.  If you can open a bag of chips and not eat the whole thing Good For You.  My whole family drinks bottle water, we have a well and its easier that way.  My kids have always made their own popsicles.  I occasionally make my own sauce, its not always cheaper. I buy premade ground beef patties, some nights My husband has to cook. I am the only salad eaterin my home,  its $1.00 at my grocer to buy a premade bag. I bake my own cookies and cakes, make my own cheddar biscuits, my own jellies, sweet tea with lipton tea bags, and cook a homemade meal 6 nights a week.     Ita all a matter of convenience.

  • Balderdash

    Making meals from scratch is good if you can afford all the ingredients. Remember, Pasta is a side dish for Italians. Though many eat it everyday they do not become fat from it as it is not the main course of the meal.

    Bottled water: check with your water provider to see just what chemicals are in the water and at what amounts, some such as fluoride can do a lot of damage to your body if it is excessively high, children with teeth that look like they do not brush with marks on them are usually getting too high a dose of fluoride to the effect that it is poisoning them. Not all water filters take out all chemicals.

  • Bikerlady007

    grab a handful of tomatoes and herbs from the garden, or window box container (whatever you use – topsy turvy even?) rough chop – toss in butter, fresh ground pepper and garlic; when almost done, (no more than 5 mins) splash in a little olive oil and balsamic, toss in the pasta, olives, shrimp, chunks of chicken or what have you, shave in some romano, y ecco! mangia!  Who needs jar sauce??

    • reliantrobin

      Problem is, a lot of people live in the city or in apartment complexes.  How are they going to have access to any garden at all?  Or what if you live in an extremely hot or cold climate?  How are you going to spend hours upon hours each week trying to preserve your plants and keep them from dying on you?  Same with if you live in a drought-plagued location.  I would have loved for you to try to plant and nurture a kitchen garden where I live starting from around 2007, when we began one of the worst droughts in our city’s recorded history.  Even now we need about another six feet of rain in order to be considered out of the drought, and that’s with us getting about eight months of good rain (i.e. starting from two months before you left that comment).  In order for me to save the plants that were already planted in my front and back yards, I had to spend two hours a day, five days a week, hand watering every plant and tree.  Even then some of the plants didn’t make it because the heat, sun, and drought conditions were too intense for them.  So yeah, right, I’m going to spend $100 on plants, soil, fertilizer, etc., spend hours upon hours watering them each week, hope the summer (which in my locale lasts from late April to early October) isn’t too brutal, and see what little free time I have erode away into nothingness.  *rolls eyes*

    • reliantrobin

      Problem is, a lot of people live in the city or in apartment complexes.  How are they going to have access to any garden at all?  Or what if you live in an extremely hot or cold climate?  How are you going to spend hours upon hours each week trying to preserve your plants and keep them from dying on you?  Same with if you live in a drought-plagued location.  I would have loved for you to try to plant and nurture a kitchen garden where I live starting from around 2007, when we began one of the worst droughts in our city’s recorded history.  Even now we need about another six feet of rain in order to be considered out of the drought, and that’s with us getting about eight months of good rain (i.e. starting from two months before you left that comment).  In order for me to save the plants that were already planted in my front and back yards, I had to spend two hours a day, five days a week, hand watering every plant and tree.  Even then some of the plants didn’t make it because the heat, sun, and drought conditions were too intense for them.  So yeah, right, I’m going to spend $100 on plants, soil, fertilizer, etc., spend hours upon hours watering them each week, hope the summer (which in my locale lasts from late April to early October) isn’t too brutal, and see what little free time I have erode away into nothingness.  *rolls eyes*

  • Bikerlady007

    Anything I can make at home, I do – it’s cheaper, tastes better, saves on gas, and I don’t have to deal with down town.  I make artisan bread  – it’s so fast, so easy – smoothies, popsicles and pupsicles from homemade yoghurt. Yes, I use a starter, so plenty of probiotics, steralise the container, use a thermometer – safe and good – to me, the best fast food on the go is a banana, it even comes in its own handy dandy pre packaged single serving size.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_ODJAUADIRQKFWSLIBXYAPX4474 Kendra

    When you think about it, going to the grocery store and buying popsicles or ready made sandwiches isn’t a waste of money because it’s the convenience that us consumers are paying for.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_ENNF7RDC26QO5SZ7PGOF5NSGWQ Rasp

    I like these tips. My family knows  nothing but pre-formed, quick and easy food.  And it’s just nice to know that fresh food is better for your health and your wallet.

  • http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/CWZ5KWEZ4LGHTJ25YP544GVLRY ACACIA72

    Here is a great, easy recipe for beef dip sandwiches. Get a brisket or tri-tip and put it in the crockpot with 1 package of lipton onion soup and a can of beef broth. Cook until the meat just peels away easily, probably 5-6 hrs on high, or 7-8 hrs on low. Toast some good rolls, layer on the beef and top with a good cheese like Swiss or provolone. Use the juice that’s left in the crock pot for au jus dip. Believe me, your family will LOVE IT.

  • Guest

    Cheap ice-cream tastes cheap. Expensive, 6-dollars-a-tub ice-cream tastes like expensive, 6-dollars-a-tub ice-cream. In that case, at least, you do in fact get what you pay for.

    And adding chocolate chips and fudge to cheap ice-cream just makes it taste more sickly sweet.

  • Drake

    Delicioso is not an Italian word. Try delizioso or squisito instead.

  • Madam

    They left out the most important tip — Never buy ANYTHING that isn’t on sale. With VERY few exceptions, it’s possible to stock your freezer/pantry with things that are on sale … and they’ll hold you until the next sale cycle roles around. And plan your weekly menus around what’s on sale or already in the freezer.  Sure, we all need milk every week, and you may not realize that  your kid ate the last 3 eggs for lunch — but especially if you’re flexible about brands, you should NEVER have to pay full price for anything in a can or anything that can be frozen. And pasta, flour, sweets, fresh produce, rice — SOMETHING is always on sale, if not this week, then next week. And check the day-old baked goods rack, and the discount meat that’s close to its sell-by date.  I’ve picked up a gallon of milk for 25 cents when it was 2-3 days from expiration — our family will drink it up LONG before it goes bad.

  • Victortwardspc

    First of all you have not tasted my tap water to tell me it taste the same or better. Second, I’m not concerned about fossil fuels and plastic bottles. Third, we recycle all our plastic.Forth, because we drink better tasting water we drink more of it which is better for our health which more than off sets the costs of bottled water.

  • Guest

    What idiotic advice.  The idea that because the unit cost is much higher for smaller servings, therefore you should always scale up (which really is the reoccurring theme here) as a foundation for advice is poor.  Ironically, the article was probably written by the same people who caution you that Costco/Sam Clubs are not as good value as you seem.  Yes, you can lower you unit cost if you scale up (and DYI means you will be scaling up), but if that leads to either waste or increased consumption (or as I like to  say “leads to waist”), then you will fail to realize the savings you think you are getting.  Surely there are times when it makes sense, but to suggest “never again” is idiotic.  Maybe an article teaching people how to differentiate between when it is and is not appropriate instead.

  • Laurie

    good tips will keep them all in mind when I go to the store

  • Mc_chris008

    FRESH FOOD  IS STILL THE BEST….SO MAKED ONE NOW…M/

  • Anonymous

    As a Chef some of you are right and others aren’t so far off the mark. A few years back i was at a local college showing some students how to correctly finish off a sauce with butter, when I put the butter in the pan this young girl screamed so loud that she alerted the Executive Chef and campus security who was on the other side in the cafeteria. What did this child scream about , I put butter in the sauce, wow talk about a wierd reaction.
    I asked the child to stay after class with some of her friends and anyone else that was interested, I gathered the around one of the prep tables  and proceeded to the top of the table with all the ingredients that are used to make margarine, we didn’t have the stabilized, proper food coloring, flavoring, the young lady and her friends were shocked, to see the artificial food they were ingesting.

    The problem is parents DO NOT know how to cook and every one uses the EXCUSE of TIME, neither of which hold any valid reason or justification.

  • http://www.nobinkurian.blogspot.com/ Nobin kuriaN

    useful tip !!

  • Kat_relova

    i am not listening to this:(

  • Carolina

    I usually make my pasta sauce on the stove top, but the best one I have ever made was from the giant crushed tomatoes can I got from Sam’s club, put it to the slow cooker with spices on low…. Then froze the single portions.

  • Angelaertl

    Does the author of this article think we are all complete morons?  Bagged salad kits are more expensive than making a salad from scratch, and the per unit cost of individual size bags of chips are higher than buying a big bag?  Is there anyone who doesn’t know this already??  It’s call convenience!!  Those of us who work 60 hours a week don’t have time to toast our own croutons.  We know we’re paying more for the salad kit, and we DON’T CARE!!  I can’t believe I wasted my time reading this. My 8 year old could have come to the same conclusion.

  • Gchic2000

    I think they missed the point of why these items exist.  Who cans anything.  Average in the time it takes to “cook down” the liquid in tomatoes and I think the canned prepacked version comes close when youthink how long that burner is on to make the sauce.  Also if you don’t properly seal the can and what a waste when it goes bad.  Don’t get me wrong I have canned before but the point the whole reason these things exist is choice.

  • Gchic2000

    I think they missed the point of why these items exist.  Who cans anything.  Average in the time it takes to “cook down” the liquid in tomatoes and I think the canned prepacked version comes close when youthink how long that burner is on to make the sauce.  Also if you don’t properly seal the can and what a waste when it goes bad.  Don’t get me wrong I have canned before but the point the whole reason these things exist is choice.

  • RDIsNotTheNews

    I don’t know about the rest of the world but after a 60 hr work week, if it wasn’t for convenience meals, probably wouldn’t eat.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_3D7ZDVECFTQVAHIEWQ7H4R4WZE khan

    How would the US economy  will improve if people stop buing the products mentioned

  • Lizeth

    I have been seen same fast food places that, even sale the skin of the chichen for lower prices. that is one of the reason that people are getting fat. the skin of the chicken it’s the worst. even do a lot of people loved. my husband liked it, but when I cook I prefered to remove all the fatty skin from the chicken or meat. my diet and my family health are the number one, when I have to cook for them. And since I started to stay awey from fast food I lost almost twelve pounds, I only have to watch what I eat.

  • WB

    It is not just the cost of eating out, there are other concerns. We used to have the occasional hamburger/cheese burger in a one of the better fast food outfits. We did not visit this establishment for several months. When we returned we found the quality of the food below standard and the Hamburger flipper was badly dressed, worn out shoes and his appearance in less than acceptable fashion. 
    We visited a famous restaurant in the Hawaiian Islands almost daily for several months. One day by using their washroom I seen one of their cooks coming out of the stalls and going back to the Kitchen without washing his hands. That was disgusting. Since than we are very careful in the selection of a restaurant. In fact, we prefer to eat at home. We know what we are getting. I would suggest, if you think of eating in a restaurant, visit their washroom first, if it is not clean, don’t walk , run away.
    While we ourselves do not eat in fast food restaurants, we are amazed how many people do not even have the time to eat this questionable food within the facility, they use the drive by facilities. That tells a lot about the laziness of the public. 

  • Poppadave9

    You forgot the 5 gal commercial jugs that can also be refilled @ .about .30 cents a gallon. And when the jugs are no longer serviceable the bottoms can be cut off and then used as mini green houses for tender plants in the spring. The caps can be removed on warm days and replaced when it is colder.

  • Lefliq

    Why eat dry roasted peanuts?  Sawdust ( wood nuggets ) have more flavour and more fibre.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_QUXVICGPUO4HQJHOXSWRXGDG7I Aliya

    Yeah, these people (those that wrote the article) have no clue how to add. They also don’t seem to know that not everybody knows what proportions of one ingredient or another it takes to make a finished product that tastes half as good as premade stuff nor just how few people have that kind of time.

    If both parents in a full family (two parents and two kids) work as is pretty much standard nowadays and they both get off work at 5 from their jobs that leaves them two hours to prepare anything in time to serve their children before those children have to go to bed. Remember that it is highly unhealthy to eat within an hour before bedtime for a myriad of reasons, not the least of which is weight gain.

    So I ask you this: How many of these items could one mother and one father (Or mix thereof) prepare in time? It takes time to thaw/buy ground beef, form into patties, look up recipe for barbaque seasoning, mix said seasoning, and then cook the meal.

    What if there’s a long line at the grocery store? What if the parent accidentally forgot to pick up salt? What if they got off work late? How do you suggest these people find the time to prepare all these ingredients?

    Now let me ask you this: Of the types of parents that would actually spend the time to make everything from scratch for their kids, how many do you think would have their kids enrolled in extra curricular activities like soccer, music, or dance? How do the parents make time to pick their children up AND make time to make all this food AND finish before the children must go to bed?

    When I clicked the link to this article I honestly thought it would consist of only things that were both a waste of money and unhealthy to the extreme, due to the article’s use of an absolute (Never). But instead it just contained pointless and impractical “penny saving” tips and a few reasonable suggestions.

    And for the record, drink mix is bought to replace expensive cartons of juice, not actual iced tea. In such a position, it is quite the bargain, yeilding 40+/- quarts of juice for roughly the same price as one gallon of “100% Juice” juice.

  • http://twitter.com/JMichaelB J. Michael

    1: there’s zero nutritional difference between frozen and fresh broccoli or whatever veg, fresh obviously tastes better.  you food hippies need to concede that point.

    2: where are you shopping that protein bars are upwards of 3 bucks each?  I can get a cliff bar box at Target for about 90 cents each, which does actually calculate to less than the cost of making my own

    3: where are you shopping that trail mix is 10 bucks a pound?  I’ve never seen that anywhere.  It’s more like 2 or 3 for several pounds, and the cost of those ingredients you named is way more than that and makes less.  a thing of dried fruit alone is 3 or 4 bucks.

    4: pasta sauce?  yes, it’s usually between 2 and 6 dollars per jar.  However, your method amounts to 5-10 dollars per jar.  The method you glamorize should be grow your own tomatoes for less than 1 dollar per seed pack, and depending on how much dirt, fertilizer, water costs you, you make out on top.

  • Thejake05

    whoever made this post is a moron. maybe if everyone has 18 hours a day to spend preparing food. make your own salad dressing? where does he buy his gourmet trail mix? i get it for 2.99 lb. moron. must be an unemployed moron

  • Thejake05

    whoever made this post is a moron. maybe if everyone has 18 hours a day to spend preparing food. make your own salad dressing? where does he buy his gourmet trail mix? i get it for 2.99 lb. moron. must be an unemployed moron

  • Thejake05

    whoever made this post is a moron. maybe if everyone has 18 hours a day to spend preparing food. make your own salad dressing? where does he buy his gourmet trail mix? i get it for 2.99 lb. moron. must be an unemployed moron

  • Thejake05

    whoever made this post is a moron. maybe if everyone has 18 hours a day to spend preparing food. make your own salad dressing? where does he buy his gourmet trail mix? i get it for 2.99 lb. moron. must be an unemployed moron

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_AZQPK5IPUV4ZKYEQ655XCWOEYU Butch

    I dont know who wrote this article but someone needs to take you shopping

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_AZQPK5IPUV4ZKYEQ655XCWOEYU Butch

    I dont know who wrote this article but someone needs to take you shopping

  • Anonymous

    Reader’s DIgest, along with Yahoo and Consumer’s report are wrong about bottled water. What they should have focus is on “flavored’ bottled waters, juices and sugared drinks, which I usually don’t buy. They are also wrong about ‘filters’ being inexpensive. Filters are a huge waste of money and it doesn’t really remove impurities. Also tap water contains harmful contaminants during transition from the sources and most pipes contain corrosive materials. I buy unflavored bottled water because the tap water is usually dirty due to continuous maintenance issues where the water is being turned off. When the water is turned on, it contains an oily substances usually from the pipes and filters don’t do the job of riding water of the oily substances including other form of parasites that thrives in tap water. And filters tend to break easily so increase awareness is needed on how to instal it. I save a trifle more on bottled water, including distilled water to help clear up  the sinus problems which I have had for a long time.  Also filters have short life spans so reusing filters that are often unreliable is more wasteful than just getting a simple bottled water. Why not focus on people buying flavored water??

    • Anonymous

      I agree with you – also, in my country (not the USA) the water tastes really bad – sometimes it tastes chlorinated, sometimes salty (we rely on reverse osmosis for most of our water). And there was that time when the water was brown. Don’t ask. That was the time the cats started getting bottled water, too.
      When your morning coffee smells like the surface of a swimming pool, you know it’s undrinkable. Plus, God knows what’s actually in it.Some people here boil their water (so flat and weird tasting), others get huge water-cooler type things delivered, and others still buy plastic bottles. We recycle the bottles and hope for the best!

  • Anonymous

    Reader’s DIgest, along with Yahoo and Consumer’s report are wrong about bottled water. What they should have focus is on “flavored’ bottled waters, juices and sugared drinks, which I usually don’t buy. They are also wrong about ‘filters’ being inexpensive. Filters are a huge waste of money and it doesn’t really remove impurities. Also tap water contains harmful contaminants during transition from the sources and most pipes contain corrosive materials. I buy unflavored bottled water because the tap water is usually dirty due to continuous maintenance issues where the water is being turned off. When the water is turned on, it contains an oily substances usually from the pipes and filters don’t do the job of riding water of the oily substances including other form of parasites that thrives in tap water. And filters tend to break easily so increase awareness is needed on how to instal it. I save a trifle more on bottled water, including distilled water to help clear up  the sinus problems which I have had for a long time.  Also filters have short life spans so reusing filters that are often unreliable is more wasteful than just getting a simple bottled water. Why not focus on people buying flavored water??

