Beef prices surged to an all-time high in July as the market grappled with consistently strong demand and long-term issues in domestic production.
According to the latest consumer price index, which the Bureau of Labor Statistics published on Tuesday, the beef and veal index rose by 2.5% in July, compared to 0.2% for the broader food category. This capped an 11.3% increase over the past 12 months.
Meanwhile, the price of ground beef and uncooked beef steaks has risen by 11.5% and 12.4%, respectively, both now at record levels.
Indeed. I feel that way about most articles/posts about “$15 doLLaR BIg MaC!!1” You’re telling me I’m supposed to be mad that people have to pay more money for less disgusting fast food? No, fuck that. Triple the prices on everything across the board and cut portions down to a third. Maybe then those people will get the message to cook something lean, fresh and healthy at home. /rant
I was speaking to my husbands grandmother (92) recently when the discussion of cooking came up. She mentioned when she was young, they never had salads, they weren’t really a thing. She mentioned most vegetables came in a can, and now salads were expected at meals.
This women eats very little, and very healthy. I bet one reason why she’s still sharp at 92. But it made me think of the culture around food we have in the sates over the last 50-60 years.
We now have full generations of folks not taught how to cook from scratch. I was lucky, growing up on a small farm, my guardian did teach me the basics, igniting a love for cooking. That plus the early 2000’s Food Network shows, I was able to self learn and now I feel invincible in the kitchen. Though I will say I still fuck up from time to time. I made zucchini bread, and definitely didn’t add enough flour, and my bread is very hit or miss. Anyways,
You can’t teach your children what you don’t know youself. So many folks out there don’t know what to do with raw ingredients. I grow oregano, and it’s just all over the yard this year. I tried giving some to my (60-ish) neighbor, and she said, “I dont know what to do with that”.
It’s a fucking herb lady, put it in your stew.
The commercialization of foods from the center isles really had damaged our, collective food knowledge. There are exceptions of folks, similar to me, but a vast number have no clue, nor is it a point in our (American) culture to make sure young folks know how to feed themselves with little ingredients. This road began its paving in the 50/60s with convenience cooking, and the loss of home gardens.
And to add, as a well versed home cook, you absolutely can make super unhealthy foods from scratch as well. Learning to cook is healthier than fast food, but you can absolutely throw down some calorie dense foods in your own kitchen too. It’s not a cure all for health.