I Would Be Healthier If I Had The Money

[Seil]

So recently, I've been trying to quit my coke habit. I mean, my cola habit. I used to drink a two-liter a day, and recently I've started to drink more water and juice. My favorite type of juice is usually on sale, too: two two-liter bottles for $5.00 - but I can get four bottles of Coke for that price. Even more if I go to the dollar store and get the one-liter bottles from there.

I'm not saying that I'm the healthiest person in the world - I barley exercise, I don't eat right, and I'm a couch potato. However, it occurred to me that others might feel the same as me; looking to make a change but assaulted by low-priced grease and soda on all sides. And talk about readily available.

They've now got hybrid, fuel efficient cars. That's great for the people that need to buy a care, and can afford to buy something new and shiny... but everyone else is left with their gas-guzzling behemoths because of a lack of funds, or whatever the cause may be. Are we wanting to be healthier because we actually want to do so, but lack the means/funds to? Or is it one of those "New Years Resolutions" we tack on to our to-do list that we never end up doing?

[Eltargrim]

Juice isn't all that much better for you; sugar is sugar.

Eating healthier may mean an increase in investment of time, and possibly an increase in cost as well, but the benefits are worth it. Less preservatives, less salt, more fresh veggies; all good for you.

If you can't afford a hybrid car, look into public transportation, or cycling. Transportation and exercise.

[EVILNess]

Yeah, seriously. Drink water. It's honestly probably the best, AND cheapest thing you could be drinking. If you want something sweet drink some kool-aid or tea. I lost about 50 lbs from doing this.

[pochercoaster]

A waterbottle barely costs anything and you can refill it for free.

From my own experience, junk food is more costly than healthy home cooked meals. Well, that's assuming you're not like me and don't need two TV dinners to feel full or two whole hamburgers or whatever. I suppose if you ate exactly three meals a day and each of those meals was exactly one portion it wouldn't be much more expensive than making your own meals. In terms of how filling junk food is, though, I don't find it very cost effective. This is compounded by the fact that refined sugars tend to make you hungrier whereas complex carbs and proteins tend to fill you up.

These are my staples: rice, lentils, oatmeal, frozen vegetables, eggs, a cooking onion, garlic, cooking oil (sesame is yummy), cheese, and some kind of fruit (a bag of apples or some bananas or some strawberries for snacks). All of these are cheap and can be used as the basis for most of your meals. For variation buy whatever veggies and meat that are on sale that week.

Unfortunately this does require you to invest some time out of your week. It's especially annoying if you're just feeding yourself because unless what you make can be frozen, you can't cook large batches of anything without it going bad before you eat all of it. If you're organized, though, it's manageable.

FYI, I used to guzzle sugary instant iced tea and energy drinks all the time. About 6 months ago I stopped drinking them altogether and switched to plain water and tea and I feel SO much better now. Granted, a lot of that probably had to do with the ludicrous amounts of caffeine I was consuming, but all that sugar certainly wasn't helping, either. I don't even crave them anymore- water is actually appetizing now.

[synkr0nized]

Get water filters for your faucet or get one of those pitchers.
Also, try out tea.

I don't cut soda out of my diet, but I sure don't always drink it like I had been doing for the past few years.

[Azisien]

Juice isn't all that much better for you; sugar is sugar.

This seems relatively misleading to me. Most juices I know of aren't loaded with high-fructose corn syrup. Switching from cola to juice would be way better for you.

Of course, other alternatives like water or tea just have straight up less calories. But the former is tasteless (mostly) and the latter doesn't usually satisfy us sweet tooths.

Therefore, I say, switch to compulsive milk drinking! It's just the mammal thing to do.


We live in a horrible society because unless you're living almost entirely off staple carbs, junk food is cheaper than healthy food. Have you been to a Walmart recently? Giant box of cookies for $1. McDonalds? A double cheeseburger for $1. It is honestly more expensive to buy real fruits and vegetables and meat. The only things that beat it are maybe rice or pasta with like...tomato sauce. Who wants spaghetti and meatballs?!

...With the handsome trade-off that you feel less like shit, of course.