  • NG

    Terrible advice.  Frozen vegetables have a higher level of nutrients then the fresh stuff at the supermarket.  Frozen veg. is grown to peak ripeness and flash frozen – usually on-site.  Fresh veg (usually) is picked very under-ripe so it can withstand the trip to the packaging plant, then the market.  There it sits out for several days before you bring it home and let it sit for several more.  Please, do not listen to this tip!

  • Anonymous

    I find the advice about not buying single servings really hilarious – ie, that we should all buy huge bags and split them up. I can guarantee you that if I bought a big bag of potato chips, I’d have the best intentions of splitting it up into smaller portions, until I’m sitting there, with an empty bag in front of me, feeling immensely guilty and just a bit nauseous.

  • KenpoDon

    Remember – any can with a tomato based product is lined with plastic and it leeches into the tomatoes because of the acidity.  In fact most canned products do this, try and buy in glass when you can.

  • IrishRose37

    This goes to prove that people have become LAZY and convenience trumps healthy food that you can make yourself to control what goes in it. Make HOMEMADE as much as possible and stock up so that you NEVER run out of what you like to eat, especially in times when stuff from store is not available like when storms hit!!

  • Rob

    Obviously written by some on who has the time to do all this. A majority of people who buy convenience items are 2 income families who do not have the time to go through the hassle of making everything homemade. At least they are saving some money eating at home. Take out is much more expensive than eating at home, even if it comes out of a box or can or the freezer. 

  • Rlyoldfool

    Wow-eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
    Having read just about everything in this long-winded diatribe – I’ll not say anything.
    Wrong!
    Having been given the plus and the minus on every possible subject . . . yes!
    To rid myself of the poison that I’ve herein ingested, I’ll go walk 9 holes of golf this morning.
    Anyway, I have to think that Gloria Swanson had it right.
    Don’t ever eat processed foods.
    Right?  Right.
    That way, you can sleep with Jack Kennedy’s dad any time you want to.
    Well – he does go home to the east coast, occasionally, to impregnate Rose.
    Back to the point at hand.
    I’m 85 years old, and a guy, at that- so I have to use time conservation principles when cooking.
    Making spaghetttttt?  Use the canned sauce;  add pre-made meat-uh-balls-uh;  dice a medium onion.
      (That onion says I’m subscribing to something au-naturel.)
    Before cooking, break up the spaghettttt in 2″ pieces – well – 3″ ok.
      (Prevents slobbering longer pieces down my white shirt as I’m watching ESPN.)
    Do 9 minutes in boiling water (spagh) w/onion, first in glass – in the microwave.
    Drain the water – add spagh-sauce – - – chopped up meat-uh-balls-uh.
    Re-heat in micro-wave.
    So this recipe isn’t complete, you say?
    Of course not, idiot . . . you weren’t going to follow it, anyway.
    Look;  think this through, yourself.
    About time I start prepping for the golf thing.
    Daylight wasting time is just around the corner.
    At my age, I’ve gotta think about a whole lot of things you never have to think about.
    Let me be the first to wish you a “Merry Christmas” for 2,011.
    And I don’t give a hang whether the ACLU or the Supreme Court like it, or not.
    They don’t give a crap about me – I don’t give a crap about them, either.
    Sparky.

  • Raven07456

    Just like mom used to make!

  • Don’tWasteMyTime

    These could have all been listed on one page, and read in a few seconds.

  • Lynner888

    I agree with all of these things except individual serving bags of chips. I’m the only one that eats them and a big bag will go stale before I can even get halfway through. It’s worth the extra cost to me to have a fresh bag of chips when I want them.

  • Nikolee50

    Regarding bottled water, you stated: …”it’s not even better for your health than the stuff running down your drain!” You might want to research what is found in tap water before making such a statement. We buy bottled SPRING water in order to avoid harmful things that have been found in water supplies such as lead, pesticides, benzene, arsenic, mercury, cadmium, the chemical hexavalent chromium, fluoride, chlorine, residues of prescription drugs, and many other harmful things! Some bottled water is just filtered water but is still better than typical tap water. In such a case, using a water filter might be more economically feasible and environmentally friendly. But filters do not remove some things that I wish to avoid.

  • Twobsntwogs

    Most of that water is coming from a “tap” source.  So instead of drinking someone elses tap water, drink your own.  :)

  • Opentomeet

    I buy bottled water at $2.99 for 24 half-liter bottles (or $3.99 for 35 bottles on sale)… or 99c a gallon, which you seem to be recommending above… so where is the saving??

  • Jamnam61

    are you telling me to buy Edy’s ice cream instead of Haagen Daz? just because of price?
    are you FREAKING CRAZY?

  • Ghunt81

    What’s wrong with spice mixes? I’d prefer to buy a $3 spice grinder with everything I need in it than buy 4 or 5 separate spices at $2 each…if you can find them that cheap!

    Also I don’t think I’ve ever seen a spice mix that didn’t list 90% of what was in it on the ingredient list…

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_OSLSZOMGZNJWSKQFX64TRMRW3A Mr. BIG

    Bottled water is no better than tap water?  Who are these people that write these articles?  So all the disinfecting by products that are 10,000 times more toxic in tap water is good for you?  Fluoride is a deadly poison and depletes the body of iodine and does NOTHING for tooth decay is good for you in your tap water?  Drug traces are in tap water and that is good for you? 

    Please get an education before you open your mouth here again people!

  • Richierich

    Why use filtered tap water when the water is not that good for you. The problem is with us the consumer. We buy things that are easy and fast. People forget to put family first I am glad that my wife and I cook, it brings the family together. At times we need to rewind ourselves and go back to our grandparents era. I remember we use to make our own icecream, cheese, butter, we had our own meat. Look at what they do to chicken. The government pumps the chicken full fo growth harmones and steroids so much the chicken can’t walk because they grew to fast. Instead spend the money on  more farmers. That would creat more jobs and boost the economy. I can go on for ever. United States of America is spiraling down and out of control.

  • Guest

    I beg to differ, water is not available for everyone. Tap water is only drinkable in countries that have the means to purify their tap water. In some countries, drinking tap water may lead to various diseases that may be life-threatening. Is this article only aimed at certain certain countries?

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_6TMCWA2T5ZS7SD2GOJFLWYI5IA msntnkrbll

    I’ve been doing all these things for over a year now. I decided that processed foods were not in our best interest, so I’ve been making as much as I can from scratch. Before I pick up any kind of package at the store, I ask myself “Is this something I can do myself?” and the answer is usually yes.  Even our pizzas are from scratch with whole-wheat dough and fresh sauce (bread machines rock!)  My new attitude also dictates that the more aggressively a food thing is advertised (like fast foods), the less likely that food is going to be healthy and nutritious. I AM Madison Avenue’s worst nightmare!  It also helps that personally I can’t stand cheeses of any kind, so that makes it easy to keep away from the commercially-successful but health-damaging processed and fast food realms (lucky for me food processors think every blasted thing has to be drowned in stinking cheese…thank god I can dodge that bullet!)

  • Karnerbutterfly

    I agree with almost everything in this list – EXCEPT for the recommendation to buy bottled “nursery water” for mixing formula. These products have FLUORIDE in them, and fluoride is the same toxin used in rat baits! Why would anyone give rat poison to an infant???

  • Soniacovrig

    if you have money go for it why do it yourself

  • http://www.facebook.com/peter.dematteo Peter DeMatteo

    going to other countries is a real shocker. i know russians who are convinced that drugs are put in the food s0 to that our appetites are never satiated. organic food lacks pesticides but is filled with the bacteria from horse manure, paying a fortune for that is a rip-off like you wouldn’t believe.

  • http://www.facebook.com/peter.dematteo Peter DeMatteo

    as far as the united states is concerned, impoverished and working class folks suffer from the curse of obesity far more than do the upper middle and upper classes. it’s an issue of expense, and/or concern about status, as well. an american who doesn’t have the time, knowledge,patience, financial means, and/or the energy to cook healthy meals is really in a great deal of trouble. it;s also an issue of utilizing a legalized, inexpensive way of doping oneself up, which solves life’s dilemmas for a few minutes, perhaps, but then leaves the person feeling even worse than she did before the initial escapade.

  • Laverdure_cathy

    Lets face it– we live in an instant gratification disposable society. the mentality of  “I’ll do as little as possible as quickly as possible to get as much as possible” does nobody any favors. I personally prefer fresh food AND the effort it takes. My kids learned to hunt by the time they could walk, I was taught how to garden, can, freeze and bake at an early age. I get great satisfaction out of knowing where my food comes from beginning to end. the flavors and colors can’t be beat either. Just sayin’….

  • Laverdure_cathy

    Lets face it– we live in an instant gratification disposable society. the mentality of  “I’ll do as little as possible as quickly as possible to get as much as possible” does nobody any favors. I personally prefer fresh food AND the effort it takes. My kids learned to hunt by the time they could walk, I was taught how to garden, can, freeze and bake at an early age. I get great satisfaction out of knowing where my food comes from beginning to end. the flavors and colors can’t be beat either. Just sayin’….

  • Lkcastillolaw

    My husband & I both work & we have 4 kids so by the time we get home we are exhausted and it’s so much easier to pick up something. We’re not lazy-I’m an attorney & he works in the oilfield. We are TIRED. However last January we decided every time we ate at home we would put $40 in a wooden box we made. We have pulled the $ out for Xmas shopping $ amazingly saved $4680! Not to mention we have enjoyed our family time even more!

  • Water expert

    One should not drink distilled water when other, potable water is available. Distilled water is extremely corrosive, and can actually dissolve teeth. 

  • Kidsundr6a

    Your ideas ROCK!

  • Yeliz

    Thank you for confirming what I have been talking about making your own spicey  and sauce also about bottle water and making your own tea.

  • Yeliz

    Thank you for confirming what I have been talking about making your own spicey  and sauce also about bottle water and making your own tea.

  • Perler2

    I was raised to prepare meals from scratch at home with meals out for special occasions.
    Too often I meet people who are living on low incomes and yet they rely upon fast foods and prepackaged meals for their family meals. The difference in cost is huge, Also, there may be health benefits to homemade meals. People can live on far less with a little common sense and a desire to save money.

  • Neha_mehta25@rediffmail.com

    This article is really good and all the info provided really holds true in todays time… it hardly takes few minutes to make these simple combinations at home and we end up saving on so much money …

  • Omar

    Come on people stop being cheap. AND U WONDER WHY WE ARE SUFFERING FROM A RECESSION>>>>

    • http://twitter.com/that1dudeFromOC Alex

      People wonder why we are in a recession? 

  • Quarryman

    To all of you on both sides — either we are lazy and nobody “forces” us to eat junk, or we are hypnotized by big-time advertising. You are both right. But those who see the power of advertising, coupled with all the chaos, confusion, and uncertainty of modern society, are more right. Start researching “psychological operations” (PsyOps) on the internet. It is amazing how much truth one can discover if one is trying to better themselves and their loved ones. God bless.

  • Clintthehammer

    Some good ideas, but i buy jars of pasta sauce because they can sit for 6 months and still be used. If I want to do that with my sauce, I have to freeze it and take up valuable freezer room.  Canning is also too expensive for just the three of us. 

  • Clintthehammer

    Some good ideas, but i buy jars of pasta sauce because they can sit for 6 months and still be used. If I want to do that with my sauce, I have to freeze it and take up valuable freezer room.  Canning is also too expensive for just the three of us. 

  • http://www.facebook.com/mstuuge Moe Stuuge

    McKitty 0r Mcrat Burger

  • Kalynnemorris

    As a busy mom of two, I often think of jarred sauce as a welcomed shortcut.  I often mix in fresh spinach and cheese to add in extra nutrition.  I agree about the bottled water…but like most people it is a convenience item that is easy to stash in your purse on your way out the door.  My son has a water bottle for school that is washed every night that his school mandated to save the environment.  The fancy frozen veggies are overpriced, but on occasion it’s nice to have something premade that steams in the bag to seal in vitamans and nutrients that could be lost in the saute process. As for tea, a good recipe for guests is 8 bags black tea brewed and chilled, in a large punch bowl add 4 cups OJ & 4 cups pineapple juice.  Premade burgers are better for serving larger crowds becuase they cook more evenly, but for a quiet dinner I often mix in cheese and mushrooms to make hand pressed patties.  Rice seasoned sides are cheap and easy…why try to re-invent the wheel here? Over 60% of americans are considered obese by their BMI (body mass index.)  This has significantly risen over the past 50 years due to many changing conditions: the size of the dinner plate has actually increased by 2″ in circumfrence, we tend to eat faux diet food instead of just healthy food in moderation, most households are dual income and no one wants to cook after a hard days work, going out to eat used to be a special occasion but now in this instant gratification society where everything is more accessible to the masses crossing economic/class boundries…so fast food that offers mcrib sandwiches to other dining options that offer a rack of ribs for $10.99 only adds to the temptation that is the “American dream” peddled to us by sly advertising and celebrity endorsements.  Diet has become a pill, instead of a healthy walk around the neighborhood.

  • Nancy Ebben

    I can honestly say I passed this obne with flying colors – I do sometimes buy “premade” items but none of these :)

  • Jackie5524

    Make your own fresh tomato sauce throw into freezer bags ,add what ever when you defrost and save lots of $ plus the flavor will knock your socks off.

  • Meandmaster

    blah blah blah….that’s what all of you sound like

  • Maizey

    Some of these things don’t take into account certain reasons for buying something. I don’t buy canned anything because of the BPA in the liners of the cans, and tomato products are the worst for absorbing that. So it’s either fresh or jar. Ice cream is another one, I buy the brands that are made with antibiotic and hormone free milk which is usually more expensive. However, I get the point of the article.

  • http://twitter.com/that1dudeFromOC Alex

    worst list ever.

  • http://twitter.com/that1dudeFromOC Alex

    worst list ever.

  • geode

    I do like to cook. And yes i like to know what is in the food. Making food is like making love. No effort,, no reward. think about that.

  • geode

    I do like to cook. And yes i like to know what is in the food. Making food is like making love. No effort,, no reward. think about that.

  • GJS

    now you blame Mcdonalds…..how many more excuses can you find for obesity?  that decision is made by you and only you.  you can choose to eat healthy or jump in your car and drve to Mcdonalds, Burger King, etc.

  • Langer2010

    The author thinks Hagen das tastes the same as bargain brands? Author has no credibility.

    • MrChocoholic

      Not exactly. The butterfat content in ice cream determines its smoothness and quality. All that was said is that it’s easy to dress up a store-brand ice cream to make it more like a Haagen-Dasz. 

    • MrChocoholic

      Not exactly. The butterfat content in ice cream determines its smoothness and quality. All that was said is that it’s easy to dress up a store-brand ice cream to make it more like a Haagen-Dasz. 

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_UJXCFQD6J6N65QH4N7KZP4E7KE Angela

    I buy spaghetti sauce all the time I never pay more than $1 for  26-28 oz. It is usually cheaper thab buying the plain tomato sauce because it is on sale often and the latter is almost never on sale

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_FVISOL3LZ67MJ2PYXBAKCZIQGY frank

    Time is money thats why we cut the corners

    • Teganfl

      Thank you Frank! It’s like they think we don’t know that “convenience items” are expensive and overpriced.  As for things like bags of salad and pre-washed, pre-cut fruits and veggies… If it helps me to get healthier foods into myself and my children, I consider it well worth the cost.

  • Guest

    People don’t want to invest TIME into what they eat. Even when they eat at home instead of a restaurant or fast food, it’s a quick look in the fridge to see what can be grabbed and prepared in a flash.

    For an exciting new approach to eating, make it a priority—a FUN one. Start planning ahead. Pick some recipes (browse cooking websites), put the ingredients on a shopping list, and then spend one to three hours cooking a wonderful meal. Delicious leftovers will cover the next couple of days.

    If you know how to read, you know how to cook! But if you honestly know almost nothing at all about cooking (how to make gravy, how to boil eggs, etc), then treat yourself, this Christmas, with the gift of a basic cooking course at any college, jr. college, or other outfit. It’s fun!

    Great cooking and eating, to be great fun, includes great presentation. Go to resale shops and sleuth out treasures of cookware, dishes, nice glasses, etc. Learn how to set a table! Use cloth napkins now and then. And candles. But above all, even if you don’t entertain, commit some TIME and THOUGHT and PLANNING AHEAD into cooking, and you will find it to be a most enjoyable “hobby” or pastime, in addition to turning things around healthwise.

  • Guest

    People don’t want to invest TIME into what they eat. Even when they eat at home instead of a restaurant or fast food, it’s a quick look in the fridge to see what can be grabbed and prepared in a flash.

    For an exciting new approach to eating, make it a priority—a FUN one. Start planning ahead. Pick some recipes (browse cooking websites), put the ingredients on a shopping list, and then spend one to three hours cooking a wonderful meal. Delicious leftovers will cover the next couple of days.

    If you know how to read, you know how to cook! But if you honestly know almost nothing at all about cooking (how to make gravy, how to boil eggs, etc), then treat yourself, this Christmas, with the gift of a basic cooking course at any college, jr. college, or other outfit. It’s fun!

    Great cooking and eating, to be great fun, includes great presentation. Go to resale shops and sleuth out treasures of cookware, dishes, nice glasses, etc. Learn how to set a table! Use cloth napkins now and then. And candles. But above all, even if you don’t entertain, commit some TIME and THOUGHT and PLANNING AHEAD into cooking, and you will find it to be a most enjoyable “hobby” or pastime, in addition to turning things around healthwise.

