I would ask the BMG editors for some leeway on this post as it has little to do with politics.
We all know the middle class (and poor) are being squeezed and the real squeeze may not have even started yet.
SO… I am making some people aware of a few ways to save money eating (mainly concerning kids).
Moe’s Southwest Grille- (Worcester, Shrewsbury, Plymouth, Hanover) has “Kids eat free on Tuesday”. And the adult meals are reasonable priced too (and good). 2 adults and 2 kids (no drinks) costs $18.00
Burker King – For fast food fans BK has a “Value” menu featuring $1.00 items. I get my kids these sometimes (Chicken Tenders – $1.00, small Fries – $1.00). We skip the drink and the foolish throw away toy and it totals $2.00. The BK kids meal equvalent (add drink and toy) is $4.00. Feed 4 kids for $8.00 and buy a 2 liter bottle of soda at Stop and Shop.
99 Restaurants (all over MA) – They have a $5.40 Steak kids meal (JUNIOR TOP SIRLOIN STEAK) which is fantastic. A good sized piece of quality steak and 2 sides (fries and a veggie). I get them “to go” so I dont have to pay for drinks… My wife often gets one too since it’s a filling meal for an adult. Again, steak dinners for 2 kids and 2 adults – $22.00 sweet!
Again, this won’t save you thousands but maybe getting the kids out of the house for a meal which won’t break your wallet will help you make it thru the recession a little easier. And you can always eat these meals in the restaurants but they get you on the drinks so I always get them to go. Bona petite.
michael-forbes-wilcox says
Of the foods you listed, I would not eat a one.
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p>Chicken, fries, soda, steak — all non-starters for me.
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p>This has a lot to do with politics.
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p>The animal slaughter industry contributes more to climate change than does the transportation industry. I don’t have a citation handy, but I’ve seen this fact bandied about so much, I am willing to accept it as common scientific knowledge.
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p>Obesity is a huge medical problem in this country. Kids grow up to be adults, and the eating habits they learn while young stick with them (and the pounds they gain if their diet is inappropriate).
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p>I would urge you to give some thought to the future of our world (and of your children) and consider perhaps treating yourself to some locally-grown produce (a bit difficult this time of year, to be sure!) or at least a balanced diet composed of fruits, vegetables, rice, etc. of the non-sugar-enhanced, non-processed variety.
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p>If you’re not eating in the restaurant anyway, it seems that you are spending money on gas when your time and energy could be spent at home cooking up a storm, for probably the same or less per serving.
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p>If I sound a tad judgmental, I guess I can accept that rap. We are what we eat, as the saying goes, and I guess one could extend that to say, as a nation, we are what we consume. If there is a silver lining to this recession, it is the stark reminder to people that saving and thinking about the future is important, too, not just consuming.
christopher says
Why does it seem that the least expensive food so often seems to be the worst for you?
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p>Another question for JohnD: Where’s the nearest “Burker King”?:)
johnd says
Although my personal trainer is really down on sugar and simple carbs so he believes the worst foods make up 80% of Stop and Shop. Nothing but processed simple carbs on every isle. It is a rare occasion that you find something that tastes great AND is good for you. And if you do find it, you’d get sick of eating it everyday. Can swing a dead cat without hitting a BK someplace close to you Christopher… go super size it!!!!
christopher says
You spelled Burger King as Burker King in your original post!
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p>As for the supermarket, one strategy is to shop the perimeter and avoid the interior aisles.
johnd says
kbusch says
Alternative title: In praise of the turnip
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p>I’ve been thinking about Pollen’s In Defense of Food a lot lately. Pollen counsels one to avoid anything one’s (great)grandmother would not have recognized as food.
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p>One objection I’ve heard is “Yuck! My ancestors ate this really borrrring. Everything was boiled.”
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p>On further reflection, that may actually be part of why one’s ancestors weren’t overweight: we eat on weekdays what our ancestors may have only eaten on special feast days. Our diet may be too interesting.
midge says
for bringing Michael Pollen into the discussion. I would love to see a whole post designated to this conversation!
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p>Pollen and others, like Frances Moore Lappe, are addressing the interconnection between food, the environment and poverty with sustainable and (hopefully!) long-term solutions.
they says
johnd says
As for going back to boiling everything, why not just go back further and eat everything raw?
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p>Diet has always been a tough one for me to form a truly concrete credo on since there are so many “experts” with diametrically opposed theories. Even when they back up their theories with facts they can still proven wrong with other facts.
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p>Maybe “boiling” was part of the reason why our ancestors weren’t overweight. But we also need to factor in so many other factors that it’s tough to single out a predominant factor. Was it working 6-7 days a week which was common until Americans recognized the Jewish Sabbath or Henry Ford started to close factories on Saturdays and then formalized during/after WWII? Or was it the 8 hour day which came about from union movements throughout history. Maybe it was the physically exhausting labor our ancestors did to burn every calorie they ate or their lack of higher calorie foods (fats) and proteins. Combine that with the calories burned by walking everywhere since cars were scarce and you have a great recipe for people to not be overweight.
