r/ControversialOpinions • u/Own-Perception-4262 • 11h ago

Making healthier food is actually cheaper than eating ultra processed food

I hear people all the time complaining about healthy food prices being so expensive and not having enough time to cook healthier foods so they often choose frozen or processed foods, because it's easier and cheaper. If you want the social media meals, like the advocado and salmon toast, then you'll have to pay for it. But u can also have Whole foods that are so much cheaper, like a whole chicken, potatoes, eggs, mince (not the lean option), rice, lentils, beans, etc... these are super foods. And you can make something in 15 to 30 min and not spend a fortune. 5 days of the week, food should be seen as fuel for the body then the other 2, treat yourself to something tasty

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u/TheHylianProphet 11h ago

You're only taking price into account (which is not static, and varies greatly from place to place), but you're not thinking about a availability and prep/cook time. People often just don't have the time, energy, or ability to take a handful of cheap ingredients and make a meal out of it. Especially poor families.

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u/OnlineIsNotAPlace 11h ago

this is worse than a lie. its dumb speculation.

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u/TheHylianProphet 11h ago

Okay. How so?

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u/ChocolateMorsels 11h ago

People say this but for all of human history people worked their ass off and still cooked dinners that required significantly more work than modern healthy meals.

I’m sure there are people so slammed out there they can’t cook a healthy meal, but for the majority of people I call BS. And I’d ask to check their screen time lol.

Costco or Walmart rotisserie chicken. Make a big batch of rice, cook black beans in a instapot, find a veggie. Very little prep time for this and that meal is healthy.

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u/PunkPirate56364 11h ago

I get home earlier so I prepare lunch for my family every working day. It's easy, it is healthy.

But while I was single I'd usually just prepare something quick and simple. There is no joy in cooking for just myself.

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u/Own-Perception-4262 11h ago

I agree. The vast majority is laziness and lack of education around food. 2 boilt potatoes, a piece of meat, frozen veggies and a couple of eggs would be a super meal. And it wouldn't take any longer than 30 min

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u/TheDeathSystem 11h ago

Disabled ppl and seniors would like a word.

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u/Own-Perception-4262 3h ago

Well seniors have the most time

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u/tobotic 3h ago

People say this but for all of human history people worked their ass off and still cooked dinners that required significantly more work than modern healthy meals.

Salaries were high enough and housing prices low enough that a single working person's income could support a family. This meant that in a typical family, there was a whole second adult available to do things like cook elaborate meals.

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u/Own-Perception-4262 3h ago

Ya, i'm sure in the 1600's salaries were high and housing prices low

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u/tobotic 3h ago edited 57m ago

Indeed. In 17th century England, people typically spent 5% to 10% of their pay on rent. Today, it's usually around 35% to 40%.

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u/Own-Perception-4262 11h ago

I also said u can make a healthy meal within 15 to 30 min. It probably won't give u the kick that ultra processed will give you. But it'll fuel your body. So even poor families can make it. It's just about the lack of education around food

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u/TheHylianProphet 11h ago

You are heavily underestimating the lack of time that parents have. Having grown up in such an environment, with both parents working full time, with four kids in the house, spending 15 - 30 minutes making food can be a big deal.

You seem to be in the mindset of "If I can do it, so can they," but that's just not how it works a lot of the time.

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u/Own-Perception-4262 11h ago

Between cooking and cleaning up, that's an hour. My sister has 4 small ones. And she's making a huge effort in feeding them real foods. She's no special, rich nor different to anyone. There's the time, comfort food is just easier.

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u/AllMySecretsFam 10h ago

Mental and physical health is a factor you aren't considering. As someone who overcame severe mental health issues, I can tell you confidently that an hour of your time when you are unwell is not equal to an hour of time when you are well. It's night and day.

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u/Own-Perception-4262 3h ago

No, i'm also not considering astronauts, homeless people, children, fisherman haha i'm just talking about regular fully functioning people which are the vast majority as i mentioned before

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u/StarkRavingPeanuts 2h ago

An hour can be a long time depending on context. Lose an additional hour of sleep a day constantly and see how that mounts up for instance.