Top $ For A Third World Diet

There's a new frugality sweeping over America and food buying...how to survive these tough economic times. Clipping coupons. That's an old stalwart, eh? Don't just take the Sunday paper ads in, no...organize them alphabetically in an expandable envelope as you stroll the isles. But there's always an isle in every supermarket where your coupons are worthless, not even worth that 1/10th of 1 cent exchange: the produce isle.

Then you'd convince yourself, well, vegetables are expensive, and Cup O' Noodles is dirt cheap, and besides, I don't have a coupon for a head of cabbage...so into your cart goes the instant soup.

Potatoes, cabbages, onions, lentils, beans...these are among the cheapest foods in existence, but no! they don't form the base of the "frugal American" diet. We'd prefer our potatoes come dehydrated and processed in a bag inside a box that is $0.89 cheaper now that we have a coupon. If you're outta work, what, you don't have time to cook? Really? Don't have time to slice, boil and mash your own fucking potatoes?

Coupons are one extension of why we are so physically disabled in this greatest nation in the world. We process the shit out of everything and wonder why food prices and blood pressures keep going up. If we do try to eat sensibly we only do so if others prepare it or if it comes semi-prepared in a box...so we essentially pay top dollar for a third world diet. I have no sympathy for a nation of overweight out-of-work people who can't seem to figure out where all their food dollars are going.

I've developed one food adage; every food eaten should need a modicum of your own preparation. If it doesn't need it, you shouldn't eat it. Not that I follow it like I should, but I am making headway. My moccasin beans are soaking as I write.