I've heard this before, but it isn't true. I make one cup of Quaker oatmeal most mornings - cost is around 11 cents. I buy tea and coffee in bulk - another 11 to 25 cents or so. My entire breakfast costs less than 50 cents, and all it requires is boiling water or 3 minutes in the microwave. It's faster than a drivethrough.
Rice and beans are practically free they're so cheap. I buy turkey or chicken cold cuts, again very cheap. I buy "turkey dogs" (hot dogs, but made of turkey) when they're on sale for something like $2 per six. 3 of them is 210 calories, almost all protein, for about $1. I buy whatever fruit is on sale, fruit isn't so expensive either. I don't like bread, but wheat bread is cheap. My girlfriend sometimes cooks a huge pot of stew that sits on the stove for 3-4 days and serves 10+ meals for under $10.
I'm not sure how much eggs are per dozen - maybe a dollar or two?
It's possible to eat very quickly and inexpensively. The problem isn't cost, it's a mix of education and being willing to forsake convenience/delay gratification. Our culture is decent at the former, but quite bad at the latter.
I agree, I find that going to the grocery store and paying upfront for my meals to come is more cost effective than constantly buying fast food. Fast food is not very cheap at all actually. Unless you're buying from the dollar menu, in which case it's $3... for your kids. It's hard to get full on 99c fries and a mini burger.
To provide a single anecdote, I am able to get full on two dollar menu items. You don't have to stick to what they define as a "meal" (i.e. burger, fries, soda). If I'm short on time or cash, I can get two double cheeseburgers, or a chicken sandwich plus a salad, for less than $3, drink a glass and a half of water with it, and be full until the next meal. Whether just anyone can do that is another question.
Rice and beans are practically free they're so cheap. I buy turkey or chicken cold cuts, again very cheap. I buy "turkey dogs" (hot dogs, but made of turkey) when they're on sale for something like $2 per six. 3 of them is 210 calories, almost all protein, for about $1. I buy whatever fruit is on sale, fruit isn't so expensive either. I don't like bread, but wheat bread is cheap. My girlfriend sometimes cooks a huge pot of stew that sits on the stove for 3-4 days and serves 10+ meals for under $10.
I'm not sure how much eggs are per dozen - maybe a dollar or two?
It's possible to eat very quickly and inexpensively. The problem isn't cost, it's a mix of education and being willing to forsake convenience/delay gratification. Our culture is decent at the former, but quite bad at the latter.