A Friend Stopped By | 06/24/2008 9:55 am

Soaring Food Prices May Cause Restructuring of American Value System, by Judith Weinraub

By Judith Weinraub

Editor’s Note: Judith Weinraub, a reporter and editor at The Washington Post for 25 years, is now a W.K. Kellogg Food and Society Policy Fellow.

The other night I went to a panel discussion about food literacy — that is, how much more we know about food than we used to. At one point, the subject of today’s rising food costs came up.

But before I get started on the panel reactions, I want to mention that since this month’s floods in the Midwestern farm belt have ruined much of this year’s corn and soybean crops — driving up their prices astronomically and adding to what’s currently considered an ongoing global food crisis — that situation is only going to get worse.

Faced with soaring food costs, many Americans will have to make choices we haven't before had to face ...

Now back to my recap of the discussion. The thought was raised that Americans are so used to having cheap food — generally eating up only about 10 to 11 percent of our income — that we’re also used to having more cash for other things: clothes, vacations, nice cars, etc. The same is true for Europeans, who traditionally spend about 14 percent of income on edibles. Both don’t seem to be much of a percentage compared to the figures for India (about 50 percent) and Africa (about 70 percent).

The conclusion drawn? How we spend our money really comes down to our values. And faced with soaring food costs, many Americans will have to make choices we haven’t before had to face — like what’s more important: what we put in our bodies or on them. And in Europe, or at least in France, Spain and Italy, cooking with fresh, local foods has always been a source of pride.

Many American families are already suffering from steepening grocery bills. Has it severely cut into your budget yet?

Read more about: A Friend Stopped By, Economy, Food, Judith Weinraub, Meltdown, Weather

23 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

This trend has been a source of conversation between my friends and me. We all remember the middle 70’s when we would have to line up at the gas stations. Then, the inflation started and it became a task to feed our families until it occurred to each of us that we had backyards and we would raise our own vegetables. Somehow we managed. And, in doing so, our value systems became wrapped around our families, friends and neighbors. There was a time in the late 60’s and through the 70’s that we put an emphasis on quality instead of quantity. Helping one another instead of putting our resources into material wealth and conspicuous consumption. I often think now of that short window of time when autos were required to improve their gas mileage and emmissions, when we turned off lights upon leaving a room, and used less fuel to heat our homes. The times when we had neighborhood gardens and block parties, and our children played with each other outdoors instead of inside with expensive video games and computers. When we read books. And mostly, I remember that small period when it seemed as if this country led the world in trying to make it a cleaner place to live. Perhaps, it all goes back to the old saying: When one door slams shut, it forces another one open. I sure hope so; the legacy we leave to our grandchildren is not very good right now, is it.

By Diana T on 06/24/2008 10:58 am

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I spent most of my life taking care of and preparing meals for a family of seven and now I still find myself buying too much food and having it go to waste when there’s only one. Canned goods and some frozen can be salvaged but fresh fruits and vegetables are problematic. I may think a salad would be great for dinner, while I’m shopping and end up having to toss the lettuce, tomatoes, avacados, strawberries, grapes, etc. when they’re not used in a timely fashion. What a waste. I frequently sack up all the extra canned goods and packaged goods and drop them off at the local food bank, but I still haven’t mastered buying just what I need in the next few days and that must change with the increased costs of food and living rurally where I need to cut down on trips to town. A new educational experience in thrift and planning still going on here.

By JJ GB on 06/24/2008 11:00 am

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Clothing is not a problem since I still wear clothes that are old but still in good shape and still classic in design, Thanks to Target and Walmart for my everyday household wardrobe and I buy from Pendleton, Talbot’s and other online nicer clothing that seems to never go out of style and always look good. In fact, come to think of it, I do most of my shopping on line now and while that saves on gas, there’s an increased cost of UPS and transportation costs of delivery so I guess it evens out and still comes down to increased costs for everything.

By JJ GB on 06/24/2008 11:08 am

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jj, do you have a trader joe’s near you? they seem to get the concept that some people live alone, and they are not too expensive. i, too, succumb to the tantalizing quart of strawberries and have to throw out some. but mostly i manage. this week i had to throw out what might have been three large servings of chili because i made too much in the first place, and it was getting old. when you’re cooking with dry beans and cans of tomatoes, it’s easy to make too large a batch.

By mary lou s on 06/24/2008 1:33 pm

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Put your extra in the freezer……..saves cooking for a few nights.

By Dona Howlett on 06/24/2008 2:18 pm

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For JJ GB: After shopping for a family, It’s hard to adjust to buying for just one or two. And having to cut back on trips to town only makes it harder. I freeze a lot of things I cook—soups and stews are obviously great. In summer I let myself be tempted by squash and eggplants and tomatoes because I can always make ratatouille, which you can serve as a vegetable, use as an omelette filling, turn into a pasta sauce.. Are there blueberries in your market? They freeze really well—spread them out on a cookie sheet, put it in the freezer. And once they’re frozen, put the berries in plastic bags, getting out as much air as you can; then you can have them whenever you want.