  • Smoke

    Hmmm, last time I bought pre-formed hamburger patties, they where the cheapest source of high meat-content beef.  Then again, it’s comparing warehouse prices with unfrozen beef at the local market.

    For the tomato sauce, finding preserved tomatoes that aren’t a BPA risk is just as expensive and not so convenient.  (The cheap brands don’t say what their can-liners are made from.)  It’s still expensive the first year, but asking the farm-stand for the best time to buy a few bushels of tomatoes and sticking them all in jars is probably the best of both worlds.

  • TED

    There’s a lot of controversy about water here.  Those who think tap water is fine may not have all the information.  When you get the annual report that your water company is required to send out it will tell you how the levels of a bunch of potential contaminates are all well below safe levels.  This information is most likely true and accurate.  What the report will not mention is that there are hundreds of other harmful chemicals in the water that are not tested for at all because it is not required.  It will not tell you that drinking chlorine is not good for you.  (Would you drink bleach?)  A simple filter on the tap or a Brita pitcher will remove the chlorine taste but it will not remove all of the harmful stuff.  If you take a look at the toxicity chart in any introductory Chemistry textbook you will see that Lead is the third most toxic element while Fluoride is the second most toxic.  (Arsenic is number one.)  Lead is not even allowed in gasoline or paint but Fluoride is added to most tap water.  I suspect that many people probably think that the Fluoride added to tap water comes from some clean mineral mining source but nothing could be further from the truth.  The Fluoride that is added to tap water is a toxic waste product from the fertilizer industry.  Decades ago Fluoride gasses were allowed to escape out the smoke stacks of fertilizer manufacturing plants.  Due to widespread damage and death of crops and cattle (and other animals) governments required the use of pollution control devices called “wet scrubbers” in the smoke stacks.  These scrubbers reduce the amount of toxic Fluoride gasses in the exhaust.  What is captured in the scrubbers is hydrofluorosilicic acid which is a classified hazardous waste.  Disposing of this toxic waste properly would cost the fertilizer industry HUGE sums of money.  Instead of doing that they put it in barrels (without any further treatment or refining) and sell it to communities all over the World to be added to drinking water.  So if you drink Fluoridated tap water you are a human toxic waste filter.  The alleged benefit to teeth (based on very sketchy science) from Fluoride is ONLY from a topical application.  There is not even any suggested or alleged benefit to consuming it.  It takes a good reverse osmosis filter to remove the many harmful things that are in tap water. 

    On the topic of bottled water let me make a brief comment.  Yes, some bottled water is simply filtered tap water.  It may very well be true that it is not much better than what comes out of your tap.  However, some bottled water is clean spring water that is a lot better than tap water.  You have to know what you are buying.

  • Rebelslave

    wow!!! cheap and better for you, too!!!

  • Yeretu50

    good job.everything is relevant and helpful. in the economy of today we all need all the help we can get.

  • Wei-Hwa Huang

    A head of lettuce costs $2, and takes me 17 minutes to wash and prepare.  A salad kit costs $6 and takes me 2 minutes to prepare.  If I can get paid $28 an hour for doing contract work, which saves me more money — getting the cheaper lettuce and preparing it myself, or getting the salad kit and using the saved time to work?

  • Wei-Hwa Huang

    A head of lettuce costs $2, and takes me 17 minutes to wash and prepare.  A salad kit costs $6 and takes me 2 minutes to prepare.  If I can get paid $28 an hour for doing contract work, which saves me more money — getting the cheaper lettuce and preparing it myself, or getting the salad kit and using the saved time to work?

  • TL

     Definitely don’t use distilled water for baby bottles.  Because of the lack of extra ions distilled water cannot boil until an imperfection is introduced.  This can result in an explosion if over boiling temp, and more importantly, there is no visible sign that it is over boiling temperature.

  • TL

     Definitely don’t use distilled water for baby bottles.  Because of the lack of extra ions distilled water cannot boil until an imperfection is introduced.  This can result in an explosion if over boiling temp, and more importantly, there is no visible sign that it is over boiling temperature.

  • TL

     Definitely don’t use distilled water for baby bottles.  Because of the lack of extra ions distilled water cannot boil until an imperfection is introduced.  This can result in an explosion if over boiling temp, and more importantly, there is no visible sign that it is over boiling temperature.

  • TL

     Definitely don’t use distilled water for baby bottles.  Because of the lack of extra ions distilled water cannot boil until an imperfection is introduced.  This can result in an explosion if over boiling temp, and more importantly, there is no visible sign that it is over boiling temperature.

  • TL

     Definitely don’t use distilled water for baby bottles.  Because of the lack of extra ions distilled water cannot boil until an imperfection is introduced.  This can result in an explosion if over boiling temp, and more importantly, there is no visible sign that it is over boiling temperature.

  • TL

     Definitely don’t use distilled water for baby bottles.  Because of the lack of extra ions distilled water cannot boil until an imperfection is introduced.  This can result in an explosion if over boiling temp, and more importantly, there is no visible sign that it is over boiling temperature.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Susette-Doyle/100003278159461 Susette Doyle

    I start with the store brand sauce, adding canned tomatoes, tomato paste, and my own onions and other fresh stuff, including spices. The sauce just gets it started. I find store brand sauce for under 2 bucks.

  • Anonymous

    Here in the San Diego area, we are told not to use tap water for goldfish because it will kill them – if it’s not good for them, it sure can’t be good for us. We do have an RO system at home, but still many people dont, and want to be sure they have safe drinking water.

    • Anonymous

      Correct–the stuff from San Diego taps is DISGUSTING!

  • Anonymous

    Once again, here’s a writer sending us the anti-bottled water propaganda that municipal water suppliers love to spew.  Unless you buy garbage like Dassani, bottled water is almost ALWAYS going to taste better and be healthier for you than tap water.  Sure–there are a few muni H2O systems (like NYC’s, apparently) that offer decent water — but most cities (especially in the Southwest, like L.A., San Diego, Phoenix and so on)– have DISGUSTING, chemical-laden water that’s full of chlorine.  I would NEVER even considered drinking that C R A P!

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_IYVR4IXSCM4XDO5NU2LXH6LKVQ gruntled

    Salads in a bag: no waste! Buying all the ingredients separately can be pricey, and buying a head of iceberg is always a gamble. Maybe half of the iceberg I have bought meets my standards.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_IYVR4IXSCM4XDO5NU2LXH6LKVQ gruntled

    Spice mixes- these usually last me a couple of years per container. Making my own certainly wouldn’t “save me a fortune”!

  • Kelly

    First off let me start by saying Micky D’s was never meant to be a way of life, but as an occasional break. I just want to set the record straight. Wealthy and upper class people tend to eat more unhealthy junk food then the lower class. Mostly because they can and it’s a luxury.

  • Taray

    Seriously? I thought this was about what was good for you, not about cost. Obviously the writer doesn’t have small children. Wait 2 hours for a Popsicle? You tell my kids that. 1 hour for spaghetti sauce? Dinner at 6? No way. People sometimes pay for time. That is what it is. Time in the kitchen or time with my kids. There are so many healthy choices out there that you don’t have to spend hours in the kitchen preparing. I think I’ll help my son practice his violin and open a nice jar of organic/natural spaghetti sauce.

  • Azureskyz

     She suggested buying “Nursery Water” for your baby to drink in the bottle.  Does anyone realize that they put flouride in nursery water?? In every other civilized country, they treat flouride the way it should be treated… as a poison….which it definitely is.

    • reliantrobin

      Where’s your advanced degree in chemistry?  Or did you barely pass it in high school?  I’m willing to bet the latter is closer to the truth, since (a.) you’re talking a load of rubbish about flouride being “treated as a poison” “in every other civilized country” (what exactly IS a “civilized country”?), (b.) you don’t know that flouride is only a “poison” in very high concentrations, about a thousand times higher than the amount present in flouridated water, (c.) that small amount of flouride reduces the amount of cavities children raised in flouridated water communities have to deal with, and (d.) there are NO credible scientists out there who would say that flouride, in the levels of concentration evident in potable water, is in any way a health hazard, and they’ve been studying this for DECADES.  So shut it with your fearmongering.

      • Nika

         Except for people with thyroid issues who can become violently ill when they consume those “safe” fluoride drinking levels, or the significant percentage of the human population with a sensitivity to this element. I’m sensitive to fluoride so need to be careful and monitor my water intake, otherwise I become violently ill (you can’t comprehend the amount of water the human body can store until you spend half a day throwing up nothing but bile-water), with migraine headache attacks and joint pain, simply by consuming too much “safe” tap water. ‘Too much’ translates into the recommended amount for a human adult of my size. Yes, there are credible scientists (and doctors, once you’re sent to the hospital after an “adverse reaction”) who realise and admit that the levels of fluoride added to state drinking water CAN be a health hazard. It may not be immediately evident for everyone, but it still has the potential to be quite hazardous for some people.

  • Jb10000lakes

    “It’s painful to watch someone actually pay $6 for a gallon of designer brand ice cream.”  Really????  I think you mean $6 a pint, right?  I wish it was $6/gal.

  • Jb10000lakes

    “It’s painful to watch someone actually pay $6 for a gallon of designer brand ice cream.”  Really????  I think you mean $6 a pint, right?  I wish it was $6/gal.

  • Neeneehill

    I dont know about most stores because at Walmart the frozen meat patties are less expensive or the same price as the regular packaged ground beef. Check the prices!

  • Jimjarmusch

    If you eat canned tomatoes, you eat BPA, an endocrine disruptor.  To avoid this, eat either Eden Organic canned tomatoes (the only canned food company at this point that makes BPA-free cans), continue buying sauce in glass, or make your own from scratch.  Good article otherwise.

  • Rlsmithcarter

    I disagree with so many of these suggestions for two reasons:  time scarcity issues and the desire to NOT have a large amount of anything that can go bad sitting around in my pantry/kitchen.  I was hoping this list was going to be about foods that are bad for your health… not your wallet.  I’ve been doing cost-analysis shopping since I was a broke college student!

  • Jenliu3

    Duh, make everything from scratch.  What a ridiculous non-informative piece of fluff.

  • Guest

    check what you are buying- the ground beef at costco is the same $/lb in patties or in one huge lump… 

  • Charlene

    As for Ice Cream there is only certain brands I can eat. Kemps and other cheaper brands so kill my stomach. But Blue Bunny doesn’t hurt my stomach at all. I do look for sales though and it may still be more expensive but I feel good after eating it.

  • Charlene

    As for Ice Cream there is only certain brands I can eat. Kemps and other cheaper brands so kill my stomach. But Blue Bunny doesn’t hurt my stomach at all. I do look for sales though and it may still be more expensive but I feel good after eating it.

  • Charlene

    As for Ice Cream there is only certain brands I can eat. Kemps and other cheaper brands so kill my stomach. But Blue Bunny doesn’t hurt my stomach at all. I do look for sales though and it may still be more expensive but I feel good after eating it.

  • Kenkelly4

    “Individual servings of anything” help with portion control. Of course, you’re paying for packaging.

  • Kenkelly4

    “Individual servings of anything” help with portion control. Of course, you’re paying for packaging.

  • Damerel71

    What planet is this author from, you can get Bottles Spring Water at any supermarket for no more than $5 per 24 bottle case. It tastes different and is more refreshing.  With all the money spent on juice and soft drinks, it is the most cost effective and healthy solution.

  • http://twitter.com/JustineIsBitchn ✎ Just!ne ✖

    I don’t trust drinking tap water, even with a water softener.  You never know how much and how many chemicals are being used to treat the water, especially if it’s city water.  I will continue to buy bottled water, and recycle the bottles, as I have been.  

  • Anonymous

    Pasta sauce is the only one I’d argue against on this list, too.

    First of all, let’s look at quantity. A can of tomatoes may cost between $0.60 and $1.20 depending on brand for approximately 14 – 15 ounces of tomato product (including very runny juice). A jar of pasta sauce will cost between $1.75 and $7.00 for 25 ounces of product, with the “high end” price being for the really fancy-pants stuff. So, taking into account the difference in size (15 oz. vs. 25 oz.), the difference in price isn’t that great. Now, remember that crushed tomatoes are THINNER. To make a decent sauce, you’ll need to cook it down. You lose volume. Or you’ll need to add tomato paste.

    On sale, you can get most common name brands for less than $2.00, easily. Doctor them up with some extra spices and a splash of cheap red wine, and voila!

    Second, if you’re going to use up fresh tomatoes to make sauce, please note how much THOSE cook down. I make fresh pasta sauce (delicious!) in the summer when my tomato plants produce more than I can eat, and I freeze it for the winter, but any other time of year? Even the cheapest tomatoes on sale in the winter (roma tomatoes) are at least $1 per pound. Expect those to cook down at least 50% volume to get a decent sauce, maybe more. So we’re looking at a minimum of $2 per 16 ounces of sauce, and that’s before you add any seasonings. And honestly, if you’ve made pasta sauce, you know how much it cooks down.

    And third is a major health concern. I’m a biologist, and I’ve been studying this sort of thing for years. The thin plastic linings of food cans contains bisphenol-A (BPA), which is being regarded more and more as unsafe for human consumption. It’s an endocrine disrupter, interfering with the hormone balance in the human body, mimicking estrogen, and interfering with many hormone pathways. There’s evidence to show that it may contribute to obesity, cause certain types of cancer, cause neurological problems, cause problems in developing fetuses, interfere with thyroid hormone function, and possibly even contribute to heart disease. To put it into common terminology, it REALLY messes up your hormones. And hormones mess with EVERYTHING. (Go look it up for yourself.) Tomatoes are really acidic, and are amongst the worst foods for causing the BPA to leech out of the plastic and into the food.

    The problem with BPA and tomatoes ONLY happens in CANNED tomatoes. A glass jar has no plastic lining. Therefore, pasta sauces in JARS and fresh tomatoes won’t have this chemical in them. Is avoiding this chemical worth an extra $0.25 per plate of pasta? I think so. I used to love canned tomatoes. I put them in everything. Cheap and very tasty. No fat. And you can get salt-free ones. I thought it was a win-win. Now… forget it. I won’t continue doing that to my body.

    So… decide for yourself, but I don’t think pasta sauce belongs on this list.

  • Anonymous

    Pasta sauce is the only one I’d argue against on this list, too.

    First of all, let’s look at quantity. A can of tomatoes may cost between $0.60 and $1.20 depending on brand for approximately 14 – 15 ounces of tomato product (including very runny juice). A jar of pasta sauce will cost between $1.75 and $7.00 for 25 ounces of product, with the “high end” price being for the really fancy-pants stuff. So, taking into account the difference in size (15 oz. vs. 25 oz.), the difference in price isn’t that great. Now, remember that crushed tomatoes are THINNER. To make a decent sauce, you’ll need to cook it down. You lose volume. Or you’ll need to add tomato paste.

    On sale, you can get most common name brands for less than $2.00, easily. Doctor them up with some extra spices and a splash of cheap red wine, and voila!

    Second, if you’re going to use up fresh tomatoes to make sauce, please note how much THOSE cook down. I make fresh pasta sauce (delicious!) in the summer when my tomato plants produce more than I can eat, and I freeze it for the winter, but any other time of year? Even the cheapest tomatoes on sale in the winter (roma tomatoes) are at least $1 per pound. Expect those to cook down at least 50% volume to get a decent sauce, maybe more. So we’re looking at a minimum of $2 per 16 ounces of sauce, and that’s before you add any seasonings. And honestly, if you’ve made pasta sauce, you know how much it cooks down.

    And third is a major health concern. I’m a biologist, and I’ve been studying this sort of thing for years. The thin plastic linings of food cans contains bisphenol-A (BPA), which is being regarded more and more as unsafe for human consumption. It’s an endocrine disrupter, interfering with the hormone balance in the human body, mimicking estrogen, and interfering with many hormone pathways. There’s evidence to show that it may contribute to obesity, cause certain types of cancer, cause neurological problems, cause problems in developing fetuses, interfere with thyroid hormone function, and possibly even contribute to heart disease. To put it into common terminology, it REALLY messes up your hormones. And hormones mess with EVERYTHING. (Go look it up for yourself.) Tomatoes are really acidic, and are amongst the worst foods for causing the BPA to leech out of the plastic and into the food.

    The problem with BPA and tomatoes ONLY happens in CANNED tomatoes. A glass jar has no plastic lining. Therefore, pasta sauces in JARS and fresh tomatoes won’t have this chemical in them. Is avoiding this chemical worth an extra $0.25 per plate of pasta? I think so. I used to love canned tomatoes. I put them in everything. Cheap and very tasty. No fat. And you can get salt-free ones. I thought it was a win-win. Now… forget it. I won’t continue doing that to my body.

    So… decide for yourself, but I don’t think pasta sauce belongs on this list.

  • Beth A Reiter

    Using fruit juice in place of sugar won’t cut calories – wht do you think makes fruit juice sweet…

  • Rymplecloth-bunch

    Bottled water: I just picked up a 35 bottle pack of purified water at Costco, 16.9 oz each, for $3.75. That works out to about eleven cents per bottle. I usually don’t buy bottled water, but I find it is a ready and helpful alternative to calorie and sugar laden soft drinks, and at these prices it’s not expensive at all.

    Yes, I have water bottles for filling up from the filtered and chilled refrigerator door dispenser, but too often I don’t have one handy when I need a quick bit of hydration.

    But no, I don’t buy bottled water from a vending machine. Then you really can pay $1 or more for something you can get for 1/10th the cost if you plan ahead.
     

