How much money is wasted today on food?

[RB TexLa]

What is the average amount spent on food today?

I spent $1.79 for a package of lunch meat, what ever the cost of the mustard I dipped it in is (maybe $.30) $3.50 for a bag of corn chips and $1.78 for salsa. Sorry North American economy, you aren't getting my money today. Actually I'm not sorry at all, quite proud.

How much did you waste on food today?

[Blue_In_AK]

1. I don't consider it a waste

to cook a great meal up for my family. It all gets eaten, even if it takes a few days.

[Richardo]

2. Hear hear

:thumbsup:

[monmouth]

10. Turkey sandwiches are almost as good as the main meal...n/t

[EOTE]

114. Better if you add stuffing, potatoes and a smidgeon of cranberry sauce :) NT

[OhioChick]

3. A good meal with family and friends is never a "waste" n/t

[cherokeeprogressive]

4. Very little if anything goes to waste at my house.

In fact, when the turkey is done I'm boiling the carcass to make the stock for the turkey soup I'll be preparing Saturday.

[appleannie1]

16. You and me both. It makes great stock.

[BOHICA12]

99. It's Turkey & Spit Pea at my House. Not for everybody but yummy for us. nt

[EOTE]

115. I'll take mine without the spit, please :) NT

[BOHICA12]

116. : ) ..... too funny! nt

[Donnachaidh]

5. how's the air on that high horse? A bit thin ain't it?

Making assumptions with a rather broad brush -- sometimes it seems like this sort of saddleback soapboxing is bitterness projected. IMHO - YMMV. :shrug:

Good for you you have lunchmeat. There are plenty of people out there that have nothing today.

For the first time in several years, I have my whole family here. ALL of us are involved with making the meal. It's wonderful to see this happening.

Not much of what we are making will be wasted. But thanks for your concern. Really. :sarcasm:

[Electric Monk]

6. I don't eat with you.

[Richardo]

13. !!

:rofl:

[Name removed]

22. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[muriel_volestrangler]

25. The 2 names just indicate a name change during the 2008 period when you were allowed to (nt)

[flvegan]

53. LOL!

[SidDithers]

54. BOOM goes the dynamite!!...nt

Sid

[Dorian Gray]

68. Heeee

[uppityperson]

118. Thank you. I just got it. eom

[appleannie1]

7. I only buy the basics to prepare meals. That is not wasting money on food.

[kestrel91316]

8. None in my family. We don't waste food. EVER. When we were kids Mom

sometimes had to fix cornbread and beans at the end of the month.

And I still never waste a morsel. It's a crime, IMHO.

[appleannie1]

17. Bet you know what browned flour gravy is too.

[kestrel91316]

67. Well I don't know about that, but I know we had creamed dried beef on toast

on a number of occasions, and fried hot dogs with fried potatoes.

[nadinbrzezinski]

9. You do this with every occasion for social gatherings

You must be a hoot among friends, assuming you got any.

:-)

By the way we will enjoy our duck and relish and mushrooms. I wish you could understand what a nice day in the company of FAMILY means.

[SomethingFishy]

11. Well gee, I managed to get a turkey for 8 bucks...

a small ham for 9... A bag of potatoes, corn, green beans, stuffing and a cheescake. I'd say a total of $45.. and I'll feed 14 people with it. Yeah what an asshole I am wasting all this food... Not to mention what a jerk I am making my kids eat turkey and ham sandwiches for lunch for the next week.

Yes chronic wasters of food we are. And while you sit there all alone with your sandwich and mustard, saving the world one meal at a time, I'll be eating with 13 of my closest friends and family. Afterwards well put some Trans Siberian Orchestra on the stereo and play some games.


Yep, what a waste of a day and 45 bucks..

[JI7]

80. so in your case it was less per person than the OP spend just on himself

plus the cost will cover lunch for the next few days also. so you actually spend less than the OP .

[Tumbulu]

12. I grow food

and food is never a waste. We need it to live.

Good food allows us to live healthy lives. Bad food opens us up to lots of potential problems.

Good food takes time to grow and prepare.

