The Price of Convenience
Americans are all about convenience.
*TiVo let's you watch TV when ever you want.
*Cell Phones allow you to talk to anyone when ever you want.
*The internet allows you to find out any information you desire at the click of a button.
*Heck, I know researchers that will only use a scientific journal article if they can get it online because the library is too far away.
We, as Americans, really excel at convenience when it comes to food. But food is interesting because convenience can come at an immediate price or a delayed price. Most people pay the delayed price without even realizing what they are doing.
Let me explain...today I found myself on the other side of campus, without any food, and it was meal time. I headed over to the school Creamery (not for ice cream) as they have a small place that sells food. I was hungry and had a couple options.
Whole grain turkey sandwich or Chips
Choosing the chips would be result in paying a delayed price for convenience as they were very inexpensive but eating them would 1. Make me feel crappy in about 10 minutes. 2. Contribute to clogging my arteries 3. Be essentially wasting calories. I guess #1 is an immediate price but 2 and 3 can be very detrimental if repeated over the long term.
The whole grain turkey sandwich was a better long term option but it was also almost 5 bucks (what a rip off!) With the turkey sandwich I would pay the initial high financial price of convenience but over the long term would not suffer the consequences of potato chip consumption.
Do you see how everything has a price? I actually didn't chose either option and instead got some mixed nuts and a little locally made beef jerky.
Many people complain about how eating healthy is expensive but will go out and by a crappy lunch everyday. Yes, if you want convenience then eating healthy is expensive over the short term. However, if you want convenience and you don't want to pay a financial price (initially) then you will most likely pay with your health in the long term.
The answer to this problem is easy. Plan, Cook, and Prepare you meals ahead of time. Healthy food, bought in bulk, and prepared ahead of time are in fact not that expensive over the short term or long term.
Think about your nutrition? What price are you paying?
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