  • winnie

    So after being out of the house ten hours a day for work as well as completing a 45 minute commute with a two and four year old that are starving by the time we pull in the driveway my best bet would be to come home and simmer homemade sauce from a can of crushed tomatoes for an hour just so I can save about $1.00.  For real….? Necessity is the mother of invention.  There are reasons why our food stores are stocked with convenience foods. 

    • guest

       Amen, sister. My poor daughter is out of the house 12-13 hours per day. You’d better believe that steamers and other instant meals are on the menu.  She holds the kids off with fruit cups while they’re waiting for dinner. Now if only manufacturers would make lower sodium versions! I don’t understand why they think so much salt is tasty?

      I make a tasty quick chili by using 2 cans of regular chili (I prefer Staggs), 2 cans of unsalted beans (drained), 1 can of unsalted tomatoes (not drained) and 2 cans of unsalted corn (drained). Simmer for 20 minutes. Eat over rice or top with cheese and you’re good to go. And substantially less sodium, too.

      Probably your really young children wouldn’t like this. And, 20 minutes may be too much for you on a weeknight. My at-home child and I get 3-4 meals out of this. But we serve it over rice to make it stretch.

      Oh, I don’t think that making your own sauce is cheaper than buying sauce in a jar for $1 when it’s on sale!  Tomatoes alone cost more than $1 per pound where I live. Plus they taste like cardboard.

      Keep doing what you have to do as best as you can and don’t sweat stupid advice from writers who 1) probably don’t have kids and 2) probably freelance from home so, hey, they have time to cook. Duh.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002359137755 Yoselyn Ramos

    stay healthy pepole !!! :)

    • Guest

      people

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/IIHCXA5AQVPKTVISSAR7AJ63SI Mike

    Did they do any actual research here?  I don’t find protein bars for $2-$3.  At most, $1.50.  This article is misleading at best.

  • Kimtllp

    I love how people blame Mcdonalds and other fast food places. Nobody is forced to go to fast food places you make a choice to go. Common sense people, dont take your kids out to eat everyday once in a while is fine. My kids eat fast food sometimes a couple times a week other times not for a few weeks. People are just freakin lazy and let their kids eat junk all the time then they wonder why their kids are so fat

  • Streck

    I’m sorry…  I agree with most of this list except for the pasta sauce.  As an avid cook- who makes a great sauce- I can tell you that there is really no cost savings when you make your own.  Once you add up the cost of all the ingredients- not just tomatoes- plus the time it takes to make a good sauce (at least 1 to 2 hours!) it is not worth doing on a regular basis.  I only do the homemade “good stuff” for special occasions now.

  • Say No To Tap Water

    #8: Tap water as good as bottled water??…depends on the brand.

    I’ve went to my city’s homepage and examined the tap water quality report…it’s outrageous! About 20-30 different cancer causing chemicals in significant quantities like benzene and toluene. I can barely drink half a glass it tastes terrible…I buy a 4L bottle of spring water that last me 2 days…50 cents per day for clean healthy drinking water big deal…I’ll pay it…

  • SteveA

    Where do you buy your water? I get a 24 pack of 20oz bottles for $2.59+tax. Thats ~11 cents each not $1-$3 dollars.

  • Tarheel1110

    Six dollars a gallon for ice cream is not overly expensive.  It takes nearly three of the most common size containers (48 ounces) to make a gallon.  Even the least expensive store brands cost over $2 a carton or about $6 a gallon.

  • Janna Fulbright

    The only thing I take issue with is the pasta sauce. Our grocery store has a nice brand that’s actually cheaper than the same amount of crushed tomatoes. In fact, it’s consistently under $1! I tart it up with herbs, mushrooms and other things, and actually save $$.

  • Sobreea

    These are time-based cheapeners.  If you have the TIME, then these are cheaper. If you don’t, then they’re more expensive and less likely to occur because they take TIME to make. 

    There’s also quantity. 

    On that list: trail mix.  I don’t want to try to buy a bag of almonds AND a bag of raisins AND a bag of chocolate AND a bag of banana chips AND mango AND AND AND.  To get them to even out and be worth eating is $30 of big bags of stuff that makes a TON of trail mix. 

    I just want… a bag of trail mix.  So what if it’s $6?  My $30 cheaper-by-the-pound stuff ‘ll go bad before I can eat it!

    Same with croutons and salad. Same with a couple other things on there.  $30 trail mix is more expensive for a single person than $6 trail mix that happens to be more expensive by the pound.  :) 

  • StopGreed

    What is this guy smoking? Water from your tap is better than distilled or industrially filtered. hello! Chlorine is a carcinogen. Don’t get me started with fluoride.

    Buy 3 five gallon plastic jugs and go to the local water store once a week or so and buy clean water for 25 cents a gallon.

    You owe it to your body.

  • Cafreeman

    So, you say don’t buy canned veggies, except when you buy acidic canned tomatoes to make pasta sauce instead of buying jarred pasta sauce…the inconsistency and lack of science is maddening.

  • Kellysue58

    I disagree with this 9 of 16.  My local grocery offers the Dole salads and I can get 2 servings out of it for my lunches.  They are $2.99/bag and sometimes they offer them BOGO.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_XYHTQ2BY2TWXTOBKVDTNRMZSMY Everyone Say Cheese!

    Right, don’t drink water from a bottle.  Drink it from the tap, where it’s poisoned with fluoride and a potpourri of prescription drugs that weren’t filtered out because local treatment centers have faced budget cuts for a decade so we can afford the “war on terror”. 

  • Jeretxxx

    So, basically everything in the food aisle in grocery stores?

  • harry

    Why isn’t bottled soda on the list?…I mean, it is far better to buy bottled water than bottled soda..why attack water, at least it’s good for you :-)

  • harry

    Why isn’t bottled soda on the list?…I mean, it is far better to buy bottled water than bottled soda..why attack water, at least it’s good for you :-)

  • harry

    Why isn’t bottled soda on the list?…I mean, it is far better to buy bottled water than bottled soda..why attack water, at least it’s good for you :-)

  • harry

    Why isn’t bottled soda on the list?…I mean, it is far better to buy bottled water than bottled soda..why attack water, at least it’s good for you :-)

  • harry

    Why isn’t bottled soda on the list?…I mean, it is far better to buy bottled water than bottled soda..why attack water, at least it’s good for you :-)

  • harry

    Why isn’t bottled soda on the list?…I mean, it is far better to buy bottled water than bottled soda..why attack water, at least it’s good for you :-)

  • harry

    Why isn’t bottled soda on the list?…I mean, it is far better to buy bottled water than bottled soda..why attack water, at least it’s good for you :-)

  • harry

    Why isn’t bottled soda on the list?…I mean, it is far better to buy bottled water than bottled soda..why attack water, at least it’s good for you :-)

  • harry

    Why isn’t bottled soda on the list?…I mean, it is far better to buy bottled water than bottled soda..why attack water, at least it’s good for you :-)

  • harry

    Why isn’t bottled soda on the list?…I mean, it is far better to buy bottled water than bottled soda..why attack water, at least it’s good for you :-)

  • harry

    Why isn’t bottled soda on the list?…I mean, it is far better to buy bottled water than bottled soda..why attack water, at least it’s good for you :-)

  • harry

    Why isn’t bottled soda on the list?…I mean, it is far better to buy bottled water than bottled soda..why attack water, at least it’s good for you :-)

  • harry

    Why isn’t bottled soda on the list?…I mean, it is far better to buy bottled water than bottled soda..why attack water, at least it’s good for you :-)

  • harry

    Why isn’t bottled soda on the list?…I mean, it is far better to buy bottled water than bottled soda..why attack water, at least it’s good for you :-)

  • harry

    Why isn’t bottled soda on the list?…I mean, it is far better to buy bottled water than bottled soda..why attack water, at least it’s good for you :-)

  • harry

    Why isn’t bottled soda on the list?…I mean, it is far better to buy bottled water than bottled soda..why attack water, at least it’s good for you :-)

  • harry

    Why isn’t bottled soda on the list?…I mean, it is far better to buy bottled water than bottled soda..why attack water, at least it’s good for you :-)

  • harry

    Why isn’t bottled soda on the list?…I mean, it is far better to buy bottled water than bottled soda..why attack water, at least it’s good for you :-)

  • http://kibblesbits.wordpress.com/ Ann

    No, canned tomatoes cost more than that, in the amount of a jar.  I know, because I make my own sauce all the time. (From my own tomatoes, if I can).  Other things on this list are ridiculous.  There is a difference in the quality of ice creams, for example.  

  • Lm Mcgahee

    this is a pretty good tip.  my daughter loves to make her own “lunchables” and they always have exactly what she wants. lol. 

  • Vegamiter

    The local govt’s around here (NY and PA) are forcing kids to bring individually packaged snacks and food items to school if they pack their own lunches. I think all this is, is a way to force parents to give Big Business more $$$ and impinges on a person’s alleged “American Freedom”.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1219356989 Barb Thompson

    I think the convenience of well-made pasta sauce is worth the additional price.  Living in Minnesota, fresh tomatoes are often cardboard tasting because they were picked green and shipped here to turn red in transit.  There is a very short growing season.  I know from my travels in Italy, that Italians make a lot of their sauces from canned tomatoes.  If I find a pasta sauce that consistently tastes good, uses fresh ingredients, and is available quickly when I need it, I do not hesitate to spend the money.  Now, if you are talking something like cake mixes, that contain tons of unnecessary ingredients and save almost no time, then you have something to eliminate.  Once I made my own homemade angel food cake, I will never go back…

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1219356989 Barb Thompson

    I think the convenience of well-made pasta sauce is worth the additional price.  Living in Minnesota, fresh tomatoes are often cardboard tasting because they were picked green and shipped here to turn red in transit.  There is a very short growing season.  I know from my travels in Italy, that Italians make a lot of their sauces from canned tomatoes.  If I find a pasta sauce that consistently tastes good, uses fresh ingredients, and is available quickly when I need it, I do not hesitate to spend the money.  Now, if you are talking something like cake mixes, that contain tons of unnecessary ingredients and save almost no time, then you have something to eliminate.  Once I made my own homemade angel food cake, I will never go back…

  • J.T.

    Energy and/or protein bars may be marketed like candy bars, but they are not intended for snacks. They most often are intended to be either meal replacement bars or quick and easy food for people who are hiking, climbing, and otherwise doing hard physical exertion and need those calories.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=564261532 Anonymous

    I buy spring water by the case (24). It’s 20 cents a bottle, than I go and buy the large pour spout containers and refill the empty bottle for easy transport. It tastes much better than filtered tap water, and if it was shipped in Humvee’s and packaged in 40 pounds of non-biodegradable plastics, I would buy it anyways.

  • Tony

    A lot of this is pretty ingnorant–especially tomato sauces. I am not making tomato sauce from scratch. Period. convenience is worth money. not in every case, obviously, but it is valuable.

  • Anonymous

    Gotta love the “tomato-based pasta sauce” one…  Why bother paying $2 for that jar, when with only an investment of an hour or so (between cutting up items and simmering) you can save ONE WHOLE DOLLAR!!!!  This is especially true during the summer, when you could be outside playing or otherwise spending time with your family for that hour… all for a buck.

  • Asdf

    What an irresponsible article. Don’t buy bottled water? Seriously? Fracking is a huge issue in my area. Don’t buy power bars/energy bars? What about those that understand carbs and sugar and arent going to go overboard. A better statement would have been to say dont buy candy bars and learn how to read nutrition labels.  Individual servings of things are a necessity for people who actually pay attention to their health. Having a giant bag of chips infront of you makes you eat a giant bag of chips. Who, besides me, counts out a serving and then eats what the serving is without wanting more? Not to mention that the picture itself is misleading. People cant just store away junk food without eating it, its just not possible.

  • Asdf

    What an irresponsible article. Don’t buy bottled water? Seriously? Fracking is a huge issue in my area. Don’t buy power bars/energy bars? What about those that understand carbs and sugar and arent going to go overboard. A better statement would have been to say dont buy candy bars and learn how to read nutrition labels.  Individual servings of things are a necessity for people who actually pay attention to their health. Having a giant bag of chips infront of you makes you eat a giant bag of chips. Who, besides me, counts out a serving and then eats what the serving is without wanting more? Not to mention that the picture itself is misleading. People cant just store away junk food without eating it, its just not possible.

  • Nana

    There is more than one reason for people using fast food restaurants and convenience foods than laziness.  There is the fact that the majority of women today have to work outside of the home in order to keep their families over the poverty level, and many of them have no husband in the home to help with expenses or chores so they don’t have the time to cook like women did in the past.

  • Kat

    I’m no expert, but I don’t think you are supposed to drink distilled water all of the time. It strips the body of minerals and causes malabsorbtion of nutrients. Further, it can raise the acidity in ones body and cause other problems. Distilled water is only to be consumed for short periods of time to detox the body. Therefore, buy purified water not distilled.

  • calsue

    How can anyone make the statement that McDonalds, KFC, restaurants, whatever is ‘making anyone’ do anything? We’re doing it to ourselves. It’s time for everyone to put on their big girl/boy panties and take responsibility for their own lives.

  • sharond

    I sure hope they don’t say stevia is now not good for ya any time soon. I use it in the tea that I make but find I don’t use as many tea bags as they say to use I either just dump the bags in there and bring to a slow boil or just get some water and put the bags in there a few hours no boiling, no sun. I figured if some people reuse the same tea bag twice when they make tea why am I starting out with double the amount of tea bags? Anyway, stevia is a natural sweetner for those that do not know. It does not taste like sugar and I find I use 1/2 packet per 16- 20 oz of water. Some people I know use a whole one. It takes getting used to like sugar substitutes but it’s suppose to be better for ya. Now if I only found a way to like running.

    • Nika

       I’ve found a way to like running :D Don’t see it as running, just play! Find a group of people, if you have kids that’s even easier, and organise a picnic and games afternoon at the park every now and then when you have days off. Or on public holidays. Find an hour to play tennis, frisbee, volleyball, something free/cheap that can happen on any game field, park, beach etc. Or invest in a ball to throw or kick around. Once you start seeing it as playtime, and not running or exercise, it becomes fun, helps you to relax, let’s you sleep better and the physical movement involved is more varied and at times better for you than repetitive and monotonious execise! Before you use Time as an excuse, really record how you use time over an average week. How much time is spent on facebook, reading things online, watching tv, procrastinating: can you really not spare an hour here or there?

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_H6MFT4FPSLZLZUE4LFNZAOHBQU Me Too

    To make the amount of pasta sauce we consume would take an insane amount of time to do from scratch, take up more storage space than we have,  and no, the equivalent amount of canned tomatoes and other ingredients total far more than $1.

    Also, simmering crushed tomatoes with these other things does not make a sauce, it makes a salsa.  Simmer a custom recipe for an hour after 10 minutes making it?  What a silly way to save 50 cents for an hour extra meal prep time.

  • Davidb50

    Drinking distilled water is not healthy because you do get minerals from water.  Reusing plastic jugs for drinks is also not safe.  Leaving anything in plastic is not good healthwise. 
    Single servings cost more but they limit binging.

  • Hello78612

    hiya -_- lukin  a bf

  • Lindagold

    I can make most foods but buy instant stuff because it is convenient. Iant that the issue here

  • Richardnixon47

    This only seems helpful if either (1). You are poor and really need to save money or (2) you don’t value your own time as a rational economic agent. If you make around 15 dollars an hour (very low income), saving five dollars but spending 22 minutes is an irrational decision. For many Americans that make more than 20, 30, 40 dollars an hour…this list just becomes absurd.

  • Ju1istar

    This list if for idiots.  These foods shouldn’t have been purchased in the first place.

  • Kisss_therain

    i cant carry  –the faucet around with me -so it just makes sense to buy bottled water

  • Ironangel12718

    I would love to know where the author got some of these prices from!! The “whole fruit bars” I can buy at my local grocery store for $3 for a box of 6! and bottled water unless you’re buying fiji, smart water or the like I can buy a 24 pack of 16 oz bottle for $3.99!

    Some things are easier to buy than make, I work 60 hours per week and go to school full time, plus take care of my grandmother… spending an extra $.50 for a box of rice is worth it to me!

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_4QV25MTBQFUX6XWY2QSIIDBQEA Anonymous

    no restaurant food tastes as well as what we cook at home…fact….it’s just convinience…and a lot of salt and pepper..you can do that at home…..I can put a sweet potatoe in the micro…fix a plate of salad with trimmings….and some chicken breast cooked in 15 minutes..and I have a better healthier meal than they can cook in a joint…and it doesn’t take longer than the waiting time and the rude waitress who wants a tip.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_4QV25MTBQFUX6XWY2QSIIDBQEA Anonymous

    no restaurant food tastes as well as what we cook at home…fact….it’s just convinience…and a lot of salt and pepper..you can do that at home…..I can put a sweet potatoe in the micro…fix a plate of salad with trimmings….and some chicken breast cooked in 15 minutes..and I have a better healthier meal than they can cook in a joint…and it doesn’t take longer than the waiting time and the rude waitress who wants a tip.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_4QV25MTBQFUX6XWY2QSIIDBQEA Anonymous

    you ever buy salad and otameal at McDonalds and a cup of coffee??No…then it’s your fault and quit attacking them….I can get their a small cheeseburger for a dollar..and it’s good and a lot less calories…like the loaded burgers some buy….

  • Clubmet365

    I heard that buying (or drinking) distilled water leeches vitamins and nutrients out of your body due to the digestion process. Can this be confirmed?