[pochercoaster]

I do most of my shopping at No Frills and some of it at Wal Mart. Honestly, I eat healthy and satisfyingly on $30 a week. If you're a student I imagine it's more difficult, though.

Edit: Also during my brief forays into the United States I've noticed that American grocery stores tend to suck compared to their Canadian counterparts.

[Meister]

Of course, other alternatives like water or tea just have straight up less calories. But the former is tasteless (mostly) and the latter doesn't usually satisfy us sweet tooths.
Can't have your cake and eat it, and specifically can't expect to lose weight if you eat it.

[Mike McC]

If you take the effort to cook, healthy eating is cheaper than the more unhealthy alternatives. You just need to put a little effort and research into it.

[Amake]

Me, I'm experimenting with the limits of my willpower at the moment. There's three 1½ liter bottles of pepsi in my fridge, usually that'd last me three days, but I aim to make them last to April 18.

Because I absolutely hate to be bound by chemicals or habits or anything else, and I have decided I'm not going to be. And these days when I don't have any caffeine for a day I get headaches and get very sleepy. I just think about that, and it gets easy to look at that top shelf and don't touch anything.

My point being, it probably helps if you know exactly what you want to do and why. Have something worth fighting for, worth choking down boring old water when you're thirsty or spend all that money on better drinks.

[Azisien]

Can't have your cake and eat it, and specifically can't expect to lose weight if you eat it.

Well, one weekend of cake binging never hurt anyone! But yea, if you eat one or more cakes per day, you may want to cut that out. Switch to...bananas? They're sweet?! Same goes for soda.

[Archbio]

If you take the effort to cook, healthy eating is cheaper than the more unhealthy alternatives. You just need to put a little effort and research into it.

And time. Time being money, that means that it's not always actually cheaper. My understanding is that not everybody has a schedule that's flexible and/or free enough to learn to cook healthy and then cook.

[Melfice]

This seems relatively misleading to me. Most juices I know of aren't loaded with high-fructose corn syrup. Switching from cola to juice would be way better for you.

Any unsweetened juices are positively loaded with natural sugars from the fruit itself.
I think they even have a higher sugar content than sodas, but don't quote me on this.

[Amake]

Well, I've just been to the store for some recon. Every single drink that isn't loaded with phenylalanine sources or mineral water has between 40-45 kcal/100 ml. Low fat milk, high octane Red Bull, fruit juices, fruit juice concentrates, 2.5% beer, everything.

In the words of my landsman Peter Stormare, is this good or bad?

[Magic_Marker]

And time. Time being money, that means that it's not always actually cheaper. My understanding is that not everybody has a schedule that's flexible and/or free enough to learn to cook healthy and then cook.

Very true. But I find in most cases with people I meet when they complain they have no time, in actuality they would need to cut down on video games, internet use, etc. before they would have time to cook. I was that way.

That isn't to say there there aren't legitimately people whose live WILL NOT allow for home cooked meals, but in my exprience it's best to try cook, decide you don't have time, and stop than not try at all.

[Meister]

Well, it's better to have natural juice than sweetened soda, but if you're looking for a low-calorie drink you need to be looking somewhere else entirely.

And time. Time being money, that means that it's not always actually cheaper. My understanding is that not everybody has a schedule that's flexible and/or free enough to learn to cook healthy and then cook.
True, but that just means you have to look around for quick recipes. One of my favourites lately has been red lentils with spinach. It takes 20 minutes tops, it's delicious and literally the only prep work you have to do is chop an onion. If you have time to stop at a McDonald's or bake a frozen pizza you have time to make this.

[Magic_Marker]

True, but that just means you have to look around for quick recipes. One of my favourites lately has been red lentils with spinach. It takes 20 minutes tops, it's delicious and literally the only prep work you have to do is chop an onion. If you have time to stop at a McDonald's or bake a frozen pizza you have time to make this.

Also do not discount the Big Ass Salad. Stock up on veggies, then cut the fuck out of a head of lettuce and throw in whatever seems good: Peppers, Onions, Celery, A clove or two of Garlic, Tomatos or any fucking plant you want.

Boom, lunch for a week. Keep it wrapped and fresh and add your favorite meats, (eggs, bacon, chicken, beef, whatever) dressings, and spices to change things up daily.

