Americans are willing to pay a lot for convenience. ATM fees, credit card finance charges and eating out all can take a toll on a family's budget. Yet we often value "saving time" over the many other costs our choices involve. These include costs to our health, the environment and even our social groups.
These issues all come together at the supermarket. Modern packaging provides us with food we can prepare quickly and that can last for months when unopened. Nutritionally, however, these foods are higher in salt, fats and preservatives. All of these have been shown to have a huge impact on obesity as well as our general health. Food prepared at home is generally fresher, the ingredients cheaper and the taste more personal. Plus a home cooked meal has a way of bringing the family together that a frozen pizza just can't do.
"Convenience" has other hidden costs, too — for example, higher packaging costs which are passed on to you the consumer. According to the USDA, between 1980 and 2000, packaging costs totaled $53.5 billion, growing 20% faster than total costs for food.
So at your next family dinner talk about what you truly value. Your next dinner may be much more satisfying!