    • Guest

       Untrue, but distilled water tastes very flat.  We are used to drinking water with minerals in it.

  • Bobbiereyes1

    OMG….I LOVE deli sandwiches, but there is an ingredient in sliced ham that caused my mom’s Peke to go in seizures!   If that isn’t an argument to avoid deli meats, I don’t know WHAT IS.   PLEASE AVOID DELI MEATS.  Who knows what it does to pregnant women’s babies! 

  • Avice

    The stuff coming out of my tap clogged up my coffee maker. I refill gallon jugs at Wal-Mart and that doesn’t happen.

  • Packldr

    I can agree with all but the preformed burgers. they don’t fall apart, they don’t seem to shrink as much, so they fit the bun after cooking (usually) and often you can find them on sale for the same or cheaper than packaged ground beef.

  • http://www.facebook.com/sharon.berg.1232 Sharon Berg

    Some of the individual servings items are great for kids lunches & definite time savers. Here is why I started buying them.
    For example: I bought nuts and fruits, then I got scissors and cut up the dried fruits (apricots, pears, pineapple & apples), then I used a knife and cut up the walnuts & pecans.  Time is precious as a single parent working two jobs, and that process took me too long.

    Next I started purchasing trail mix and portioned it out in small baggies. I got tired of buying baggies since they never made it home in the lunch boxes. (yes I reuse baggies). When Trader Joe’s came out with portioned controlled trail mixes I found the price difference wasn’t all that much, and is so convenient
    . (I still do portion out trail mixes every other ).

    Making lunches consists of grabbing a trail mix, a bag of chips, fruit roll-up, protein bar, fresh fruit, then making a sandwich. The night before, reused water bottles, 2 per kid, go into the freezer with filtered water from the faucet. Because of the fuss over reusing water bottles, I only use them for a week before getting out the new ones.
    I also buy frozen fruit bars on sale, protein bars for 15 yr old son on sale, individual salad kits (at Costco). Tomato pasta sauce for $1, not $2-6.

  • conny

    you won   beyonce tickets go to I am a loser .com

  • conny

    you won   beyonce tickets go to I am a loser .com

  • Rvickery

    Why do people. Always want to. Look perfect

  • nanana

    so not tru

    • Guest

      true

  • Mikerrr

    Right on! to the trail mix idea. Why, why, why do they always ruin pre-made trail mix with raisins???? I despise raisins! Make my own – avoid the issue, and save a bunch of money.

  • Pegasussince1983

    Well, I have been following most of those recommendations before I read these tips but not because of the reasons that the article stated but because I have allergies to a lot of the things on the list that cause me to need to only buy single ingredient groceries and mix them as I like and can tolerate.

  • Bakc

    Don’t buy gourmet ice cream? You mean buy the mass market crap ice cream with artificial colors and artifical flavors?!?!? I don’t buy plastic milk either (milk in plastic containers).
    Anything with artifical color or flavor does not go in my grocery cart.

  • Kkelley1957

    Really?…McDonald’s?!  That’s the best you got?!!   Read Omnivore’s Dilemma, by Michael Pollan.  Expand your mind and maybe get a different perspective about what is really going on with our food!  You can criticize and complain from your foxhole; you can also invest some of your time to gain knowledge…your choice.   Just like those who choose to eat at fast food restaurants, or eat processed foods of any kind!!! 

  • Pax

    Not sure the suggestions apply to all. After actually reviewing my usage and costs, I have learned that as a single person, it is more cost effective for me to buy some items in individual servings because otherwise either the “extra” goes stale/to waste or I’m stuck eating the same thing meals in a row.  For example, for the price of 2 “family” size bags of chips (or less) I can get a bag of individual chip packs at a discount store and they last weeks. (And I don’t binge on the big bag of chips.)  Similarly, if I want a serving of rice with mixed peppers and black beans, it is more cost effective to buy a $1 frozen side of it than to buy a red, yellow and green pepper, etc., unless I know will be making some other dish that will use the the left over peppers and beans.  Same is true about buying an individual sandwich rather than buying a pack of cold cuts, a pack of cheese, a head of lettuce, a tomato, etc., when I only need or want ONE sandwich.  And don’t say make multiple dishes and freeze them. Fridge freezer has limited space & things don’t keep that well.  And I even bought a Food Saver system, but the “savings” just didn’t work out in real life like the commercial.

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/FFCKXHE6OFVB3LTQCAH5VAPHQY Mimi

    Just yesterday I was reading an article penned by Dr. Drew wherein he was encouraging the use of single serve portions – to reduce the urge to overeat.  But why listen to an MD when you can subscribe to the “bigger is better” mentality of this food writer.?

  • Jony

    These are so stupid. We’re talking about shaving off 2 dollars for premade pasta sauce? Idk about most of you but my time is worth way too much for me to save 2 dollars on sauce in exchange for an hour.

  • NoObama2012

    To each his or her own … words and opinions are free and cheap, much like the advice given by the author. Nothing new here, move along ….

  • NoObama2012

    To each his or her own … words and opinions are free and cheap, much like the advice given by the author. Nothing new here, move along ….

  • NoObama2012

    Maybe the author works for the Obama campaign and is getting the message out on ‘How to live healthy in a poversh economic downturn’. Happy Meals, premade foods, preservative and carbs bad … green vegetables and lobster good! Stupid people do stupid things.

    Did you know …. the wealthy aristocrats and elite of the 19th and 20th centuries always provided lobster to the hired kitchen help and entire estate staff because they considered it beneath their standards of acceptable and tasteful cuisine?

  • Diane Claude

    Where is someone finding “designer brand” ice cream in a gallon container, and for $6 no less?  The more premium the ice cream, the smaller, more expensive, the container.  Ben and Jerry’s “pints” are now 14 ounces, and would factor out to about $27/gallon.   Even the crappy ice creams only come in 1.5 quart containers.

  • Anna96levy

    Wow less then $2 mark up for a meal is really cheap look at pizza hut for examPle mageritta . : less than $1 for a tomato and garlic each maybe both depending on sales. Varies on dough with how you make it but at $11 It’s roughly $5 mark up and a drink at about 70cents up to $3:95 im not sure about how we pay for garlic bread but its bread butter garlic and herbs so it would be pretty cheap so thats roughly $10 then look at an actual restaurant which is heaps. More
    It’s not macas or any other place that caused obesity people were always to lazy to ecsersize and wanted to eat heaps of unhealthy food. I’m sure there was obese caveman it just wasn’t as Common. All macas has done was help It get worse
    . P.s I work at pizza but in Australia so America will be different.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1552223508 Holtz Cathy

    Almost anything that is in a can or a box are bad…Stick to basics don’t instant ready to eat…Stick with canned oaks ,grits,for cereal.Buying canned Tomatoes ok.Buying bread that is whole grain.Stick to fresh fruits and vegetables.By lean meats ,for sliced lunch meats buy the ones that are not full of preservatives high in salt…stick with Boar’s Luncheon selection .Avoid potato chips and fried foods. Stick with salad dressing white basic instead of mayo….Switch to low skim fat and soy milks,or almond milk lower in fat and calories…self life is way longer too.

  • j_dog

    you dont want to drink distilled water. it will deplete your body of minerals. You can get spring water from discount stores cheap, or get a good filter.

  • Jason

    Busy lives, cellphones, longer hours, computers and other electronic devices have put many people in a time crunch.  For years they thought it more convenient to grab something premade or “on the go” and have now discovered their health is suffering for it.  I’ve noticed a lot of people are now planting gardens and actually canning and cooking fresh foods and I think it’s awesome!!

    • Anonymous

      BS the time factor and inexperience in preparing food makes these products a bargain.  The food prep hygiene of the average person is terrible. They will probably poison themselves with their ‘garden’ fresh home  produce or chickens. 

  • Jrlab

    The person who wrote this article should not advice giving distilled water to babies. Distilled water does not have any mineral which are of most important to the human body.Distilled water is good for the drug companies and good for batteries and to put in irons to avoid rust.

  • Anonymous

    that’s complete BS. The crap they serve there is garbage food. People may eat their because it is cheap, and wages are low, but it’s not healthy, and it’s not good. If people at actual, whole, minimally processed food for two weeks then went back there they would be astonished how salty greasy gross McDonalds food-like-substances are.

  • Tickleberries

    I don’t think people who go for fast food and quick mixes in the supermarket are lazy. I think they are tired. Everyone wants a quick fix because life is so hectic. 

  • Anonymous

    One of the worst articles I’ve ever read.   The whole point of the ‘rip off’  items is convenience.   The price is higher so the customer doesn’t spend time putting the stuff together. 
    Buying these products  is one step removed from eating out but much cheaper….

  • Raven9653

    I buy spaghetti sauce at around $1 a can or jar, and then add garlic and herbs to give it better flavor.  The crushed tomatoes version tastes great, but when I have hungry kids to feed, an hour of simmering is usually too long to wait!

  • Alara Rogers

    It’s kind of funny how practically every single thing on this list is “You’re paying for convenience! Stop doing that and take the extra time to do things the long way!” The thing is, time is worth more than money. You can make more money but you can’t make more time. If you’re poor, odds are you are working really hard already, maybe working two jobs, maybe riding a bus to work instead of driving in your own car. If you’re middle class, odds are the extra money this convenience costs you is less valuable than the time you save, given what you make in X amount of time.

    This advice makes sense for college students, housewives and retirees — people who have time but no money (or, in the case of the housewives, no money of their own — if you work in the home, you may be working hard, but the only way you can “make” money is by doing things that save the family money, so this is good advice for you.) It’s nonsensical for working people. And some of the advice is downright stupid even then. Buying salad greens is horribly wasteful if you do not eat salad every single day and have multiple people eating the salad, because it goes bad really fast. I’ve never in my life been able to use up a head of lettuce before it went bad. Bagged greens and salad kits have less in them, which is why you can eat them all before they rot. So the price works out to be the same because of what you lose to rot, and the larger portions that rot leave you with rotting food to clean up.

    I have some respect for the health arguments. Prepackaged food does indeed have a lot of sodium in it. But the whole reason prepackaged food exists is that in today’s busy world, time is more important than money. And your kids would rather you spent time talking to or playing with them than saving 50 cents on their lunch by making them a sandwich instead of buying a Lunchable.

  • Kevin

    Here’s why I get pre-made salads; I’m a single guy. Sure – I could buy a head of lettuce, a cucumber, a bunch of little roma tomatoes, etc… and most of it would go bad before I ate it.

    Sometimes convenience is worth it.

  • Anonymous

    I can’t believe they recommended distilled water for waste food number 8 if you have bad-tasting well water or a baby to give it to.  Distilled water is great for cleaners and homemade beauty aids, but DO NOT DRINK IT in place of tap water, labeled drinking water, or spring water.  Distilled water is devoid of minerals and (while it’s fine for a detox) dangerous to drink long term.

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/Y3KWWABRX63JJNNHCT77KWHJ24 docky

    making your own tomato sauce is cheap and easy.

    can make large batches, and freeze.

    way cheaper, way tasterier (especially if not frozen before eating).  and you might learn a thing or two about cooking.

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/5Z3L7DFVLUSXNDXRRIAMSMQYD4 General Zod

     lets us see here “The easiest method is to put crushed tomatoes (canned or fresh) into a
    skillet, stir in some wine or wine vinegar, a little sugar, your
    favorite herbs, and whatever chopped vegetables you like in your sauce —
    peppers, onions, mushrooms, even carrots — and let simmer for an hour.
    Adjust the flavorings and serve.”
    most people buy those spaghetti sauces because they don’t have or don’t want to spend an hour making spaghetti sauce.
    yahoo often has equally useless info and tips with food. often crap like how to make a turkey sandwich in 20 easy steps in just under 2 1/2 hours!!!!

  • Mjwj31

    time is the important thing here…

  • Mjwj31

    seeing the other postings, am I the only reader of this article in a year?  Some one should look for another story to write…how how to do laundry or clean or wash windows, how often to wash your pillows, can you wash your sneakers?, etc….hmmmm

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1280970118 David Shefchik

    This is lame, I thought it would be more about health reasons to avoid foods. Saving 2 bucks on a grocery bill? How does that even matter?

  • Manije Irani

    You know how when someone else makes you a sandwich it tastes better? Well, the same goes for ice cream, spaghetti sauce, and pretty much everything else I can think of. 

  • Klavir79

    Be careful about using distilled water. I heard that it takes the nutrients out of one’s body.

  • Huntington5

    I say let people buy what they want.  The marketplace should always determine what should be sold and purchased.    It is good to keep people informed but that should be left to the consumer for the final decision.   I don’t want any part of a nanny-state dictating what can be manufactured and purchased.

  • http://www.facebook.com/barbara.tiemeier Barbara Tiemeier

    Drknight63 I NEVER go to McDonalds!  I can’t stand their “food”.   But I still weigh Too Much!   Don’t blame McDonalds.  You can eat too much at home, too.   And we don’t even go down the grocery store aisles that sell the boxed convenient foods.  We go around the perimeter of the aisles and buy fresh produce, meats, dairy, and cook everything from scratch.  We still got fat.   But we sure can’t blame boxed rice, or McDonalds for this!  McDonalds doesn’t come to your house and force-feed you!  LOL

  • http://www.facebook.com/barbara.tiemeier Barbara Tiemeier

    I think, also, a lot of parents don’t teach their kids healthy eating.   You have to make them taste of everything, no matter how much they protest.  Don’t just let them eat fast food and junk food.  Can’t blame McDonalds for bad parenting.  Our kids are all thin.

  • 3MARDIV

    ‘Nother way of saying YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT.

  • Spicey

    Wouldn’t you have to spend a fortune on something to save a fortune by not buying it?
    The two or three spice mixes in my cupboard cost under $10.00 total and it’ll take years to get throught them.

  • Thomas

    It’s easy for you to say drink tap water, but here in Maryland my tap water literally smells like feces on occasion, I can’t even bring myself to brushing my teeth with it, let alone drink it.

  • Rstane

    Some good health tips.  My favorite meals tend to be high in saturated fat, high glycemic index and high calorie… So, I keep these to a minimum when I go out to eat about once or twice a month.  But my diet at home has few processed foods…as little saturated fat as possible, slow burning carbs and small low calorie meals.  This keeps me at my ideal weight and with lots of energy.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Mike-Land/1567519292 Mike Land

    While on the way for a long train trip to Chicago, a buddy purchased a sandwich from a vending machine in a hot train station in Fort Worth (the old one).  I told him to wait until we got to Dallas and buy one from Subway or on the Amtrak train.  I waited and when the Silver Eagle showed up, I made my way to the snack car.  I bought a freshly made ham sandwich.  So we made the overnight trip to Chicago and check into our hotel.  We went out to eat at a favorite restaurant on the Mile and returned to the room.  Around 3 AM my buddy told me to call 911 as he was very sick. Chicago FD showed up and took him to University ER.  I took my camcorder along because I had all kinds of neat shots of scenes from ER, Fugitive, and John Hughes movies.  So they found he had severe food poisoning and dehydration.  He spent a day in hospital and then they released him to finish out the week in the hotel bed.  Rule #1, don’t buy a sandwich from a machine.

  • ExpectedMorefromRD

    First of all, the word “plain” is misspelled in the article heading.  Second, how can you tell people to supplement parmigiano-reggiano with pecorino?  It’s a completely different type of cheese made from a completely different milk (sheep) with a completely different taste.  That’s advising your readers to make their hamburgers from ground pork because it might be cheaper.  Ludacris.

  • Garbage Ron

    Not accurate, the Japanese have always eaten white rice, earliest wood carvings depict it

  • Garbage Ron

    Well, I concurred with 26/27. The white rice being the exception, see comments there.

  • SkierDude

    “Large bottom-feeder fish such as tuna, shark, king mackerel, tilefish, and especially swordfish are high in mercury” — Um, what!?  Tuna, shark, king mackerel and swordfish are NOT bottom feeders!  They’re open water (pelagic) predators.  And since when have you ever seen shark steaks on any menu?  The mercury warning is still germane, but the rest of this information is completely inaccurate.

    • Guest

      Obviously you have never been to a Chinese restaurant or an open fish market.  But, yeah, why the author would call tuna a bottom feeder is a real puzzler.  I suppose sand sharks are bottom feeders, though. I guess we should take this article with a giant grain of processed food……

  • http://www.facebook.com/blair.toland Blair Toland

    If you can’t tell the difference between Parmigiano Reggiano ( a sweet, nutty cows milk cheese from Emilia Romania) and Percorino Romano (a salty, hard sheeps milk cheese from Lazio) then stick to some of Krafts Grated Pasta Cheese Food. Its cheaper and you’ll never know what you’re missing. More of the best cheese on Earth for me.

  • AngelikMayhem

    You people are idiots.  This is the most  ill-informed article I’ve seen in a while.  Cellulose is a polysaccharide that’s found in EVERY plant — not just wood.  Here’s an idea: how about you google some of these things.  Hotdogs cause “disease”.  Which disease?  All of them?  None of them?  Wow.  Seriously… wow!

  • blm

    Unfortunately tea bags are not cheap any more. Used to get 100 bags of green tea for $3.85 lucky if I can get 20 for that price now.

  • Erik Henderson

    “skim milk should be just fine” all those reports about skim milk having more suger than regular coke must be wrong.

    • Guest

      sugar

  • Anonymous

    Grana Padano is another great Italian grating cheese, boasting a flavor that is nearly indistinguishable from Parmigiano Reggiano, and often costing up to two dollars or so less per pound. Trader Joe’s carries it (although, frustratingly, Whole Foods Market doesn’t).