By Judith Weinraub on 06/24/2008 6:41 pm

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All good advice. No Trader Joe’s closer than 60-70 miles and the nearest Walmart and H.E.B.’s is 15 miles and the summer outdoor farmer’s market about 20 miles. Miss having all of that, esp. Trader Joe’s. Must get a new freezer-my side by side R/F is stuffed. I’m going to try all your suggestions, as soon as I remove the brown lettuce and wilted celery and other surprises before cleaning it all out again and restocking more seasonably and reasonably. Thanks.

By JJ GB on 06/24/2008 9:04 pm

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I’ve long wondered why so many eat at fast food places so often. When I was a little kid, a trip to McDonald’s was a treat, not a daily ritual. With the exception of the dollar menus, eating a meal a day from Burger King or Micky-D’s can really add up. I understand the “convenience” aspect of this, but don’t people get sick (literally) of eating big helpings of fatty/sugary/processed food every day? People complain about the cost of a gallon of milk, but think nothing of buying a giant, nutritionally empty, ice-filled, soda for a couple bucks to go with that cheeseburger. I’m not trying to be a food prima dona here, it just seems that a homemade tuna sandwich, say, has has a lot more going for it — both fiscally and nutritionally — than a burger, fries and a coke. Maybe this strained economy will force us all to “eat at home” more often, and that could actually be a good thing.

By Susan B on 06/24/2008 11:42 am

According to Barbara Ehrenreich’s Nickled and Dimed in America, many people (e.g., WalMart employees, Merry Maids, etc.) cannot afford to live in a place with a kitchen, so end up eating in fast food places, or out of the 7-11, which I see a lot here in Oakland. Of course there are foolish people who do this because they don’t have their act together, but there are also families who do because they have no proper place to store or prepare food.

By Mugsy Peabody on 06/24/2008 10:01 pm

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Mugsy, here in Arizona Wal-Mart is the largest employer of workers who are also receiving food stamps and general assistance. That is a crime! I boycott purchasing anything from Wal-Mart, along with Exxon. We have many other choices to shop for food and gas. What we don’t have is public transportation. I think they said on the news tonight that we are 90-95% dependent on our cars, trucks, etc. because there is NO other way to get from point A to point B. I would buy a Vespa to scoot around town, but I can’t imagine what that would feel like when it is 113 outside. Our only recourse is to consolidate trips and even schedule our (mom and I) appointments together so we can only use one car. It’s fun…I never dreamed that I would be joined at the hip with my mother like a set of Siamese twins. In general, we have adjusted to just buying for two people. The cost of food is not really a problem (we have Trader Joe’s, Sunflower Market, and farmer’s markets). As I stated in an earlier post on the subject, one chicken breast or pork chop, etc., feeds the two of us. Now that I have to be on a ‘Renal Diet’ I am completely confounded by what I am allowed to eat or drink. I have to limit protein, sodium, potassium and phosphorus, which seems to be in about everything. I have an 18 page set of instructions of do’s and don’t’s. I end up saying screw it and have 4 saltine crackers with peanut butter and jam for every meal. If there is anyone out there reading this thread who is on a renal diet for stage 4 kidney failure…please let me know how you manage it. Right now I’m anemic and exhausted…food has become the enemy. I need help.

By C A Rose on 06/25/2008 12:47 am

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I read that book a few years ago. I think it should be required reading for anyone who makes a decent living wage. It definitely opened up my eyes.

By kermie b on 06/25/2008 1:24 am

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I was referring to the book Mugsy spoke of.

By kermie b on 06/25/2008 1:26 am

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Check out how some other people on the planet manage to prepare food despite a minimal kitchen: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/02/02/HO5VSNBU1.DT… The average American apartment kitchen is pretty nice by comparison. In the 1970’s, there was an activist group called The Grey Panthers, and they focused on the issues of aging in American society. They found that many people were stymied by poor kitchen facilities and insufficient funds, so they wrote a cookbook called “Cheap and Nutritious” and called themselves The Hot Plate Gourmets. The recipes were very simply written in a step-by-step format, and most called for one pot at most. The authors also addressed the issues of efficient storage of perishable ingredients using coolers on a fire escape and money management when a mom-and-pop shop or a liquor store is the only place to buy food. They went all over the place doing cooking demos, and they managed to avoid fast foods in favor of healthy fresh ingredients.

By Mignon Grey on 06/25/2008 4:15 pm

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The rise in the cost of everything has changed the way I handle my money recently…….Especially the cost of gasoline. (I don’t drive anymore than I have to…….sometimes I don’t drive for a week. The cost of food is outrageous…..we are supposed to add more fresh fruits and vegetables to our diet…….Have you been in the produce dept lately? My sympathy goes out to Young families with children. I’m afraid a lot of people are going to lessen the quaility of their health because of the increase in food prices. Even the basic food…….bread is $4 a loaf. Milk has doubled in price in our area the last 4 months. A simple box of cereal is $ 4/5 …….So, I would say YES it has severely cut into my budget.

By Dona Howlett on 06/24/2008 12:03 pm

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if what we got was fresh produce, frequently replenished, for our money, we would be getting a bargain. it does cost a lot, and i cancelled a trip to a bonfire party because of the gas cost, but for now i can afford my food. if the farmer got most of the cost of granola, i would say, hurray! but the deal makers and traders and packagers get the money, not the producers of the food. think of an apple—mother nature’s snack package.

By mary lou s on 06/24/2008 1:39 pm