Enjoy your day- I have to go out in the rain to feed my chickens and sheep now and I am putting it off as I have a cold...so I'm sitting here at the computer instead. But the animals are hungry, they get fed no matter what I feel like.

Everything that you eat someone worked hard to grow or make. Let's all be thankful today that there are people doing this work. This work of tending and growing and preparing the soil to be able to plant and tend and care in the future.

We depend on each other in so many ways.

Happy Thanksgiving!

[oldhippydude]

18. like you i grow what i can

dont pay for my salsa make my own.. i do have waste... i grow more than i can consume or give away..my christmas gift to my friends begins in july heirloom tomatoes

[pinboy3niner]

14. "Bah, humbug! "

I think somebody said that before...

[REP]

15. Not a dime - yet. Our reservations are at 3 pm PST.

[REP]

78. I'm back - dinner for two (including 2 bottles of wine and tip) came to

None of your fucking business. Polite people don't discuss money. And I, at least, am polite.

[TBF]

19. I spent $225 at Kroger yesterday. Thanksgiving fixings for 4, food and other items

for the next few weeks (I tend to do 1-2 "big" shops per month and then stop every few days for fresh fruit, milk, whatever else we're out of). Kroger is nearby for me - they have great selection, their employees are union, and I get a discount on my gas. Finally it is easy to pick up a bag or 2 of pre-packaged donation food and drop it in their barrel for delivery to a nearby foodbank - it makes giving very easy.

I firmly believe every family in this country ought to be able to shop like this. It is a sad commentary on this society that folks would rather throw money into weapons systems and watch others starve. If I had my way we'd take 50% of the Pentagon's budget and re-route it to HHS.

[RebelOne]

41. I always shop at Kroger. Their prices are the best around

in my neighborhood, as compared with Publix or Ingles.

[Exultant Democracy]

20. We finish the leftovers by the end of the weekend. Usually have more then one feast too.

One on Wed, sometimes two on Thursday and perhaps another on Friday too. We have a family of cooks and we don't get to see each other as much as we should so we all like to get a chance to show off our new stuff in addition to the thanksgiving classics.

[The Hitman]

21. Debby Downer

[Iggo]

23. I didn't waste any money. I spent it on food for my family.

Not the answer you were looking for?

[Fumesucker]

24. I know how you feel RB, it sucks to be alone when everyone else seems to have somewhere to go.

I'm trying not to let it make me bitter, it looks like you lost that fight already.

:hug:

My doggies help me a great deal when I'm feeling down, I would recommend you get a dog, unlike all too many humans they love you no matter your financial status.

[idiotgardener]

32. Cute puppies!

Did you make a special meal for the 3 of you?

[Fumesucker]

33. We are about to dine on something a little out of the ordinary for us, yes..

Anyone who likes my dogs is OK with me.. :hi:

[pinboy3niner]

35. Love those weenie dogs!

I had a couple minis once, and though I was used to always having big mutts, the doxies instantly changed my paradigm. :)

[Fumesucker]

44. My red one is quite the little huntress.. She got a couple of adolescent possums this Spring..

Crawled under an outbuilding and grabbed them, I thought the first one was a big rat until I finally managed to get close, she wasn't having any of it until she'd had a chance to fling them around a bit, wouldn't let me get close for a while.

[pinboy3niner]

52. Mine also were great hunters

Unfortunately, they also were great cat poop-eaters. :(

They'd sleep in bed with us, but they always had to be boosted up (I never got around to building the weenie dog ramp I'd planned).

They had very different personalities--one older, more mature, sedentary, and grumpy, while the other was like a naive, energetic teenager, always running with tongue out and ears flapping (reminding me of Odie in the comics).

Wonderful, loving, loyal companions--and yours are beautiful!

You're right--it's hard to descend into bitterness and curmudgeonry when even your "dumb" pets set a better example.

[Fumesucker]

63. Mine have different personalities too..

The black and tan is a one man dog and she doesn't much like to be messed with by anyone but me and particularly by little kids.

The red one is anyone's dog who will pay attention to her and loves everyone including little kids.

[nadinbrzezinski]

47. We had duck

With a yam...the parrots love yams. So got a small one for me and cluckes. Hubby got rice.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

75. Precious Dachshunds!

I too am owned by one, although a short hair. Everyone should be so lucky!
Happy Thanksgiving!