    There are also some pretty good domestic (USA) “parmesan” cheeses made in Wisconsin, which, while not quite as flavorful as their Italian cousins, are much more inexpensive.

  • Nadia

    Wow, companies charge extra for convenience?  Who knew??  I highly doubt anyone buys a bag of pre-washed, pre-mixed salad thinking, “Oooh, what a penny-saver!”  Some people want to save money, some time.  Bah. 

  • Areuexp

    The idea that you should replace 
    Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese with Pecorino is silly. Two totally different types of cheese, from different animals. Both cheeses have there place. Also, I think you mean to say is
    Grana Padano Stravecchio, which is an extra aged Grana. Again a totally different type of cheese from a different region of Italy. All three of the cheeses are very important culinarily. 

  • Bfalexandros

    Tuna and swordfish are not bottom feeders, they are predators at the top of their food chain, which is how the accumulate mercury.

  • guest

    #8 Tuna, shark, and swordfish are not bottomfeeders (even tho the mercury statement may be true).  Catfish, on the other hand are (freshwater) bottomfeeders but, because of that, are less healthy unless they’re farm-raised.

  • Craig Horgan

    How the hell was this published?  A Tuna is a school fish, a Swordfish an open ocean predator, a Catfish and Flounder however are bottom feeders.  Yes there is mercury in the large fish, it builds up in their systems after years of feeding on smaller fish, that also contain mercury.  The Mercury goes from the bottom of the food chain on up to the top, it comes from industrial pollutants.  Things like coal fired power plants, and asphalt  ’re-painting’ products, to name a couple.

  • Dannmoller

    you guys have a typo in your subtitle. “plan” instead of “plain” tsk tsk, come on guys. who the hell are the people you have working for you. i didnt even really bother reading the rest after i saw that, so i cant tell you about any more typos. the person whos job it is to do so should do it though. 

  • Anonymous

    This article sounded interesting until I read the first suggestion.  Pecorino Romano and SarVecchio have the same flavor as Parmigiano-Reggiano? Are you an idiot? 
    Buh-bye.

  • Dave Minella

    Booo! No other cheese in the world has the “same flavor” as true Parmigiano-Reggiano.

  • jaypenn

    if you really think that Peccorino Romano offers “the same flavor” as Parmigiano Reggiano, you have no business being a food writer.

  • jaypenn

    if you really think that Peccorino Romano offers “the same flavor” as Parmigiano Reggiano, you have no business being a food writer.

  • Anonymous

    Just one tiny-woodles little problem: The supposed causal connection between smoked meats and cancer is total crap. Complete B.S. Utter fraud. Unmitigated AR propaganda scare tactic worthless junk science luddism. Does that make it clear? There IS NO CAUSAL CONNECTION BETWEEN SMOKED MEATS AND CANCER. P E R I O D. Every single “study” purporting to “prove” said connection was done by AR front-groups under suspicious circumstances, and every single one of them has been repeatedly debunked by REAL SCIENTISTS. YOU know… REAL scientists? The ones who aren’t inventing “facts” to fit their ideology? Yeah, THOSE REAL SCIENTISTS…

  • Jeremy

    Premium ice cream is premium because of the ingredients.

    Pre-formed meat patties in 10 seconds?  Sure, if you’re doing it as a profession.  Otherwise you can look forward to “circles” of varying weight.

    And maybe you should actually READ the article in the bit about wood in products – it says it’s harmless/irrelevant.

    This whole article is a bunch of uneducated fearmongering.

  • Jen Logun

    ok, lets see, one of lifes great pleasures, smoked meats, is linked to cancer, etc etc, so I spend my life abstaining from this treat, only to DIE ANYWAY, BUT I’LL DIE HEALTHY.

    You ‘effing know-it-all tell-me-how-to-live people really annoy me.

  • Jen Logun

    ok, lets see, one of lifes great pleasures, smoked meats, is linked to cancer, etc etc, so I spend my life abstaining from this treat, only to DIE ANYWAY, BUT I’LL DIE HEALTHY.

    You ‘effing know-it-all tell-me-how-to-live people really annoy me.

  • Margaretdrysdale

    I always find and buy jars of spaghetti sauce for 99 cents.

  • http://twitter.com/thegov2k2 Mike

    Wow, one item in and I know I should click off the list.  Romano and Parmigiano-Reggiano are completely different cheeses.  And who the hell pays $22/lb for Reggiano?

  • Gofishn

    Say What= You are saying  that, tuna, shark, king mackerel,and swordfish are bottom feeders? No they are not,but the fish you suggest we eat catfish and flounder are.??????

  • dwt

    Only saw the first item on this list and need to say: anyone who thinks pecorino romano is a fine substitute for parmigiano reggiano is deluded.  It’s like calling Worcestershire sauce a replacement for ketchup.  Yeah, they’re in the same very general ballpark, but hardly the same.

  • ayala

    I eat whatever whenever.  If I get hospitalized, Obama will take care of me!

  • Eva Slade

    Bottled water?
    A true godsend during Hurricane Sandy

  • Rushk

    Swordfish, tuna, shark and mackerel are not bottom feeders.   They are predators.

  • Anonymous

    OK, so I looked at the very first item listed … Parmigiano-Reggiano, and the suggested alternatives:  Pecorino Romano and SarVecchio.  I’m actually a big fan of SarVecchio.  But, it isn’t Parmigiano-Reggiano.  Don’t get me wrong.  SarVecchio is a wonderful cheese.  I buy it regularly.  It’s just that there are things I won’t use it for if I have Parmigiano-Reggiano instead.  For those of us who are really into cheese, and have a well-developed taste for it, these two cheeses do not taste the same.  Similar?  Yes.  But definitely not the same.  So, what am I to conclude about the person who composed this list?  They aren’t the foodies they think they are, and shouldn’t be giving advice about food to those of us who are serious foodies.  They remind me of the people who regularly tell me that Roquefort is “Bleu cheese”.  No, Roquefort is Roquefort, which is always made from sheeps’ milk, uses very specific mold cultures (Penicillium roqueforti), and is aged in caves around the city of Roquefort-sur-Soulzon, France.  Most Bleu cheeses are made with cows’s milk (occassionally goats’ milk), and any of several strains of Penicillium mold.  They are similar, but very distinct.  So, don’t trust these folks when they tell you something is “the same”.  They aren’t well enough informed.  Not by a mile.

  • Gypsy_molly

    We drink bottled water to avoid added flouride which can cause cancer. Besides that, decent tasting water goes down easy and is worth the money if it causes you to drink a lot of it. Weigh the cost against health care costs and its smarter to drink good bottled water than for all of the pharmaceuticals used to cure disease.

  • Butters607

    why dont they base this on health reasons not cost? if i want it I dont care what it cost

  • Goatsmilk2112

    Parmigiano Reggiano is a raw cow’s milk cheese….Pecorino Romano is a sheeps milk cheese.  Two very different tastes.  Sarvechio is a substitute, but does taste very different.  Sadly, the author truly doesn’t understand these products.  It’s like replacing a nice Filet with some ground chuck.

  • This is stupid

    This is a stupid article. Basically, don’t buy anything that is made of ingredients you can buy and mix yourself. Don’t buy anything that is bad for the environment and don’t buy anything in small portions.

    Why don’t we take it all the way: quit your job and grow your own food!

  • Bart Cheesemonger

    If you cannot taste a dramatic difference between Parmigiano-Reggiano, Pecorino Romano and SarVecchio you likely need medical attention.  Seriously.  They taste nothing alike.  And if you are paying $22.00 a pound for parm – you are getting ripped off.  I buy stunning parm 4 years old for $18.99 a pound.  For crying out loud Pecorino Romano while an amazing and fantastic cheese is sheeps milk for crying out loud!  This is really, really stupid. 

  • Bart Cheesemonger

    If you cannot taste a dramatic difference between Parmigiano-Reggiano, Pecorino Romano and SarVecchio you likely need medical attention.  Seriously.  They taste nothing alike.  And if you are paying $22.00 a pound for parm – you are getting ripped off.  I buy stunning parm 4 years old for $18.99 a pound.  For crying out loud Pecorino Romano while an amazing and fantastic cheese is sheeps milk for crying out loud!  This is really, really stupid. 

  • Bart Cheesemonger

    If you cannot taste a dramatic difference between Parmigiano-Reggiano, Pecorino Romano and SarVecchio you likely need medical attention.  Seriously.  They taste nothing alike.  And if you are paying $22.00 a pound for parm – you are getting ripped off.  I buy stunning parm 4 years old for $18.99 a pound.  For crying out loud Pecorino Romano while an amazing and fantastic cheese is sheeps milk for crying out loud!  This is really, really stupid. 

  • Paleo Guy

    … healthy low fat foods… doesn’t anyone in journalism keep up with nutrition?

  • Steve Shiery

    Wrong! The article said: “gluten-free baked goods like bread, cookies, and crackers often are packed with more refined flours, artificial ingredients, and sugar than traditional baked goods”. This one reaches for the impossible. Here’s the big deal about that – wheat flour is almost always bleached or otherwise “refined” to get that special power white color for the advertisements. Other kinds of  flour like tapioca and rice and sorghum just don’t need that. 

    If you are eating packaged food,  you are eating all that “bad stuff” whether it is “gluten-free” or not.  Meanwhile, many gluten free brands are also natural. Read the label before buying anything.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=603996602 Meaghan Alice Caston

    Nursery water is flouridated :/

  • uacrack

    I disagree with making your own pasta sauce, too much work and unless you have a lot of the ingredients already it is cheaper to buy prego

  • DB

    I’m not sure saving $1 on spaghetti sauce by making my own is a good use of my time. 

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Kevin-Schooler/100002300595906 Kevin Schooler

    Cellulose is in all plant matter, it is also known as fiber.  It doesn’t hurt you a bit.  

  • Laughnow

    Some of the things on this list(hot dogs), I agree. Most, I do not. Seems extreme

  • Mitchell Glaser

    It’s funny to see Reader’s Digest taking this brave stand against processed food, because that’s what they are to literature: empty calories.

  • mishael.m

    If we had time to make our own pasta sauces and rice a roni, we wouldnt buy it to begin with. This article is unrealistic and not well thought out. They must have been making pasta sauce and picking blueberries instead of putting together a decent read.

  • Violets

    $6.00 for a gallon of ice cream is just about the going rate in the Northeast for the regular brands (actually, that’s  a half gallon which is no longer a half gallon, it’s 48 ounces.)  I think $6.00 would be a bargain for a full gallon of any ice cream these days!

  • John21

    Eat a Dik fruit loops

  • John21

    So me your boner you fruit loops

  • John21

    Such a nipple

  • John21

    you boners

  • John21

    moderate this you boners

  • Guest

    Pecorino Romano isnt a cheaper variety of Parmigiano Reggiano.  They’re two completely different cheeses.  They also taste completely different.

  • Paul

    Tuna and swordfish aren’t bottom feeders…  Catfish are

  • Fred

    The section about swordfish is appallingly inaccurate,
    especially to a biologist. Please do research before you “inform”
    anyone of something you don’t fully understand. Tuna (like swordfish) are
    open-water fish whose mercury levels are higher due to bioaccumulation. Their
    status as apex predators determines their mercury content, not their
    bottom-feeding tendencies (which are incorrectly attributed). The listed suggestions
    to replace these predatory fish actually include bottom feeders (flounder &
    catfish). Please use the information that’s available before you misrepresent
    the facts to the general public.

  • Gary Mastro

    No foods made of wood, either??

    My girlfriend will be so disappointed.

  • Andy Rusterholz

    What’s with the two-second delay after clicking the “Next” link, when it shows the next slide but it’s grayed out for two seconds before I can read or click on it? All it does is make it more difficult to read the feature. Someone at RD, please go talk to your web developers and tell them to fix their JavaScript. This is just plain stupidity.

  • Marisa Perry

    I read the above article and although there are many interesting points, I could not disagree more with the first suggestion. Parmigiano Reggiano is far superior tasting to most cheese but is 80 times more delicious than the acrid bitter finish of any Pecorino Romano. To compare the two is an Italian Sacrilege! Pecorino is Sheeps milk and most from Tuscany are sweet and delicious. But the hard roman’s for grating are never as terrific as a great cow’s milk Reggiano. Her suggestion should be to toss all other cheese off this list, if you must, but the Reggiano!

  • Dagda

    Tuna, swordfish, mackerel, and most sharks are Not bottom-feeders. Bottom-feeding is not why these species are high in mercury. It is because they are top-of-the-food chain predators, concentrating the mercury found in all o f the sea life they eat.

  • Cuisine Art

    The IMBECILE that wrote this is doomed to a lifetime of idiocy. Parmigiano-Reggiano is a sublime experience that costs what it is worth. The other cheeses mentioned taste nothing like it, so the aforementioned IMBECILE is also devoid of the ability to taste differences in food. When I sit down to enjoy a fine steak I’ll be sure to hurl a handful of canned dog food in the direction of this jackass because clearly she cannot tell the difference. Buon Appetit Rachael !

  • Augusto

    How can you say that reggiano and those other cheese “offer the flavour”. Just by that you killed your own article. 

  • Augusto

    How can you say that reggiano and those other cheese “offer the flavour”. Just by that you killed your own article. 

  • Ben

    Cellulose may be industrially farmed from wood, but it is NOT wood.  It’s a complex polysaccharides found in the cell wall of all green plants and it forms an integral part to a healthy fiber diet.  This, along with a slew of other entries were clearly not written by someone with an iota of scientific or medical expertise.  

  • Hoghunter84

    First, the sword fish is not a bottom feeder. They do occasionally go deeper near the bottom but are definitely not a bottom feeder. So then the author suggests two true bottom feeders, the catfish and a flounder. Kinda contradicting of the first sentence.

  • Rlhughes4

    Swordfish, Mackerel and Tuna are “bottom-feeders” really? Time to fire your fact checkers. Those fish are high in mercury because they are high on the food chain and tend eat other fish that contain higher levels of mercury themselves. 

  • christopher gillespie

    This article lost me on the first page with the declaration that Sarvecchio and Pecorino Romano taste the same as Parm. They don’t.  Comparing these cheeses is like comparing Coke, Mr. Pibb and Orange Fanta because they’re all carbonated beverages.  

    All Parm is aged a minimum of 18 months to get its distinctive flavors, and buying a piece of Parm and grating it yourself is miles away in quality than what people are familiar with buying pre-grated and packed with anti-caking agents in little green bottles off the shelf.

    Romano is a sheep’s milk cheese that cooks and tastes differently.  Put a bit of grated Parm and Romano side by side in a 400 degree oven for 4 minutes and watch the Romano dry out and slightly brown on the edge while the Parm melts down into a crisp.  The sweet taste of a good Parm versus those salty, lanolin notes of a Romano are worlds apart. 
    Terroir aside, Sarvecchio doesn’t taste/perform like Parm either.  I’m not saying you need to spend big $$ on 3-4 year aged Parm, or on the Vacche Rosse Parm (Red Faced Reggiano breed of cow), but someone using a decent grater is going to get significant mileage out of their 1/4# block of Parm (That’s ~$5.5, and not nearly as scary).  I like Manhattan cheese pricing, where everything is by the 1/4# so that people aren’t unnecessarily freaked out. Every other cheese experience I’ve had on the East coast tends to go Full Monty with intimidating ‘by-the-pound’ prices.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000649559255 Fox Surefoot

    I can’t believe someone actually gets paid to write this crap. If you’re going to get critical about food, why don’t you just be honest and tell them that most of the food they buy in the store is nutritionally depleted due to large-scale agriculture. In other words, cancel your subscription to RD and go tend to your garden if you want food with flavor, value and nutrition.

  • Sandy

    Never buy jar sauce? Okay I’m done reading now, because that is ridiculous. The author must be from the 1950′s, and doesn’t actually have to work for a living. It takes all day to make sauce! Get real.

  • Guest

    This is a tad ridiculous.  Never buy again?  I can afford the extra two dollars for a salad kit, and the time it saves me is worth more than two dollars.  

  • Harry44

    When I clicked on the link – the list did not come up – that sucks

  • pesceman

    Tuna & Swordfish are not bottom feeders. Please check your facts before publishing.

  • Wynn

    Just felt the need to point out, (“food” #12) cellulose is present in nearly *all* forms of plant life. Like lettuce, corn, cabbage, and it’s one of the most common organic compounds on earth. While SOME forms of it are used in the production of paper and cardboard, many many MANY other forms, are more commonly known as “dietary fiber”.
    Most of the other items listed in here make sense, but having this one makes the entire article seem like it’s trying to take the “OMG The sky is falling” route, rather than supplying actual facts. There’s more than enough bad stuff in some of our food without resorting to this. Shame that RD actually allows stuff like this to slip through without fact checking.

  • http://www.facebook.com/james.bergen2 James Bergen

    Some one use to be home to cook as well. Pre fast food days= pre washmachine days=wife at home, or a grandmother at home. To take care of it.  How much time do people have today to cook?

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000170962546 Pascal Jünger

    I haven’t seen ice cream, even generic, for much under $6 a gallon…

  • Actual Foodie

    So the writer can’t tell the difference between Parmigiano-Reggiano, Pecorino Romano and SarVecchio and is shocked that sausage contains fat. Seriously? I’m still trying to figure out how to make a sandwich with some lovely Parma ham and a bowl of steel-cut oats (#4). Swordfish, tuna and shark are not bottom feeders – catfish are bottom feeders (#8), and swordfish and sardines are not the same and are not interchangeable. How about next time you bring in a food writer that won’t lose their credibility by slide #1.