Takes maybe 20 minutes to chop the plants up if you know what you want, then add whatever time it takes to add the meat, of your choice if you want a carnivore's salad.

[katiuska]

This seems relatively misleading to me. Most juices I know of aren't loaded with high-fructose corn syrup. Switching from cola to juice would be way better for you.

They totally are, unless you're thinking of like, orange juice. Pretty much all of them come in non-HFCS varieties, but standard Minute Maid, Ocean Spray, and the like all have it. I'm tempted to try sugar Pepsi, but I don't know, do they compensate with an equivalent amount of sugar? Because really, you shouldn't be consuming that many monosaccharides in any form.

Not that that stops me, mind you, but I've made that choice.

[Azisien]

Any unsweetened juices are positively loaded with natural sugars from the fruit itself.
I think they even have a higher sugar content than sodas, but don't quote me on this.

Sugar isn't bad for you. Bad sugar is bad for you. If you eat an apple, all you've really done is eaten sugar and water, and a bit of fiber.

I was curious about your possible fact, though, so I looked it up:

Tropicana Grovestand Orange Juice: 110cal, 22g sugar per 8oz.
Coca-cola: 97cal, 27g sugar per 8oz.
Barq's root beer: 111cal, 30g sugar per 8oz.

Dairyland Skim Milk: 91cal, 13g sugar per 8oz.

Milk wins!

but standard Minute Maid, Ocean Spray, and the like all have it.

Ew, minute maid...

[MasterOfMagic]

Juice makes me think of like, Juicy Juice. Not Minute Maid.

[Eltargrim]

Simply put, you should not be drinking your calories. Juice, while not as bad as pop, is not good for you. It's just not as bad. If you want fruit sugars, eat some fruit!

Now, this isn't a call to cut unhealthy things out of your diet. (Goddamned near) everything is ok in moderation. But when I see people chugging back 1L of juice like it was water, I still facepalm.

[DFM]

Maybe some motherfuckers just like juice.

[Azisien]

Simply put, you should not be drinking your calories. Juice, while not as bad as pop, is not good for you. It's just not as bad. If you want fruit sugars, eat some fruit!

Now, this isn't a call to cut unhealthy things out of your diet. (Goddamned near) everything is ok in moderation. But when I see people chugging back 1L of juice like it was water, I still facepalm.

I have a friend that drinks 4L of milk per day. It's most of his diet, actually. He's a greater athlete than I. :sweatdrop

[Magus]

I would like to point out that for low-income families it is actually much cheaper to eat "bad" yet extremely filling meals consisting of bread, pasta, potatoes, and low-grade meat products than it is to spend a lot of money on "good" foods like fresh vegetables. Even the vegetables that they would be eating are probably canned and therefore loaded with sodium.

This is taking into account if they actually have time to prepare their own food. If both parents are working, it is no surprise that junk or fast food takes the place of even "unhealthy" prepared food that would still be better than a bucket of KFC.

If you're single, though, it is probably more than possible to eat healthier, as has been mentioned. I would just like to point out that for low-income families the same thing does not necessarily apply.

EDIT: This is not to say that your average low-income family does not exacerbate the problem by making poor choices even within their more limited budget, but there are other factors other than poor choices at play.

[Mike McC]

And time. Time being money, that means that it's not always actually cheaper. My understanding is that not everybody has a schedule that's flexible and/or free enough to learn to cook healthy and then cook.Time really isn't as big of a factor. With slow cookers and rice cookers, and other automated kitchen appliances (that aren't really that expensive), it becomes much simpler. Hell, even making a soup from scratch generally doesn't require a huge time investment, you just put it on and go about some other work.

Honestly, its a very weak excuse that reeks of ignorance.

[pochercoaster]

I would like to point out that for low-income families it is actually much cheaper to eat "bad" yet extremely filling meals consisting of bread, pasta, potatoes, and low-grade meat products than it is to spend a lot of money on "good" foods like fresh vegetables. Even the vegetables that they would be eating are probably canned and therefore loaded with sodium.

