Comparing the Costs

It's the end of the month and your fridge is almost as empty as your bank account. Your mind ponders on a home cooked meal for a second, then you pull up to the McDonald's drive-through.  Looks like the dollar menu will decide your dinner tonight...

Many people have opted for fast food meals because they are quick, convenient, and seemingly cheaper than cooking at home.  However, at the Women's Health Conference (read my previous post) our speaker talked about an article published in the New York Times by Mark Bittman, "Is Fast Food Really Cheaper?".  In the article, Bittman breaks down the cost for a family of 4 to eat at McDonalds and compares it to a meal cooked at home consisting of chicken, potatoes, and salad.  The cooked dinner costs less than half the amount of the meal from McDonalds!

Bittman's article touches on other important points such as the highly addictive qualities of processed food and it's desirable convenience Americans have come to rely on.  Bittman argues, "The smart campaign is not to get McDonald’s to serve better food but to get people to see cooking as a joy rather than a burden, or at least as part of a normal life."  I cannot agree more!!

Read his entire article for yourselves and comment below: What are your reasons for choosing fast food over cooking at home?