[Fumesucker]

76. Same to you.. YRD..

:hi:

[ThomWV]

26. Its not nearly as bad to waste money on food as it is to waste food.

Its not the money that is spent on food that I give a shit about, its food bought, prepared, and trashed that is the great shame.

[whistler162]

27. Proud of a lousy meal? Okay... no food wasted here.

wll except for the 1/2 of olive I picked out my salad and a few shreads of carrot.

[RB TexLa]

28. Proud I didn't give my money to other people. The meal was fine.

[Ikonoklast]

31. No, it wasn't.

More performance art...you realize no one actually believes you.

[RB TexLa]

36. No performance art. Enjoy getting off or whatever on insulting and degrading strangers on the

internet.

[whistler162]

42. Lousy meal and a failure at your state intention... bummer!

[RB TexLa]

45. my state intention?

[Ikonoklast]

82. For a guy that has gas and oil royalty checks coming in, you eat like a hobo.

If you were insulted by my post, tough.

Getting called on being less than honest must sting a little.

[RB TexLa]

83. I have not made up any lies

[Ikonoklast]

85. No, just recycling the older ones.

I see nothing really new from you, just repackaged BS.

Is this your once a quarter foray into silliness, or can we expect another before Christmas?

[RB TexLa]

86. I do not lie, I am an honest and decent human being.

[Ikonoklast]

88. OK, now THAT was actually funny!

Keep moving in that direction, you might finally be onto something.

[RB TexLa]

89. What has made you choose me to insult?

[Ikonoklast]

122. I have never insulted you.

I know because when I actually do insult you, you'll know it.


Go to go now and have some leftover turkey sandwiches for lunch, and the last slice of pumpkin pie.

[Lorien]

110. There's little to no nutritional value in what you listed. No micronutrients

cheap today; extremely expensive once the medical bills begin to pile up, and they WILL.

[sarcasmo]

29. 3 days on a six dollar chicken from the grocery and stuffing.

[marlakay]

30. None we are going to live on the left overs

For a long time and make home made soup too. We don't have much money but with how many meals we get it will work, and not making a ton of extra courses.

[taught_me_patience]

34. You should add some vegetables in your diet

I'd get constipated on your diet. Constipation would make me cranky.

[Obamanaut]

37. None at our house. Our feast is tomorrow. Many of the leftovers will

be frozen as individual meals.

It's all good.

[mentalsolstice]

38. Color me surprised that you ate alone today

Well, maybe not!

[RB TexLa]

40. Can't see why it would or wouldn't suprise you, you do not know me.

or are you going to make up a lie and say you do know me?

[Vinca]

39. I don't think I wasted a dime. It will all get eaten as today's meal or leftovers.

I even made a great stock for soup with the turkey neck, innards and wing tips.

[Tx4obama]

43. I SAVED a lot of money by making a traditional Thanksgiving dinner....

At my store I bought a ham to freeze for Christmas - the store special was 'buy a ham get a turkey for FREE'

With the left over turkey from today I'll be able to cook at least a dozen extra meals: leftovers tomorrow,
then I'll freeze the remainder for: turkey sandwiches, turkey pot pies, turkey and rice soup, turkey and gray over biscuits, etc.

Home-made turkey gravy costs almost nothing. Use the juice from the turkey pan add a bit of flour and a couple cups of water with a bullion cube dissolved in it.

Ten pounds of potatoes cost only 2.99 - mashed potatoes today and the rest of the bag will be used with various meals over the next month.

Got the cranberry sauce on sale, as well as the pumpkin pie was on sale and got an additional $1 off with a coupon.
The store had white bread on sale, buy one get one free, so the cost of my stuffing was CHEAP - free giblets from the turkey and the onion and celery totaled less than one dollar.

Three other side dishes I baked cost less than a single trip to McDonalds.

In my opinion, if you watch for sales, Thanksgiving dinner is one of the LEAST EXPENSIVE meals one can make during the year when considering how many total meals can be gleaned from the leftovers.

Happy Thanksgiving :)


p.s. Our household always sends a check to our local Star of Hope Mission for them to use to buy food for the Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners they serve to homeless men, women and their children.