This is taking into account if they actually have time to prepare their own food. If both parents are working, it is no surprise that junk or fast food takes the place of even "unhealthy" prepared food that would still be better than a bucket of KFC.

If you're single, though, it is probably more than possible to eat healthier, as has been mentioned. I would just like to point out that for low-income families the same thing does not necessarily apply.

EDIT: This is not to say that your average low-income family does not exacerbate the problem by making poor choices even within their more limited budget, but there are other factors other than poor choices at play.

QFT

Add to this that poor communities tend to be stuck with crappy grocery stores and/or convenience stores. Add to that that many poor people have to rely on public transportation to get around and it becomes even harder to shop anywhere decent. Not to mention transporting enough groceries for an entire family when you don't have a car is a pain in the ass, even for short distances. (I've made my shoulder sore several times just carrying home groceries when I lived somewhere where there were no buses. >_>)

[bluestarultor]

Here's a few tips from Blue:

- Buy meat on sale and freeze it. Then prepare in a slow cooker later. Toss it in at breakfast, eat it for dinner. Easy.
- Want fruit? Get apples. There are many kinds and all of them keep forever. Seriously, they will stay good for literal MONTHS.
- AVOID BERRIES! They're healthy, but unless you're eating them the same day or freezing them (which is tasty, especially for grapes), they don't last long and waste a lot of your money.
- Soup is incredibly easy to make, even in large amounts. Chop up some cooked meat and fresh veggies, put in a giant pot, and as long as you keep it hot or cold, with nothing in between, you'll have good food.
- Skip cereal, eat oatmeal. It takes longer to cook, but it holds you over longer.
- Frozen is just as good as fresh.

[Marc v4.0]

Flash frozen foods tend to be fresher and taste better then packaged meats in a chill case. They also don't have to be treated with chemical preservitives so they last longer in pre-freezing environments and look fresher.

Flash frozen chicken and frozen veggie blends have been my friends for years now. Depending on your place of grocering, you can usually get a 1 pound bag of veggie blends for a dollar a bag on sales. Vegetable stew blends and single-veggie bags tend to be much cheaper.

Nothing beats shopping a day or two after New Years, if you can manage. A lot of packaged food goes on rock-bottom sale then because they want to move the stock out to make room for expected big shipments (at least out store does).

[Archbio]

Honestly, its a very weak excuse that reeks of ignorance.

I just doublechecked and it's not past its expiry date.

It's probably something else that reeks.

[Azisien]

- AVOID BERRIES! They're healthy, but unless you're eating them the same day or freezing them (which is tasty, especially for grapes), they don't last long and waste a lot of your money.

I just wanted to add, depending on your specific grocery store's stock, giant bags of frozen berries can be pretty awesome. The Loblaws by my place puts 2kg bags on sale once a month or so and it's pretty reasonable, and naturally they keep. I use them to make fruit shakes now. As hypocritical as it sounds given this thread, it has replaced my juice-drinking. :p


Also second the oatmeal. I make a big batch of it and store it in the fridge, it lasts a week or more. Just plain oatmeal. It's hella cheap and is really filling. The plain stuff is really bland though, so I toss in sliced apples, cinnamon, or brown sugar for some taste.

[Green Spanner]

- AVOID BERRIES! They're healthy, but unless you're eating them the same day or freezing them (which is tasty, especially for grapes), they don't last long and waste a lot of your money.

I have some grapes in the fridge. They have been in there for almost two weeks now, and they're still good.

[bluestarultor]

I have some grapes in the fridge. They have been in there for almost two weeks now, and they're still good.

Well, I should have said grapes keep better, but they're awesome frozen. :p

Stuff like raspberries, on the other hand, are fuzzy by the end of the next day in many cases.

[Seil]

Apparently thater food is what's causing me to be fat. Who knew? (http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/world-news/sonys-chairman-urges-for-healthier-alternatives-to-popcorn-in-cinemas_100335649.html)

[Magic_Marker]

Good thing Seil isn't American because then This:

I Would Be Healthier If I Had The Money

Would Become This:

I Would Be Wealthier If I Had My Health

Would Become This:

I Would Be Healthier If I Had The Money

[Mike McC]

Um, yes, the above post makes perfect sense and doesn't need explaining at all!

