1/17/06 | Equal Opportunity Eaters Win
[ Currently Eating: Pork Chile Verde ]
If the numbers from our latest poll about food lifestyle are any indication, then I guess the USDA might feel a little relieved. They recently (I forgot if I posted about this) flipped the traditional food pyramid on end and introduced the concept of exercise into the pyramid. (It’s about time, by the way). The food pyramid concept tries to get people to make smart and balanced choices about what you eat.
The little guy walking up the pyramid is supposed to represent exercise while the colored bands are supposed to equal the types and amount of food that you eat. I haven’t really gone through the details on their site yet, but I think that’s approximately what it’s about. Oh, the bands and their food types are below:
The writing on that little yellow band may be difficult to read. It’s supposed to be “oils”. I’m not sure why they used purple for meats and beans, I would have used red for that and purple for fruits.
So anyhow, in this latest poll I wanted to see what everyone’s food lifestyle was like… admitedly there wasn’t many in-between choices and it was pretty much only three different ones, with veggie eaters being split into conservative and strict. But it was nice to see “Equal Opportunity Eaters” win the poll handily. (I had thought I’d completely made up a new phrase, but I’m not 100% sure now.) With 192 votes, equal opportunity eaters formed the majority of Cheap Eaters.
I’m a bit surprised that Meat-A-Tarians didn’t run away with the poll. A lot of Cheap Eaters that I know tend to fall into this camp, what with all the fast food that forms a big part of their diet. I think there are a lot of nearly meat-only Cheap Eaters who maybe eat a salad once a week or something who didn’t check this box. Anyhow, I wouldn’t think that a meat only diet (Atkins, please go to hell) would be very nice on your bowels. But with 90 votes, meat eaters still came out in force.
For the Vegetarians and Vegans, the combined score was only 76 votes but that was pretty respectable. This is Cheap Eats actually, so I expected there not to be that big of a showing. After all, it is fairly difficult (but by no means impossible) to be a vegetarian on a budget.
I actually seperated Vegetarians and Vegans just to see if there were ANY vegans who adhered to Cheap Eats philosophy. There were only 14 votes (1 of them was me accidentally checking the box!) but my hat is off to them. Also, I’m taking the definition of vegan as I understand it… no dairy or eggs at all (veggies, don’t bite my head off beause I just got that information online somewhere). That is some tough tomatoes. I think there is a regimen even more strict than vegan… something like you can only eat fruits and things that DROP off trees. That is double tough tomatoes!
Ok, the next poll concerns a substance that is near and dear to my heart. Perhaps a little TOO dear. I think my intake of caffeinated drinks is way over the recommended daily allowance… but how about you? I’ve only listed the the most popular 3 though. I’d be interested to see how many caffeine abstainers there are in Cheap Eats…
January 20th, 2006 at 9:51 am
*** After all, it is fairly difficult (but by no means impossible) to be a vegetarian on a budget.***
I’m by no means a vegetarian, I’m more of an “Equal Opportunity Eater” . However, I wanted to point out a mistake you’ve made. It’s not only possible but probably even cheaper, to be a vegetarian.
than it is to be a Meat-A-Tarian on a budget. Have you noticed the ever-rising cost of all meat these days?!
I’ve always had to eat on a budget & once when (at my lowest budget) I was put on a high protein no carb diet, which excluded meat except for Chicken & Fish. (And no, fish sticks didn’t count!!) The price of fish is outrageous!! (even Tuna isn’t cheap anymore!!) I could only afford Chicken & after a while it got old! So, I found it easier & cheaper to just stick to fruits, veggies & grains.
Now, I teach other people on a budget how to shop & my clients make the same mistake, in thinking they can’t be a vegetarian or even diet on a budget. So, if anyone wants tips, please let me know!
Sincerely
Kimberly Hayes
KimHCreations@aim.com
January 20th, 2006 at 12:14 pm
Kim – thanks for writing. I actually have thought about the prices of veggies vs. meat, and I know what you’re talking about. You are mostly right, some good points. If you compare them based on what you said, it can often be cheaper. However, I’m throwing ALL notions of “healthiness” out the window. In fact, we throw all diets out the window. In that case, ramen and it’s ilk are cheaper than buying fresh vegetables very often. I’m talking about cans of corned beef hash, not steak.
I just think that being vegetarian and eating healthy are often intertwined, and eating healthy is often not Cheap Eats. There are of course exceptions. I’m sorta hard-headed in this approach, and I don’t follow it strictly myself. But I present it this way, and then let everyone take bits and pieces from it. I don’t expect or recommend anyone to follow this lifestyle strictly, and even if so would not recommend following it for more longer than is necessary. I think a lot of people are just looking to “survive” for awhile until their money solution gets better.
“Sshelflife” is also an cost issue, especially for single folks. You can’t buy 10 pounds of lettuce and expect it to last for months, like you can prepared food in cans and packages. And you can’t freeze fresh veggies and fruit as well (though i guess canning them would be good), as you can meat-a-tarian things.
Also, compare the average 99 cents burger versus a vegetarian fast food entree… even if the McShaker salad is as cheap, will it fill you up? We are looking to get as full as possible for as little as possible…
Now, if you’re talking about GROWING your own produce versus buying cans of soup… that’s food for thought. I don’t have a green thumb though… =)
Gosh, now i’ve done it, i’m going to have irate vegetarians writing me…