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p>Now if you took that life style and allowed them to eat our food selection, would they become overweight… or just a little tiny bit fatter?
mr-lynne says
… weren’t overweight probably because the burned a hell of a lot more calories than we do, much of it producing food. My guess is that they’d become a little fatter with our diet, but only a little, assuming they still would burn a lot of calories.
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p>One of the issues with our diet and the modern food production system is that we wind up having to fight our instincts. Everybody, to one degree or another, has a significant sweet tooth. In an age of hunter gatherers, this means fruits and berries. In an age of processed sugar, it means empty calories and Diabetes. Similarly, from what I understand, the average hunter gatherer didn’t eat meat nearly as often as our western diet. It was no doubt a craving that they had, but given the relative effort of hunting to gathering, its not that surprising that non-meat sources of protein made up the vast majority of their protein intake. Now, we subsidize beef and cattle feed, making the relative cost skewed.
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p>I don’t have a link or anything, but a friend of mine mentioned a pair of graphs he once saw. The first was the overall U.S. production of HFCS over time. The second was the overall rate of U.S type II diabetes over time. He said they were basically in sync, separated by about 20 yrs. Telling.
kbusch says
I was not advocating that we boil everything. I think the person who had responded to me was Irish-American or Anglo-American. Pollen’s advice is to eat traditionally not to follow experts because experts cannot know enough yet. The link I provided offers more.
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p>Plants are like little chemical factories. They produce chemicals to keep the caterpillars off and to protect themselves from microbes and to prevent animals from gobbling them up (with the notable exception of fruits). Think about how ill-equipped humans are to eat what cows eat. The grasses have some good defenses.
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p>That’s the advantage of fire. It makes potatoes and favas less toxic; it makes some nutrients in carrots available; it lowers the chemical defenses of the cabbages.
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p>So, no, do not eat everything raw.
kbusch says
I’m reminded of the Grimm’s story, “The Turnip”:
http://www.literaturepage.com/…
johnd says
This info is for the ones who have chosen to eat meat… Granted there are many wonderfully nutritional delights found in the veggie isle and I love many of them. But at least some people will save money if they follow some of these tips who are happy to eat meats and so do their kids (like mine).
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p>
centralmassdad says
What did they ever do to you? Have they no rights?
johnd says
centralmassdad says
johnd says
sabutai says
Give peas a chance.
centralmassdad says
laurel says
Even when you buy the “deal” items? If you made the same size burgers etc. at home, I wonder if you would save a lot more money and the quality would be a lot higher.
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p>I definitely agree on one point – beverages is where a lot of the profit lies for restaurants. So if you cut out that part of the order, you’ll save a lot of money.
mr-lynne says
Can you mail me so I can mail you back?
goldsteingonewild says
On a per quality flavor basis, lunch is the best deal in town. Something like 6 or 7 bucks. One of the rare Indian joints not to have a lunch buffet. I get the chicken tikka masala. Wife gets the shahi paneer. Comes with rice, cabbage, papadum, and chai.
sabutai says
Slide the guy a break. He’s trying to help with el cheapo specials for the college student in all of us, and you hold an impromptu MassPIRG meeting in his honor. yeesh.
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p>Thanks for the tips JohnD. I’ve been eyeing Moe’s for awhile but this will get me to actually try it. As for the hippies in the crowd, here’s a pleaser:
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p>2 bananas
1 small can pineapple chunks
1/2 cup non-fat vanilla yogurt
1 tbsp honey
1/2 tsp orange extract.
1/4 cup coconut flakes
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
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p>In a small bowl, drain the pineapple juice. Add in honey, yogurt, and extract. Whisk together and set aside.
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p>Slice the bananas, mix with pineapple chunks. Pour previous mixture over the fruit and chill.
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p>Just before serving, add walnut and coconut flakes; mix.
joets says
If you’re ever in the general Dartmouth area, there’s a chinese joint called Good Friends, and they have lunch specials that cost under 6 bucks, come with a can of soda and have enough food to fill up to a level that requires two full meals from a chain restaurant.
johnd says
then chime in. And then let’s go there to eat. Veggies and healthy foods count too.
joets says
I’m sorry, I’m just not following…
mr-lynne says
… are pretty good deals. Not aware of one in Boston where I work, but if you ever get up to Dover NH, definitely check out Taste of India.
johnd says
Remember to bring the kids!!
centralmassdad says
I love the place, though we don’t eat there often.
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p>You don’t need to get the heart attack specials, though they are tasty.
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p>Decent Mexican food is as rare as hen’s teeth in these parts, and Moe’s actually has decent chips, salsa, and guac.
johnk says
Herald article, not much value.