Anyone that can afford to cook at home and spend time with their families during the holiday season should treasure the moments without feeling guilty for enjoying their meal.

[fishwax]

46. I have half a sweet potato and three rolls left over, so I guess I wasted about a buck

The rest was money well spent.

[DeschutesRiver]

48. There are people who waste food and people who do not waste food

True enough. I know people who waste food, it is appalling to me. The food I made today will feed the two of us for a week; if you count the turkey bones simmering now on the stove for soup, then much longer. Since I made bread from scratch at .50 a loaf, I made a couple of extra loaves for the freezer while I was at it. I used a can of pumpkin, with 2 cans of evap milk, which made 2 pies, one that is also going to the freezer. So I won't be out shopping for quite awhile, and making meals in advance like this gave me another reason for thanks today.

If you are seeing people waste food, and it bothers you as much as it would bother me, you should eliminate people like that from your life. As you can see from this thread, there are lots of other people who do not waste food and you might enjoy the company of people who can use the Thanksgiving food sales to stretch their meals better than the other wasteful folks who just pile it on without thinking, and toss out what they can't stuff into their faces.

We give food items that we find on sale this time of year to both the St. Vincent de Paul kitchen here and to local churches (although I am an agnostic, that is where some head to get a decent meal, and it is about them, not me). That is spending that I don't think you would consider a waste of food. Some people who can't afford food still help others by physically cooking, or cleaning or feeding folks at the soup kitchens. They are running year round now here, and can always use an extra hand. Just another way of looking at how one can get away from the waste and excess and spending that is sometimes coerced from people during the holidays as a way to increase corporate revenue and nothing more. There are still people in my area that are homeless and/or hungry every day, and Christmas is coming up too - another holiday where any kind of help is appreciated and that effort would be much more fulfilling than wasting money on anything else.

Maybe a better use of one's time might be spent focusing on people in the community who don't waste simply because they are down on their luck and hungry, than to waste one's focus and energy on people who have so much plenty that they feel they can afford to waste food - those latter people do not seem worthy of having any of one's valuable life time spent pondering their wasteful ways.

Regardless, I think that if you feel good about your choices for today, that is a also a great reason for you to give thanks. You made a decision to do something in keeping with your values, and there isn't anything wrong with that. Hope you also find comfort in the fact that you find on this thread many others who didn't waste anything they spent on food either.

[RB TexLa]

49. I didn't say waste food I said waste money on food

[alcibiades_mystery]

50. Probably one of the biggest fail OP's of the year

Congrats!

:thumbsup:

:rofl:

[DeschutesRiver]

56. +1. nt

[Ikonoklast]

84. One of the OP's lesser efforts.

All that salt he ingested eating his 'dinner' must be spiking his blood pressure.

[DeschutesRiver]

55. If wasting food is not the issue, then ok. The answer is money spent on food is never a waste.

Bodies need fuel. Money used to obtain that body fuel is never wasted, imho.

A more pure position would have been to dumpster dive for your food. As some people actually do, and then no money need be spent at all.

So you were wasteful because you didn't need to spend a dime. You should have just said that in the first place.

[DeschutesRiver]

60. I just did the math - while I spent more in total on food, you spent more for your meal today

than I did.

You spent $7.37 for meat, mustard, corn chips and salsa. I spent under $2 for my turkey, veggie, salad, sauce, bread and pumpkin pie slice, and for each replica of that meal that I will have thereafter.

Never thought of it that way. It was good to have a brain twister to offset the sleepy effects of all that turkey.

[Name removed]

61. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[NYC Liberal]

51. $45 for 10 people is the average.

You decide if that's a waste.

[TNLib]

119. Not much bought

bought eggs, milk flour for making pizzelles a can of green beans campbells soup and french onions to make a green bean casserole. Then brought it over to inlaws. Eveyone else brought over 1-2 casserole type dishes and ham. Mother inlaw made a turkey and some side dishes. This all fed aobout 12 people and there were lots left over. If your whole family chips in it doesn't cost that much to 1 individual.

