If you haven't noticed, the sizes on things have decreased, while the prices remain constant (actually, higher). I learned a long time ago to check the price per pound, which is printed on almost every price tag. You'll see that you pay way too much for things:
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/SmartSpending/ConsumerActionGuide/10ShrinkingProductsSlideShow.aspx
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Friday, August 29, 2008
How bad is Applebee's??
Not really sure how to start or finish this entry. I always had a bit of disdain for the big chain fast-food restaurants that pretend not to be fast-food. So this will apply to TGI, Outback, Ruby, Chilis, and a host of others. A few months ago I downloaded all of the nutrition guides from these places to show exactly how bad the food is for you. Turns out that almost every meal or appetizer was worse than ANYTHING from McD, BK, or Wendy's. So I already knew that.
Wendy's advertises that their chicken is actually real, and it didn't occur to me that some other places (see title of this entry) use something called "SmartServe Chicken" from Sysco. On Sysco's website this explains that they "form" it, which makes it cheaper and more controlled portions. If you have ever had chicken that tasted like plastic or was foamy, this is what you are eating. I guess my problem here is spending 11 bucks on an entree that was microwaved and cost them less than a buck to produce. For 11 bucks, I could take the family to Wendy's and get 2 ACTUAL chicken sandwiches, plus fries and drinks.
Anyways, in addition, I should give a silver medal to the kids meals, because this is where the real shame is. Kids do not know better, and parents are powerless to do anything about it. For a mere 5 bucks you get a fully microwaved, low-nutrition, high-salt meal that was manufactured by Sysco, probably in China. Oh yeh, and getting the actual numbers? Applebees and others do not have to disclose this the way the big actual fast-food chains have to.
We used to make fun of Fridays a long time ago by saying we were going to "go get some crappy food and watered-down drinks." Never knew how true this was. Next time I am going straight to Wendy's.
Wendy's advertises that their chicken is actually real, and it didn't occur to me that some other places (see title of this entry) use something called "SmartServe Chicken" from Sysco. On Sysco's website this explains that they "form" it, which makes it cheaper and more controlled portions. If you have ever had chicken that tasted like plastic or was foamy, this is what you are eating. I guess my problem here is spending 11 bucks on an entree that was microwaved and cost them less than a buck to produce. For 11 bucks, I could take the family to Wendy's and get 2 ACTUAL chicken sandwiches, plus fries and drinks.
Anyways, in addition, I should give a silver medal to the kids meals, because this is where the real shame is. Kids do not know better, and parents are powerless to do anything about it. For a mere 5 bucks you get a fully microwaved, low-nutrition, high-salt meal that was manufactured by Sysco, probably in China. Oh yeh, and getting the actual numbers? Applebees and others do not have to disclose this the way the big actual fast-food chains have to.
We used to make fun of Fridays a long time ago by saying we were going to "go get some crappy food and watered-down drinks." Never knew how true this was. Next time I am going straight to Wendy's.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Grocery III
Do they think we are stupid? Last week 12 packs of soda were 5/10$. SO 2$ each. Today they were "on sale" for 3/12$. So double. Do they think we are dumb, or is the math too much for the average american???
Finally Something Good (and some normal rants)
Saw something on the news that made me happy. Local farms will allow people to pay once per season to "own" some of the farm, giving them the right to 10lb of produce each week during the season. If everyone did it, it would discourage shipping in of mass-produced stuff from (you guessed it) other countries. What do you think happens when you grow a watermelon in a country with tainted water supplies? Plus it probably takes tons of fuel to ship food around, when it is easy to make it locally. And yes, when gas runs out, I will go a few months without tomatoes. This winter, I pulled a carrot from the ground in 10 degree weather, and it was fine staying underground. SO I think we can alter our winter diets and be FINE.
Anyways, wouldn't it save a ton of energy if every store in the US turned the A/C up 2 degrees all day, or at least for part of the day? Aren't you freezing when you leave a grocery store?
Oh yeh, and closing 600 starbucks stores is a good start.
Anyways, wouldn't it save a ton of energy if every store in the US turned the A/C up 2 degrees all day, or at least for part of the day? Aren't you freezing when you leave a grocery store?
Oh yeh, and closing 600 starbucks stores is a good start.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Friday, May 23, 2008
Food Part II
Take a look at the packaging. Its cleverly trying to hide the fact that the sizes are getting smaller even when price stays the same. Remember 8oz yogurt cups? All 6 now, and the price is still what it was, if not higher. How about ice cream. Good ole half-gallon container is now 1.75 quarts, and some brands are over 5$ consistently. I use to nice as a kid that chips and pretzels were fied with air. Still happening, but now it is done to put less food in as opposed to protecting the contents.
My new favorite though is 100-calorie packs. These clever packaging crooks are taking advantage of people watching their weight and putting a ridiculous amount in the carton. Most types wind up with 4-5oz TOTAL in the box, and they cost over 3 bucks, even when on sale. DO THE MATH!!, thats around 12$/pound, more than the price of filet mignon or prime rib. All you are getting is more landfill material. Do yourself a favor and buy a regular box of cookies or crackers.
My new favorite though is 100-calorie packs. These clever packaging crooks are taking advantage of people watching their weight and putting a ridiculous amount in the carton. Most types wind up with 4-5oz TOTAL in the box, and they cost over 3 bucks, even when on sale. DO THE MATH!!, thats around 12$/pound, more than the price of filet mignon or prime rib. All you are getting is more landfill material. Do yourself a favor and buy a regular box of cookies or crackers.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Kids Food
Yummy. Take a look at these labels from kids meals. The left is "Kid Cuisine Fried Chicken", and the right is "Lunchables Hot Dogs". Both market to kids and parents on the go, so you know sales are great. Even better for the manufacturers, they are expensive to buy, and cheap to produce. Not bad....Both are based on 2000-calorie diets too, so increase those numbers for the people they market to, who are all supposed to eat less than that. Does anyone wonder why diabetes and childhood obesity are running rampant?
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