I never get popcorn at the theater. Something about the grease trying to be butter they put on it ties up my innards into a gordian knot of discomfort.

Popcorn that is not completely saturated in that grease is perfectly fine and healthy, though.

[Magus]

Popcorn without six tons of "butter" and salt is certainly better for you than potato chips.

Also anyone who is willing to pay ticket prices AND buy popcorn at the theater is obviously missing the source of their money problem in the first place, so it can't even be connected to a monetary issue, thus is unconnected to the issue at hand in this thread.

Or people are idiots and buy shit at the theater and then have "unexplained" monetary problems (probably the truth of the matter).

[Magic_Marker]

Um, yes, the above post makes perfect sense and doesn't need explaining at all!


I would be healthier if I had the money

OH NOES! BECAUSE I AM NOT HEALTHY I HAVE TO PAY FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT!

I would be wealthier if I had my health.

OH NOES! I'M PAYIN' FOR OF THIS DOCTORIN' SO NOW I CAN'T BUY HEALTHY FOOD!

Then the cycle continues. Because you can't feed yourself healthy food, you end up with a chronic disease brought about by diet. Diabetes, for instance, hearth disease, many, many others. Chronic diseases can cost a lot of money, which, even if you could have eaten healthy if you decided to cut your cable bill or any other cost saving measures, now you can't, because you have these bills to take care of that you either pay or die. Now for many individuals this premise, might be false, singles in American cities perhaps, there are many ways to cut down on expenses, maybe not everyone can and in this case eating unhealthy is the only way. The problem is once you do develop a condition due to your poor diet it can be hard to change the diet because of the costs of treatment.


Does this explain it?

[Mike McC]

Yes, yes it does. Thank you. But yeah, it was not the most obvious of statements to begin with.

[Seil]

Sun-Rype Strawberry-Banana-Carrot juice:

http://www.sunrype.ca/product_images/panel_121070209274b49784.gif (http://www.sunrype.ca/viewproduct.php?variety=59)

[Krylo]

Popcorn without six tons of "butter" and salt is certainly better for you than potato chips.

Also anyone who is willing to pay ticket prices AND buy popcorn at the theater is obviously missing the source of their money problem in the first place, so it can't even be connected to a monetary issue, thus is unconnected to the issue at hand in this thread.

Or people are idiots and buy shit at the theater and then have "unexplained" monetary problems (probably the truth of the matter).

If you are going to the theater and aren't buying a massive tub of theater popcorn and one of those ridiculous over sized and over priced drinks, you should have just stolen the video off the internet and watched it at home. Edit: Or waited a month and legally purchased the DVD, which is what all responsible people should do.

They are an integral part of the theater experience. Right up there with the other people laughing at all the jokes (even the bad ones), and the teenage couple (or couples) making out in the back where they think no one is looking. And that group of people over closer to the front who take up too rows and throw Dots and popcorn kernals at each other.

Without any of those aspects you may as well just stay home.

If you're going to actually watch a movie, you're there for the wrong reason. There's always a bunch of extra noise, and people moving around and getting in the way, and at least 1/3 of the time some idiot up in the booth will fuck up the focus at some point, and like 1/10th of the time they'll step out for a few minutes, or not pay attention, when the movie goes out of focus half way through.

Your living room: Better for watching movies.

The theater: An entire experience that is only partially dependent on the movie.

Also: Action flicks are the only movies really worth watching in a theater. The explosions/gasp inspiring scenes, plus the comedy moments intrinsic to the genre, create the perfect theater experience.

They're also the only movie that can be enhanced by a massive screen.

[Seil]

If you're going to actually watch a movie, you're there for the wrong reason. There's always a bunch of extra noise, and people moving around and getting in the way, and at least 1/3 of the time some idiot up in the booth will fuck up the focus at some point, and like 1/10th of the time they'll step out for a few minutes, or not pay attention, when the movie goes out of focus half way through.

What kind of half-assed budget theater are you going to?

[Professor Smarmiarty]

Yeah I'm with Seil here, your theaters sound terrible. Maybe you're just going to the wrong ones.