[NYC Liberal]

120. Splitting the cost - definitely. There's that too.

[octothorpe]

57. LOL.

I don't know if you're being serious or not, but that made me laugh...

[SammyWinstonJack]

58. $3.50 on a bag of chips is wasted money. That isn't even food.

[Horse with no Name]

59. I spent a goodly sum on our dinner.

However, with that, it will feed my family for several days on the leftovers. The ham bone will become ham and beans, the turkey carcass and veggie parings will become broth...

We do not waste food in this house.

I baked my own breads, made my own desserts and broths...very few prepackaged items were purchased.

[nadine_mn]

62. We probably wasted some money on food, but we spent it with family

We went to a slightly overpriced buffet. So we don't have all the yummy leftovers that so many of you have mentioned (I am seriously jealous), but my husband and I got to spend time with my mom, my aunt and uncle, my cousin and her son. Plus, I know that plenty of people were working and earning time and 1/2 today which for me was always the best part of the holidays - making extra cash.

I don't have dishes to wash or the stress of cleaning the house or finding a way to keep our 2 dogs and cat out of people's food and 1hr 1/2 is about the ideal amount of time to spend with family before we start irritating each other.

I know buffets are wasteful, but I consider the time and togetherness (and lack of fighting) to be well worth the cost of a meal.

[BOG PERSON]

64. a new fad that's sweeping the nation -- wasting food!

[WinkyDink]

65. SRSLY? Chicken is cheaper than your crap "lunchmeat." Try roasting one sometime.

And those corn chips? You got taken if you didn't "buy one, get one."

IOW: Da*n dumb thread.

[Raine]

66. Why do you assume all the food is wasted??

Geesh! x(

[Broderick]

69. You spent more per person on yourself

than we did for all the family and guests.

I understand the sentiment though. It sucks to be all alone on Thanksgiving. We would have gladly invited you over if you were close or if we had known you would be all alone.

[RB TexLa]

72. No thank you.

[CreekDog]

79. How many words did you spend wasting a post?

:rofl:

[Desertrose]

70. Good food is not a waste...

got a 15+lb turkey for $8. Will feed my family for quite awhile. Definitely not wasted money, thank you.

...and you spent how much for a bag of corn chips? Chemical laden processed lunchmeat...and you're proud of that?

[quinnox]

71. As Americans, its our tradition to gorge ourselves on this day

Not something to be proud of, but its the reality.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

73. I think my mom spent $100 on our meal.

But I don't call it wasting. Any meal I get to have with my family and friends is money well spent. And time well spent prepping it. Food made with love and tradition is more nourishing than anything else.
Duckie

[The Straight Story]

74. All I have to say is here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2376131

[JI7]

77. 3.50 on a bag of chips seems expensive to me

[GoCubsGo]

92. That's more than I spent for my crab cakes.

And, they were pretty good crab cakes. In fact, thanks to coupons and sales, my whole meal was less than what was listed in the OP, and it was all real food, instead of that processed crap.

[JI7]

104. yeah, the OP doesn't mention the health costs of his food

[Donnachaidh]

93. not really. They are about $3.99 a bag where I live

That's the regular price :shrug:

[GoCubsGo]

96. There is always some brand on sale.

Especially right before the holidays. Even the normally-pricey "all natural" type chips.

[Donnachaidh]

107. true -- but the standard *price* is $3.99

We just tried making our own at home, and they weren't bad. So goodbye Lays - hello homemade!

[uppityperson]

81. Our local grocery store is closed today so no money was spent there today.

You are "quite proud" to not give "North American economy...my money today", yet you write you spent over $7. Odd.

[femmocrat]

87. I didn't waste any food today.

Just some aluminum foil, paper towels, and a few paper napkins. We don't have recycling here, so I had to toss the cans.

We intend to eat the food we prepared today for the next few days. Even the vegetable peels go into the compost bin.

[CreekDog]

90. You know, money isn't everything

and to be so proud of that meal and its cost that you share this thought with everyone when they're likely celebrating a holiday with lots of food kinda offsets whatever pride you might be taking in what you did today.

kinda crass, really.