  • Anonymous

    Swordfish are not bottom feeders, nor are tuna, mackerel, or most sharks.  Flounder and Catfish are bottom feeders.

  • Anonymous

    Swordfish are not bottom feeders, nor are tuna, mackerel, or most sharks.  Flounder and Catfish are bottom feeders.

  • Mark

    tuna, mackerel and swordfish are not bottom feeders they are in fact open water predators. Flounder and catfish are almost completely bottom feeders and catfish are nearly all farm raised having little to no good nutritional effects as they are grain fed just like penned chickens, pigs and cattle.

  • Siberica

    Not even sure I want to keep reading.  If you can’t taste the difference between Parmigiano-Reggiano, Pecorino Romano, and SarVecchio, you may as well really go for the cost savings and buy Kraft Parmesan. 

  • http://www.facebook.com/wyrd.n.wyld Wyrd N’ Wyld

    Nice try.  Cellulose is found in ALL plant material… and even some bacteria.  Raw, organic sugarcane is 43% cellulose.  In fact, the average cellulose content in plants is 33%.

    Cellulose is not sawdust, as you so ridiculously declared.  It IS the fibers which bind plant matter together, comes from fresh virgin wood (when from trees, at all — much of it actually comes from seaweed, agar-agar and kelp) and is used as dietary fiber supplement, caloric reduction (calories:bulk weight), a thickener or emulsifier, and an anti-caking agent.

    Oh, and you’re worried about cancer and other nasty health issues… yet you recommend using CANNED tomato products?

    Canned tomatoes are THE absolute worst source of BPA.  The high acidity of tomatoes leeches plastecizer from aluminum cans like nobody’s business.

    It takes roughly two minutes to find almost /anything/ on the internet…. there is no excuse for the ignorance of some of the “recommendations” listed here.

  • Georgariou001

    fast food sucks…its full of bad fat and oils…anybody with any sence and cares about there body wouldnt touch it…i gave it up 15 years ago and dont miss the junk at all

  • Allysondiva

    OK, they prove that they are COMPLETE IDIOTS on the first slide where they say that Pecorino Romano will provide the same flavor. 

    This is simply and totally NOT TRUE.

    Those two cheeses taste completely different.

    There are some recipes where you could use any hard Italian cheese, but there are others where the choice of the proper cheese is paramount for the success of the recipe.

    If you are looking for a substitute for Parmigiano Reggiano, consider Grana Padano or one of the other less famous cheeses from the same region. 

    But don’t go substituting Pec Rom for Parm Regg willy nilly.

    Cretini wrote this tip!! 

  • James Lewis

    8-10 bags of tea for 32oz thats BS and a waste of bags, I use a 12cup coffee maker with “1 small teabag” to make 1gal of tea and it turns out fine. Never understood why anyone would use more than one bag of tea.

  • agb621

    Did the author actually read the article they linked about cellulose? I quote: “Although the notion of eating fine grains of wood pulp might make some consumers blanch, nutritionists say cellulose—which gives plants their structure—is a harmless fiber that can often cut calories in food. Insoluble dietary fibers like cellulose aren’t digestible by humans so add bulk to food without making it more fattening.”

  • Seafood expert

    This article says “Large bottom-feeder fish such as tuna, shark, king mackerel, tilefish, and especially swordfish are high in mercury. ”These species are NOT bottom feeders!   They are open water predators that eat other fish.  Rather than listening to this very flawed seafood advice, check out the FDA/EPA advice (search for “What You Need to Know About Mercury in Fish and Shellfish” - EPA-823-R-04-005) . The levels of mercury in these species is of concern only in pregnant women!

  • Robertiadamsjr

    Does the author have a clue as to what a bottom feeder fish is? Flounder and catfish are bottom feeders, tuna and swordfish are not.  An article tends to lose creditability when its facts are not correct.

  • Dluciano

    So you really think that parmigiano reggiano and pecorino romano have the same flavor?? Do you know what you are talking about??

  • Zenfrodo

    Pecorino Romano has the same flavor as Parmesan reggiano?? Are your taste buds dead?? They don’t taste the same at ALL.

  • Robo

    Those are top predator fish, not bottom feeders. Idiots.

  • Salad Eater

    The warning against pre-made salad mixes is obviously written by someone who’s never shopped/cooked for one rather than a whole family.  I buy the pre-made salads because I can get them in small amounts; I would never get through a whole head of lettuce.

  • Lordo

    The point of ice cream is to indulge.  If you’re too cheap to buy the good stuff, don’t bother buying any at all.

  • jimboyc

    One item I disagree with is premade rice/noodle side dishes. They are very convenient, fast and fool proof .
    One I agree with 100% is bottled water. An undersink filter with tap up top is the best, cheapest way to get good water. Also most of the road debris I pick up is empty plastic bottled water so to all the health nuts let’s not trash the environment please! Recycle!!

  • http://twitter.com/GetFitNana GetFitNana

    Cheese is the hardest for me to give up

  • http://www.facebook.com/gkrynen Greg Krynen

    Regarding gluten free having MORE flours. Um yeah, it is called a variety of flours. I make my own gluten free breads, etc and I use rice flours, potato flours, potato starch, maybe some tapioca, sugar, salt, yeast, and xanthan gum (which I have had no problems with so far but replacing it with tapioca works well). Rice and potato really are just starches anyway unless you grind your own whole rice.

  • H2O

    In general, americans today are spoiled and lazy and take very little individual responsibility for their health and/or finances.  Look in the mirror.  If you are fat, eat less prepared/fast food, more fruits/vegetables and exercise.  If you drink anything other than tap water, smoke cigarettes, have a cell phone, you have disposable income that could be saved.  Small changes with time make for great rewards.  It’s really as simple as that.  

  • Jay Farrell

    Pecorino Romano does not “offer the same flavor as” Parmigiano Reggiano, Rachel. If everything else you’ve suggested is equally incorrect, Rachel, you’ve just told 27 lies.

    I pay $13.49 or 12.99 a pound for Parmigiano-Reggiano. The only places that charge (the maximum Ive seen of) $19.99 are large grocery chains.

  • Jay Farrell

     You can make something comparable to — and much, much better than — what you get in jars by making your own homemade sauces. Read Marcella Hazan’s ESSENTIALS OF CLASSIC ITALIAN COOKING. The only time in my life I ever ate sauce from a jar was a year I was sick.

  • Jay Farrell

     1936zan, you are so wrong. You start with a battuto of onion, celery, carrot, all diced, to make a good Italian sauce.

  • C8080

    RE: Tomato-Based pasta sauces.  OK, so instead of buying a $3-$4 (most fall here) jar of pasta sauce you are suggesting I buy canned tomatoes ($1) add in vegetables & herbs (let’s say another $1), and then simmer for an hour?  Versus heating up in microwave for 2 minutes?  By what moronic calculator is this a savings?  Aside from needlessly consuming gas/electricity for an hour, my time has value as well.  Sheesh, who writes this crap?!

  • Anonymous

    who has time to  make their own sauce or rice from scratch what a dumb article

    • Guest

       We have a rice cooker. Best kitchen appliance EVER. Minute Rice and that stuff in boxes is nasty.

  • shermaner

    No, I’m sorry. Pamigiano Reggiano is far superior in flavor to Romano and SarVecciho.  Saying that it has the same flavor like it is fact is just stupid.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_5HJZYFHMCFMMLUK6TQOSIAZEUY Ed

    Artery-clogging grease. Typical nonsense espoused by well-intentioned ignorant experts.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Johnny-Dangerously/100002995368465 Johnny Dangerously

    “It’s painful to watch someone actually pay $6 for a gallon of designer brand ice cream.”
    ~
    Why? Jealous?  Most everyday ice cream costs WELL more than $6 a GALLON.  Blue Bell costs almost $6 a HALF-gallon.  Others, like Bryers, LOOK cheaper, but you are only getting just over a quart now-days.

  • Anonymous

    Slide #8: “Choose smaller fish”… like.. raw herring. Eat lot of raw herring.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Mike-Land/1567519292 Mike Land

    Forget spaghetti sauce and make spaghetti bolognese.  Its ground beef, some flour, onions, peppers, basil, oregano, pepper, tomatoes, and garlic.  You can cook it for 2 hours and its oh la la.   I’ve always made my own trail mix.  I’m glad that pecans are cheaper because they have been so expensive.  My mix is pecans, cashews, carob chips (like chocolate chips), raw roasted penuts (I roast them), a few hazel nuts,  almonds, and sugar free yogurt chips.  My trail mix is lunch on a mountain pass.

  • Bobcat10

    Worst title for an article I have seen in a while. This should be called “27 ways to save money at the grocery with a few tips on cutting calories.” I don’t see any reason why I should NEVER buy these foods again, maybe with the exception of the food made of wood, other than that I can save some money here and there. And, call me lazy all you want, but sometimes it’s nice to have single serving size bags of chips instead of taking to time to portion them into zip-top bags, which also come with a cost. Having made my own spice mixes from scratch, I am willing to bet no matter what other spices you incorporate, salt is going to be a large part of it. buying a container of McCormick Grill Seasoning will likely save you money because you don’t have to buy 3 different kinds of peppercorns, thyme, oregano, brown sugar, cayenne, and paprika. Also I don’t know what kind of ice cream the author of this article is eating but there’s a huge difference between ultra premium ice cream and Kroger brand. 

  • Dare

    Actually cellulose is extremely important for digestion – non-soluble fiber! You need this to go to the bathroom and to be a healthy human being. If you see cellulose – this is a good thing. Try finding foods rich in cellulose so you don’t have to buy metamucil or benefiber.

  • Bitemi

    No taste whatsoever.  Regianno is nothing like pecorino.

  • http://www.omg-facts.com/view/Facts/16209 殺戮

    White rice is unhealthy? I refuse to believe that…

  • Hack Blogger

    Tuna fish are not “bottom feeders” – they eat smaller fish, lots of smaller fish, and the mercury is accumulated over time. Sharks are more like pigs, they’ll eat anything. Again, mercury accumulates in their fatty tissue.

    Flounder and catfish are bottom feeders. Who writes this crap?

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/David-Marin/1664996613 David Marin

    I am a one-time chef and agree for the most part with this list with the following exceptions; I will continue to buy smoked cured meats, white rice, and certain regional very good store-branded tomato sauces (when they are on sale and I pay $1.89 they make an excellent base for stews, gumbos, etouffe and the like). The majority of the items are junk, that’s true, but I’ll always have a recipe need for bacon, brats, and white rice.

  • Turnips_are_big

    Since when are Shark and  Swordfish bottom feeders? They’re both predators. Dumb mistake.

    • Turnips_are_big

      And flounder are bottom feeders. Who writes this?

  • Barry

    So we should NEVER buy pasta sauce, and instead buy canned tomatoes and make it ourselves? This article is yet another annoying addition to the “never eat this” sensationalist CRAP that’s all over the web. I expect better from Readers Digest.

  • Anonymous

    After wasting my time plodding through yet another “expert” list, I must take issue with a few items. Real Italian Parm is exquisite and there is no substitute…some things ARE worth the price. Your recommendation of Pecorino Romano is really quite absurd.
    Eating “large” fish is NOT harmful unless it was your entire diet. IF what you food maniacs say is true, everyone in Japan would either be dead or glowing in the dark…simply stupid. Actually farmed fish should be investigated simply because of what they feed them…not optimal diets.
    Energy Drinks while you are correct to a point about many being laden with sugar, are not harmful in any manner IF one has the sense to stop at one or two. THE ONLY detrimental  incidences that have occurred are due to the abuse of these products in one form or another (ie mixed with alcohol or other drugs). Unless we are going to outlaw or limit consumption of coffee, we should just shut up until we have facts. Right now, despite the hype, there are ZERO facts to support that these are dangerous in any way and for many, they are more convenient that coffee.
    Premium Ice Cream – forget about toppings or inclusions; IF you don’t think there is a measurable and palpable difference between cheap garbage and real ice cream, you should start writing about rubber bands and leave food critique to real experts.
    The one item with which I agree totally is pre-formed beef patties…these are really bad primarily because they contain a product called “pink slime.” While this is a needless derogatory term used in the industry, it is made from beef scraps, cartilage, etc and must be treated with ammonium nitrate before it can be used to mix with beef…no one needs that; make your own.

  • Rsinvin2

    Romano does not offer the same flavor as Parmesan as it is made from Sheep’s  milk cheese rather than cow’s milk. A cheaper alternative with similar taste would be Grana Padano

  • AJ Perko

    Make you own trailmix, parcel out potato chips, grow and harvest your own barley……   I don’t think the author has a regular job?

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/JZ2FYII75U3NTKIBIBGRAC5Y5M Ms. Ruby Slippers

    This is obviously more of an opinionated article than one that contains actual facts. Drinking purified bottled water is WAY better than tap. You can get a case of store brand PURIFIED not spring or some other kind of crap water, for $2.50 a case. Purified water contains no minerals, lead, bacteria etc–just pure h2o and yeah thats better than the lead tainted, bacteria laden stuff from the tap. I wouldn’t give tap water to my dog. There were SO many BS suggestions in this article, too many to comment on. I hate it when I’m lured into reading an article by a title that clearly suggests the information has some relevance, not some misinformed trash from an overly opinionated drudge.

  • Sucxzy

    Seriously!!?? according to this article we should just stop eating because everything is wrong!

  • ms242

    reggiano is the only parmigiano, if you think romano is a replacement you are kidding yourself. 

  • JA

    this is the most ill-informed misleading list i’ve ever read! most of the food items listed have absolutely nothing wrong with them, and are in fact healthy and tastier especially if organic. i could list one after the other of faults and down right un-truths listed. gluten free, for example, is not limited to people diagnosed with celiac disease!!! a growing amount of the population has developed a gluten-intolerance based on over use and over production of wheat products. 
    just one of many huge misleading facts. not trusting any RD articles again, that’s for sure

  • Shelaghward

    There are generalizations in this article. The misspellings prevented me from sharing – please proof!

  • Guest

    Where do you get premium ice cream for $6 a gallon?  I see Haagen Das at more than $5 a pint.

  • ch

    The people who constantly advise against drinking bottled water obviously do not live in my area of Chicago. There’s so much chlorine in my home’s tap water that it literally stings my eyes and bothers my throat when I take a shower. Perhaps I’m ultra sensitive, but there’s no way I’m going to drink a liquid that smells and tastes as though it came straight out of a public swimming poo. I sometimes boil the water but then it just tastes like metal. 

  • Steve

    Most of this article contains common knowledge or incorrect information. Ex: You don’t ever want to give a baby or anyone distilled water unless instructed by a Dr. Distilled water contains no minerals. Water flushes minerals out of the body so you need to constantly replace them. Drinking distilled water regularly is very dangerous. 

  • Bobby

    “ …Instead, look for varieties like Pecorino Romano and SarVecchio, which offer the same flavor at half the price…”   You can buy $5 worth of Parmigiano-Reggiano and it will last you for months and it’s nothing like the flavor of Pecorina Romano which has a much stronger flavor.
    “…A jar of spaghetti sauce typically runs $2 to $6…”  What does a bottle of wine cost, fresh basil, peppers onions, mushrooms, and carrots cost?
    The a great tomato sauce is made with olive oil in which garlic, chili flake and basil has been steeped and peeled/crushed tomatoes cooked for minutes and not an hour.  It doesn’t matter how much this sauce costs because it’s awesome and free of preservativesA jar of spaghetti sauce typically runs $2 to $6. The equivalent amount of canned tomatoes is often under $1.A jar of spaghetti sauce typically runs $2 to $6. The equivalent amount of canned tomatoes is often under $1.

  • Colemite11232

    I can’t stand stupid f’n articles.

  • Buckwheat

    After reviewing your list of items not to buy, I might as well not eat anymore.

  • Anonymous

    “Large
    bottom-feeder fish
    such as tuna, shark, king mackerel, tilefish, and especially swordfish are high in
    mercury.”

    First of all, none of these fish are bottom feeders except for the tile fish and it eats invertebrates and crustaceans. And the mercury BS is just that – BS. Fish is good for you and you should eat as much of it as you can afford.

  • Anonymous

    Tuna and swordfish are not bottom feeders. Catfish and Flounder ARE bottom feeders. If you can make such a glaring mistake the rest of your article is irrelevent.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_XPIZZ4CDMCPDIDFH3LV7G3QV5M steve j

    if white rice is so bad for you then why do they eat it as a staple in southeast ASIA and those folks live 5- years longer than us here in AMERICA?

  • Fukakike

    Yes, you have to pay for the labor that goes into making certain foods. Which is why you pay extra, it’s called adding value to a product because it saves you time. Riiiight everyong should just make their own trail mix and spaghetti sauce to save a buck. What an asinine article written no doubt by some liberal betch.

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/OOLK33YGHNNMG2XSKLQ2MWMGX4 Nick

    This a must see. Google the term “CRAZY RICH CASH” and go to the top site. Click on their REFINANCE page to see what the rich are hiding from all of us.

  • Anonymous

    Neither tuna nor swordfish are bottom feeders. They are open water predators. Whereas catfish and flounder are bottom feeders.

  • Redstitch108

    In comment to the suggestion that you should buy canned tomatoes to make your own sauce is a really bad idea. Make the sauce with fresh tomatoes, not canned. Can linings contain plastic resins
    full of BPA and other carcinogens which break down after reacting with tomato acid. These chemicals are know carcinogens and can contribute to prostate cancer in men. Also, no mention of avoiding tomatoes from Mexico. Produce grown in Mexico simply does not have the same standards of consumer safety. Certain harmful pesticides and chemicals which have been banned in the U.S. are still deployed in Mexico. Besides, we should be supporting our domestic farmers.