[Mike McC]

Yeah, I've never been to a theater where that happened, and I've been to some ghetto-ass second-run theaters in my day.

[Green Spanner]

Are you even sure it was a theatre, Krylo?

[Krylo]

Ok, guys, I was being a LITTLE HYPERBOLIC.

Yes, I have had the focus thing happen.

No it isn't actually that often and is actually pretty rare.

Like, three times ever for the going out of focus near the middle, though for some reason the local theater's 'ad reel' seems to be on a different focus than any of the actual movies they play so there's always a couple seconds at the opening credits that are a bit hazy.

However, being in a theater with all those other people still distracts/detracts from the pure viewing of a movie. Going to a theater is an entirely different experience. The junk food is part of that experience.

That was the point.

[Professor Smarmiarty]

Yeah it is a different experiene but I usually find it a better experience- as long as you go to a more upmarket theatre and avoid the teenage crowd.
Best cinema experience ever was Limits of Control where there was nearly a riot, people were booing, walking out, causig a ruckus- good times.

[Odjn]

Don't eat cereal or oatmeal in the morning if you can get eggs. My daily breakfast for months has been two eggs, cooked however I feel like (for the lazy, put 'em in a pot and hardboil 'em, almost impossible to burn so you don't have to supervise) because they're a great source of protein which helps if you're trying to decrease fat and increase muscle.

[Magic_Marker]

Man, back when I was an usher I used to love. Bullshit like that. It was the only time you got to have any fun.

Kicking 10 year-olds out of Knocked Up and watching them call their parents for a ride when I discovered their movie was Happy Feet, shining a douchey flashlight at the 20-somethings who need to guess the twist in the next Shamalyan Movie before it actually happened.

Good times, goood times.

[krogothwolf]

Man, back when I was an usher I used to love. Bullshit like that. It was the only time you got to have any fun.

Kicking 10 year-olds out of Knocked Up and watching them call their parents for a ride when I discovered their movie was Happy Feet, shining a douchey flashlight at the 20-somethings who need to guess the twist in the next Shamalyan Movie before it actually happened.

Good times, goood times.

You actually kicked them out? what kind of totalitarian dictator of the movie theater were you?

[Magic_Marker]

You actually kicked them out? what kind of totalitarian dictator of the movie theater were you?

The kind that reserves the right to refuse service to asshats. In the case of kids trying to sneak into R-rated films, I'd put them back in their PG fun fest but after they repeatedly broke our policy about not letting unattended minors see R rated movies we politely tell them that we are not their babysitters. If the parents get mad, my managers had no problems asking them to either pay the ushers to babysit their kids or please leave the theatre because they are ruining the film for others.

[krogothwolf]

The kind that reserves the right to refuse service to asshats. In the case of kids trying to sneak into R-rated films, I'd put them back in their PG fun fest but after they repeatedly broke our policy about not letting unattended minors see R rated movies we politely tell them that we are not their babysitters. If the parents get mad, my managers had no problems asking them to either pay the ushers to babysit their kids or please leave the theatre because they are ruining the film for others.

Man, that's weak the little kids just wanted to watch people have sex and swear. How many times did you catch guys with their pants down? Or a couple getting overly frisky in the theater?

[Tev]

How many times did you catch guys with their pants down? Or a couple getting overly frisky in the theater?I once caught a couple sexing it up on the floor of the auditorium during the ever so G rated "Finding Nemo."

You catch people doing all kinds of stuff when you are a theatre employee.

[waddle2120]

I've almost eliminated Regular Soda from my diet; occaisionally you find places where its either that or diet (in which case I try and get a mix of the two); my new beverage of choice? It's been mentioned previously Iced Tea.

I find myself choosing my dining options based upon whether I know if a restaurant has Tea or not.

My diet (I dunno if you can call it one) is strictly based on trying to watch Calories coming in; the Goal is to limit myself to around 2100 a day; and I find that I get more enjoyment from eating my calories than drinking them.

Obviously metabolisms are different; but the basic premise I hold is that Calories in should be equal (or less than) calories out.

EDIT- helps to read the whole thread before posting; nothing I say about the unhealthiness of movie theaters will be news to anyone.