:shrug:

[LuvNewcastle]

91. Since food is a necessity,

money spent on food cannot be a waste unless you throw away the food you bought. If you're concerned about waste, donate to a local food bank or soup kitchen. Those places rarely waste anything. If you want some extra company for the holidays, find some needy people and take them out to eat with you. I guarantee you'll feel a lot better about yourself and gain a sense of accomplishment if you reach out to others. That is really what this time of year is supposed to be about.

[lynne]

94. No wasted money because there is no wasted food -

- and I'm rather proud of myself, too.

Not too sure I'd be proud of eating the pre-packaged and processed stuff you consumed today. Might want to have your sodium levels checked.

[RB TexLa]

95. My health is fine.

[Lorien]

111. But not for long. nt

[Papagoose]

97. 1st time my family sat at the table all together for a meal in months

Money well spent.

[jtuck004]

98. Nationwide "traditional" dinner was priced at about $4.90/person in a survey.

Food stamps gives a person about $4.33 that day, roughly 60 cents shy, and doesn't pay for breakfast or lunch/dinner/snacks either.

That first part was what you asked about, I just don't like to forget the second.

[BOHICA12]

100. Approximately $5.50

There was no waste for the Turkey, that also gave us the gravy & broth for the dressing & leftovers.

The dressing used leftover cornbread, onions, celery, salt pepper, butter, & turkey broth BUT about 1/2 of the chestnuts did not shell worth a poop so $1.50 of $3.00 wasted there.

The Brussels sprouts were perfect - fresh & tasty - no waste

The Beer - bought a 6-pack of Blue Moon - had one, significant other had one - left the others for my daughter's roommates and their pedestrian taste buds - $4.00 WASTED!!!! Should have brought the soldiers home!

So the answer is $5.50

[bigwillq]

101. With a coupon, my sister bought our turkey for $7

We get almost a week's meal out of it. In the end we probably save money.

[lonestarnot]

102. Took the family to the res. tonight. Figured we owe them big bucks, especially today.

[lumberjack_jeff]

103. Eating alone on Thanksgiving sucks.

My son is a long haul trucker and ate a turkey melt at Denny's.

I'm thinking about you and my son tonight.

[GaYellowDawg]

105. I didn't waste a penny.

I loved the food. So did my family. Loved every ounce of it. No waste there.

I bought 2 turkeys - free range turkeys - from Nature's Harmony Farm in Georgia. Cooked one myself and had another local business smoke the other. Bought 10 pounds of potatoes from a local farmer's market.

I supported local, small businesses and had fantastic food. And I'm quite proud.

[provis99]

106. so you selfishly spent on yourself when a homeless person could have had that money.

What a horrible Scrooge you are.

[Arkansas Granny]

108. Who says the money was wasted? We had a great meal, the family

got together for a wonderful time and everyone took leftovers home. I think it was worth every penny.

[mmonk]

109. Waste would indicate something bought which is not a need.

[pipi_k]

112. Not positive, but

I think maybe that's the point of the OP.

I think he's trying to say that, yes, we all need food, but it's much more "wasteful" to spend money on tons of food when a baloney sandwich would suffice. Even on a holiday. IOW, we don't NEED a big old Thanksgiving dinner.

Not that I agree with that sentiment, mind you.

My stepdaughter did the usual huge Thanksgiving dinner, but she and her husband always send the guests home with leftovers. I always look forward to the leftovers as much as the meal itself. :7

[mmonk]

113. We sent people off with the leftovers as well.

:)

[LWolf]

117. I made a salad. And some gravy.

My son cooked a 12 pound turkey, which fed 6, provided leftovers, and the carcass is providing soup.

Some potatoes, some bread, some pie...

Where's the waste? Every scrap gets eaten and leftovers, except for the soup, will be gone by tonight.

[GoCubsGo]

121. Many of us single people eat like that all the time.

I'll cook a whole chicken, eat the left overs all week, and make stock with the carcass. Same goes for the side dishes. I might freeze a portion or two, so that I don't get sick of eating the same thing over and over. The same goes for the pot of soup or chili I make. It's just easier to make a full recipe and eat leftovers sometimes.

[LWolf]

123. Yes.

I cook during the winter almost entirely with my crockpot, which will make several days' worth at a time with only one pot.