So what's wrong with cheap food and cheap meat — especially in a world in which more than 1 billion people go hungry? A lot. For one thing, not all food is equally inexpensive; fruits and vegetables don't receive the same price supports as grains. A study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that a dollar could buy 1,200 calories of potato chips or 875 calories of soda but just 250 calories of vegetables or 170 calories of fresh fruit.

...

When runoff from the fields of the Midwest reaches the Gulf of Mexico, it contributes to what's known as a dead zone, a seasonal, approximately 6,000-sq.-mi. area that has almost no oxygen and therefore almost no sea life. Because of the dead zone, the $2.8 billion Gulf of Mexico fishing industry loses 212,000 metric tons of seafood a year, and around the world, there are nearly 400 similar dead zones. Even as we produce more high-fat, high-calorie foods, we destroy one of our leanest and healthiest sources of protein.

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For most people, price will remain the biggest obstacle. Organic food continues to cost on average several times more than its conventional counterparts, and no one goes to farmers' markets for bargains. But not all costs can be measured by a price tag. Once you factor in crop subsidies, ecological damage and what we pay in health-care bills after our fatty, sugary diet makes us sick, conventionally produced food looks a lot pricier.

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According to research from the University of California, grass-fed beef is higher in beta-carotene, vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids than conventional beef

From heart-friendly margarines to sugary cereals that strengthen bones, once-demonized foods are being spiked with nutrients to give them a healthier glow — and consumers are biting, even on some that are little more than dressed-up junk food.

• Pepperoni slices, mushrooms, etc. on a pizza, including
  adding extra to pre-made frozen pizzas (we did this for
  dinner tonight, since we had extra pepperoni on hand from
  a previous homemade pizza night and we were throwing
  pre-made frozen mini pizzas in the oven for an easy dinner)


• Fruit salad (which is always cheaper and lower-sugar if
  made from fresh fruit cut up at home versus canned stuff,
  but granted, you can't always get decent fresh stuff at a
  decent cost)...just plop down some bits for an eyes, nose,
  and mouth on the kid's plate and make the rest "hair" or
  "body" or whatever.


• Anything on a tortilla, or even regular bread. Deli
  meat, veggies, leftover chicken chunks, whatever. Arrange
  a few bits as a face and again, call the rest "hair" or
  "body" or whatever. Peo thinks it's a huge treat if I put
  the tiniest dots of BBQ sauce on as mini smileys all around
  as a bonus. She will eat food that would otherwise get a
  sneer if I do this. Seriously. Bits of shredded cheese
  make fab hair.


• Meatballs on spaghetti in a face pattern. Also works
  with meat lumps in hamburger-helper type meals. Any
  combo of pasta/cheese/meet that's vaguely face-like will do.


• Blueberries (dried or frozen to save money when not in
  season) on cereal, be it hot, cold, dry, wet, whatever.
  Or other berries. A little fruit face goes a long way to
  getting that whole grain goodness into them.


• Most solid lumps of something can be cut up for a face:
  hot dogs, meatloaf, whatever. And if it truly doesn't
  work cut up, stab the face onto the surface, like on a
  sandwich or whatever...just poke some holes and sort of
  squish them out if needed to make clear eyes and a mouth.

dididdlyi

There is something fundamentally wrong with an economic philosophy that requires people to spend money so that the economy will remain strong. Not only does such an outlook weaken our ability to save, but it is tied to the false idea that happiness is to be found in the acquisition of material goods

indomitability