Cheap, Cheap!

By Jonathan | Published: March 16, 2011

As I’ve often mentioned, cheap food is a major cause for food waste. For the past few years it has hovered at about 10 percent of household spending.

But, at a recent brown bag lunch, Portland food and waste thinkers informed me that the cost had dipped even further. It’s now 6.9 percent! That’s based on a Nielson report using USDA data.

That cheapness has a real impact–we don’t tend to value that which is inexpensive. And by most any definition, something that’s 7 percent of our budget is cheap. And each individual item is only a fraction of that percentage, providing little economic incentive not to waste.

And so…waste we do!

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6 Comments

  1. Kristen@TheFrugalGir
    Posted March 16, 2011 at 7:25 am | Permalink

    I was just saying this very thing the other day when I was on the phone with one of the ladies from Expendable Edibles…we don’t value our food because it hasn’t cost us much money.

    I notice this in my own life…when I have grass-fed local beef in my house, I make darn sure that I don’t let any of it go to waste! I mean, I try with all of my food, but when it’s food I value highly, my care goes up to a whole ‘nother level.

  2. Jonathan
    Posted March 16, 2011 at 8:48 am | Permalink

    So true! I’m the same way. There’s just more incentive with expensive foods and meat or seafood.

  3. Joseph Papsidero
    Posted March 16, 2011 at 2:34 pm | Permalink

    If food that is paid for is being wasted without a thought, consider how much is wasted through free school meals and food stamp “purchases” which is the ultimate in easy-come; easy-go.

  4. Monique
    Posted March 18, 2011 at 11:57 am | Permalink

    Great post, keeping an eye on wasting all the time! Just found this interesting spending overview…http://www.rustylime.com/show_article.php?id=1497

  5. Eleanor Lewis
    Posted March 30, 2011 at 9:40 am | Permalink

    I was wondering, if I sited your website, could I use the above photo as the lead in for our Coalition’s Newsletter? We are a Coalition of agencies, food pantries, business, congregations, and individuals who seek to reduce hunger in our county. We participate in food rescue efforts, and I am always looking for food related photos to make our newsletters more interesting. I posted a link to your website on our facebook page, but I think putting a link in our newsletter might push some traffic your way as well.

  6. click reference
    Posted December 12, 2012 at 11:58 pm | Permalink

    WONDERFUL Post.thanks for share..more wait .. …

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