  • http://www.facebook.com/wesley.horton.35 Wesley Horton

    28 items, and a mouse click for each?  Especially with less than a paragraph on each item?  Not worth the time to read. . . I stopped after the second item. . And guess what?  I’ll make it a point to REMEMBER how useless your articles are. . . and NOT visit your site again. 

  • MC

    Isn’t “never” a little strong? I choose not to buy most of these foods but if someone wants to pay more for convenience, that’s their decision.  I don’t consider hamburger patties a “ripoff”.  If you live alone it’s convenient to toss one on the grill and not deal with a big package of hamburger, and anyway I can buy them (100% beef) for about $2 a pound at Aldi.  Also comes in handy when I want to make a mostly veggie chili or tacos and just want a little beef for flavor.  Using 1 patty at a time works for this too.

  • Jalyc

    WHY do we have to click through 28 pages on what could probably be loaded into 2 or 3?   Pain in the butt that I just close then, so your advertisers get NO viewing.

  • Anonymous

    DON’T buy ANY FARM RAISED FISH or SHELLFISH FROM CHINA!!!!!!!!!!! The fish farms in china have chicken cages suspended over the ponds so that they feed the fish with the dropping from the chickens. This FOUL!!!! And unhealthy! Why our government allows this fish into the USA is CRIMINAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Jfboomerang

    I disagree with #23 small individual servings of anything. I gladly pay more for a small package of chips in order to regulate my consumption. A large bag of chips in my kitchen? It can get ugly.

  • Deaconess_2000

    Truthfully, you could add many more things to this list. Don’t buy individual cups of yogurt, just buy the large multiple-serving buckets and scoop it into bowls and containers. Or better yet, make your own in the crock pot. Don’t buy artisan breads (or any bread at all) but make no-knead artisan bread dough that can be kept in the fridge to use daily. Don’t buy peanut or other nut butters, but grind your own nuts bought in bulk and add your own honey or other natural sweeteners instead of corn syrup. Don’t buy packets of instant oatmeal but instead just buy instant or rolled oats in bulk and add your own flavorings.

    The point is that many people buy what they do because they do not have the time to do otherwise. Most families do not have a full-time stay-at-home mom who can can all the tomato sauce for the year, make home-made popsicles, fresh bread daily, and fresh ground nut butters. Often what we are really buying at the supermarket is convenience or, in the case of single adults, portions of food that will stay fresh and be easy to store and transport, if necessary.

  • Randy Chapman

    Drinking bottled water during the flu season is wiser than using a public drinking fountain.

  • Chris

    Bad call on number 11. Sweetened non dairy milks have more grams of sugar, but depending on which one there isn’t that much more than with dairy milk. Also, with non dairy milk you get more calcium. Also, there is no cholesterol, saturated fat and sulfur which in reality weakens your bones. Those are all found in dairy milk. Soy milk is about as expensive as dairy milk , but almond milk is a good bit cheaper. 

  • Joe

    This whole article is filled with drama, hype, paranoia, and false or incomplete information.  Case in point:  Cellulose.  Cellulose is NOT a “code word” for wood pulp.  Cellulose is cellulose, whether it comes from wood pulp, or celery…  And then recommending making your own tomato sauces from canned tomatoes, when canned tomatoes should have been the item to cross off the list!  Just look that one up yourself.  Guess you can’t believe everything you read.

  • Michael

    Wow – I didn’t realize that top-of-the-food-chain predators like swordfish, tuna, and shark were “bottom feeders”.  They do have a high mercury content, but it’s because they are at the top of the food chain and build up an accumulation from their prey, not because they are feeding on debris at the ocean floor.

  • Blooper

    Pecorino romano and sarvecchio taste nothing like parmigiano reggiano.

  • Hurricane

    It probably is good that lots of careless and willfully uninformed people are packing themselves full of highly advertised cheap, crappy, genetically modified food (and as happy as a pig in mud with it)-.if only they don’t have a chance to breed it may work out as a positive for our species in the long run.  Maybe we can get congress, the lobbyists, and the entire FDA to do the same…

  • Pslattin

    I’d love to read all 27, but I’m not going through 28 pages to do it.   Put it in a list on one page.   We can always click on something to read more.    EVERYTHING IN A LIST ON ONE PAGE!!!

  • Mortimer Post

    I LOVE sausage and other smoked/cured meats and will continue to eat them.    SHOVE IT, tofu-breath!

  • robert lass

    Rachel has disqualified herself as a serious food evaluator  by claiming that Peccorino Romano is the same as aged Parmigiana Reggiano.  They are similar, in that they are both hard grating cheeses, but their flavors and consistencies are completely different.  There are many good Italian grating cheeses, but none compare to the King of Italian cheese.  Her report is filled with similar inconsistencies and opinions disguised as fact.  Do yourself a favor, and consult someone who loves and honors food.  Educate yourself and your pallet and  you won’t have to rely and fake experts.

  • Anonymous

    Flounder is a bottom feeding fish, yet you say its preferred over Tuna and swordfish.  Tuna and swordfish eat other fish, they aqre not bottom feeders.

  • http://twitter.com/dad2twoboys Rich

    Catfish are bottom feeders.

  • Yechhh

    canned Tomatoes??! and eat all that leached can liner too?

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Manuel-Martinez/100000260974381 Manuel Martinez

    as for water the water i drink doesn’t come from toilets.there is a difference and it doesn’t have fluoride in it this person needs to investigate more for her job.

  • Donpedro712003

    #8 is Swordfish.  Sorry but tuna, swordfish, mackerel, and shark are not “large bottom feeders.”  They may be high in mercury and not good for you, fine.  But these fish are apex predator fish…not bottom feeders.

  • Kennon

    It is frustrating to see all the comments saying people eat most of this stuff because they are lazy or ignorant etc…Some of us work 50+ hours a week to make ends meet. If I have to choose between spending 45 mins at night preparing tomato sauce versus opening a can of premade sauce and then having time to help my daughter with her math homework I am going to opt for plan B. Sorry I don’t have a live-in maid or cook to make sure we make everything at home. Some of the items in this article make a lot of sense but much of it is presumptuous and unrealistic and comes off as elitist.

  • JT

    love the idea of this article and most of the entries I absolutely agree with. however, sharks, tuna and swordfish are not bottom feeders. they are all either apex or top predators. Yes, they are high in mercury which validates a place on your list. add to that the fact that these creatures are essential for keeping our oceans healthy and should never be eaten. plenty of other fish are available that dont come with the high cost on our personal health, and also the health of our oceans.

  • Dbackbarb

    I have a difficult time making grilled ham and cheese between slices of quinoa.

  • M Kelton

    The only thing on this list which I have a slight problem with is bottled water, simply for lack of comprehensive information on some of the downsides of tap water. Look up the negative effects of fluoride, which is added to all tap water in America.

    The practice of adding fluoride to drinking water for human consumption actually originated in Nazi Germany, because they found that when humans consume fluoride, it causes them to become passive and non-aggressive, which enabled the Nazis to use fewer guards in their concentration camps. If you don’t believe it, just look it up for yourself.

    In the US, we are told that fluoride is beneficial to teeth and bones, which is not entirely false, but what we are not told is that the fluoride which is added to public water supplies is NOT pharmaceutical-grade like the kind in toothpaste, but instead is a byproduct of fertilizer production and other industrial processes.

    Again, if you doubt what I say (and I wouldn’t blame you) just research these things for yourself. There’s a lot more to find on this subject, if you’re willing to take the time to educate yourself. The truth is out there!

  • Anonymous

    I want to know where they are buying “gourmet” ice cream for $6.00 a GALLON! I see prices like that on half-pints and pints of  Ben and Jerry’s and others. Even the ultra cheap-o, bargain basement, factory seconds, expired,  ice cream brands are more than six bucks a GALLON!

  • Anonymous

    As far as pre-formed hamburger patties, the might include meat OTHER THAN beef, like in Ireland where they found them to be part horse meat! MMM good.   HHHEEEYYYY WILBUR, no—

  • Taz

    So basically they are saying not to buy or eat anything?!

  • E T

    Must agree eat smart and live healthy.

  • Nowittyname

    White rice causes diabetes? I think the Japanese would be surprised to hear that.

  • http://goodevilgenius.org/ Dan Jones

    You tell us that cellulose is code for “wood pulp” which isn’t exactly accurate. Most cellulose is derived from wood pulp, but it can come from a number of sources.

    Regardless, you don’t explain what’s wrong with cellulose (other than its origin). So, why shouldn’t we buy high-fiber cereals that contain cellulose? If it really does add fiber, is it not worth the extra money?

  • http://www.facebook.com/alcoholicmessiah Aaron V. Phillips

     ”don’t buy food ” everyone has time to make their own pasta sauce….

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1383921250 Lois Imbriano Barber

    This article was actually well-thought out and gave good, common sense tips.  At last, something i found on Yahoo that was written by someone with an IQ of more than 10!  I guess that’s because it’s a Readers Digest author, and not an article from Shine

  • Bluecaligula

    “Pecorino Romano and SarVecchio” don’t “offer the same flavor” at all. Granted they do cost less. The author is asking to swap unique flavors for money saving; it should be made clearer. Is not a news nor a discovery that Beluga caviar is more expensive (and delicious) than the fish roe on top of your deli’s sushi…..

  • Mel Dailey

    “Better yet, forgo the bread and enjoy straight-up barley, brown rice, quinoa, or steel-cut oats.” How is rice or oats a substitute for bread? You stupid mother*cker. 

  • Shou_cl

    ALL plants have cellulose, its what they are made of. ANY plant is made of cellulose. Quit trying to spread B.S. by calling it something scary like a “code word for tress pulp” because a salad is a bowl of cellulose as well

  • Ryan

    Probably the least expensive and healthiest way to eat is Gluten Free! All fresh vegetables, fresh fruits, bean, nuts, meats and seafood  are naturally gluten free.  I have celiac disease and my entire family eats gluten free. We are all healthier, happier and wealthier. It’s inexpensive as long as you don’t buy gluten free packaged foods – carbs we don’t require or need. (ice cream, cookies, pasta, flours, bread, etc.). Also, if you have celiac disease and buy processed meats (sausage, hotdogs, etc. ), frozen and canned fruits and vegetables you still have to make sure they are not processed in a facility that also processes wheat, barely, rye and oats. Best to buy organic or grow your own.

  • http://twitter.com/Marble_Smith Jennifer

    Not all tomato based sauces are that much.  I often buy DelMonte spaghetti sauce for 88 cents on sale and stock up.  I’ve tried to make spaghetti sauce from scratch before — several times with different recipes — and my family has given me a big thumbs down! 

  • Anonymous

    If the authors bothered to read the WSJ article on cellulose they linked to, they would have learned that it decreases calorie intake while increasing insoluble fiber intake – both of these are GOOD FOR YOU in the context of the typical American diet. Congratulations, Reader’s Digest, you just told everyone NOT to do a healthy thing.

  • Tollerman1

    Just to clarify a point tuna, swordfish, king mackerel and mako shark are not bottom feeders.  I’m not disagreeing with the mercury issue, but many fish species have high levels of mercury and should be consumed with caution and infrequently.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_Z4CJFSWSF6NJQ2QO56FEBHKHJM K

    the problem with a lot of these alternatives is that people don’t have the time to make their own.

  • Fredfirth

    Sorry, but typically, the cheaper and store-brand ice creams don’t have ingredients that are the same quality as gourmet ice creams.   I suppose we shouldn’t buy more expensive wines and microbrewed beers, either, as it’s a waste of money.  Just buy the cheaper wine for a couple of bucks a bottle or Milwaukee’s Best.

  • JIMBO

    dishabennotingveryintrestinginmistringvestatallformesamsoztosayz

  • Disgusted.

    You have got to be kidding me? Cured meats? Cured meats are eaten all over the world, particularly in Europe and are perfectly healthy in moderation. Reader’s Digest should be encouraging people to eat smaller portions, not steering them away from centuries old foods with healthy fatty acids…Frankly, all types of soda, candy, chips, potato products, and putting regular sugar in your coffee (2 plus times a day) would be worthy of a list on your website. Disgust. Further, there is nothing wrong with regular Olive Oil! Your site is abysmal.

  • ash

    Great list, and a big fan of RD.  However, some of the items in the list do not belong in the list since we are paying for the service.

  • Tomatohead

    It’s hard to trust you when your first example is so blatantly wrong: Parmiggiano Reggiano DOES NOT taste like Pecorino Romano, Sarvecchio, Grana Padano, etc. That is why these things exist, because they are different from one another. If you perceive a higher value in domestic alternatives, that’s fine, but they are not equivalent in flavor. 

  • Non

    This really isn’t a very good article, in my opinion. Canned tomatoes have exceptional flavor and will almost always produce a better tomato sauce than one made from fresh tomatoes. Some of these other points are either common sense or simply preference.  The list bounces around from genuine health issues (e.g. nitrates) which are good point, only to simply say “you should cook it yourself.”  I am a professional cook, and I do cook for myself, but I also recognize that some non-perishable frozen or canned items can be cheaper and better quality.  Articles like these are designed to drive advertising and click throughs, but I’m not convinced these points are all that interesting. 

  • Charlie

    premade hamburger patties have more surface area exposed, therefore a greater chance for bacteria to colonize. Same theory applies when you purchase pre cut watermelon or cantaloupe. Just be sure to use good hygiene when handling those type of products or pour a glass of scalding hot water over the surface of the fruit and then refrigerate 10 minutes until it cools.

  • Anna Jacobs

     I make my own tomato sauce, and even grow my own tomatoes and freeze batches for the winter, but I cheat and I add a cup  of Paul Newman’s marinara sauce to the recipe after mine is bubbling on the stove. Newman’s sauce’s flavor is delicious, and I don’t tell anyone my secret when they ask. I justify it by telling myself a jar last a long time this way,  but I will keep buying it.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Nathan-Kelley/1084980558 Nathan Kelley

    Dumbest article I’ve ever read.  One recommendation tells you not to eat bread.  the very next one tells you what kind of peanut butter to eat on your sandwich.  Tough to make a sandwich without bread…  And I’m supposed to make my marinara from scratch every time!?  OK, sure, because I’ve got hours of extra time to kill.  Gimme a break!

  • Carlo

    SarVecchio = Stra Vecchio…

  • Crowbird

    A gallon of ice cream for $ 6.00 ? I’ll take it anytime. I think you mean to say 1/2 gallon.

  • Crowbird

    The more handling of anything, especially meat items can always lead to more chance of contamination.

  • Jjflash083

    #11 is wrong.  Skim milk is bad for the same reasons they stated about peanut butter.  The take out the good fat and replace it with sugar…just read the label.  But actually, the crap from the store is NOT milk…it used to be-till they cooked it. Milk should be RAW.

  • Jjflash083

    #21-Bottled water.  Their take on water is so WRONG.   Take 2 pans.  Put a cup of bottled water in one and a cup of tap water in the other.  Boil them for 20 minutes or so.  Dump them and compare the pans.  Does that crust look appetizing???  I prefer to limit my intake of flouride, chorine, lead, estrogen, and miscelaneous prescription meds that have been dumped down someone’s drain.  Do a  little research.  Look up flouride online.  Read the warning label on a bottle of Clorox. 

  • Sgasdf

    Is this author an idiot and think our time has no value? I am not going to waste my time to save pennies.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Nathan-Kelley/1084980558 Nathan Kelley

    OK, it got even more irritating.  $6 for a gallon of ice cream would be a great bargain.  For premium ice cream, it’s a dream.  Who edited this garbage?

  • Guest

    It’s unbelievable that people buy the crap that they do and spend so much doing it. How on earth could people be too lazy to make a burger patty! Gluten free, a total ripoff. High fructose corn syrup free? Totally ridiculous. There is not a bit of harm in using it any more than regular sugar. Manufacturers love Americans because so many of them are so stupid as to fall for the phoney food taboos that the manufacturers themselves create.

  • Kbwbunny

    This article annoys me.  Sure, they make some good points, but don’t tell me what to never buy again.  I happen to like the salad kits.  I can take them to work and shake them up in the bag. Leave me alone.

  • Itsasecret

    Large bottom-feeder fish such as tuna, shark, king mackerel, tilefish, and especially swordfish are high in mercury????  Better go back to school…….these are NOT bottom feeder but more considered Pelagics (open water).

  • Dr.gee

    You are one of the 25 authors i will nevere read again.this is as bad as yahoo sports writers.

    btw-since when are tuna and swordfish bottom feeders and catfish not?

  • http://twitter.com/gimpsworld Phoenix rising.

    I was excited about this til the 2nd slide. You’re stupid. Sure smoked/cured meats can be harmful, but so can household cleaning products in the air. 

  • http://twitter.com/gimpsworld Phoenix rising.

    Jesus. The more i progress, the more i realize this was complete fiddlefaddle. SHAME on you. 
    Honore de Balzac died of caffeine poisoning in 1850 – hardly the work of Red Bull. 

  • guest

    I clicked on the link thinking this might be an interesting article, but you lost my at the first item. I’ve tried LOTS of cheeses SIMILAR to parmigiano reggiano but they aren’t the SAME for half the price. They’re good for different things but in some cases, the real deal is much better.

  • a90s2cs

    This article should be titled “28 Things Anyone With Any Common Sense Should Already Know”. 

  • Meat eatin’ readin’ me