How Much Do Americans Spend On Food? (VIDEO)

Good magazine, in partnership with Whole Foods, chronicled how much of their income Americans spend on food today as compared to the past. And guess what? They're spending less than ever.

In 1949, Americans spent 22% of their income on food, whereas in 2009 they spent a meager 10%.

While it seems like saving money is always a good thing, this isn't anything to cheer about. Cheap food is often the product of factory farming and industrial agriculture. With jumbo size products being sold for cheaper, Americans may be gaining more for their dollar, but they're also gaining more weight, losing their health, spending more on their healthcare and supporting environmentally unsustainable practices.

WATCH how food has altered Americans' health:

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Comments

[organicconnect]

06:03 PM on 01/24/2010

It is not just about packaged and processed foods. It is about the chemicals in our foods and the nutrients that are missing from them. Here's another article on-point: http://organicconnectmag.com/wp/2009/10/healthcare-the-high-cost-of-the-american-diet/

[greengeekgirl]

08:37 AM on 01/10/2010

This sort of thing seems to be aimed largely at the middle- and upper-middle-classes, who can afford to spend a little more on food. Working-class people can't afford to shop at Whole Foods, period. They're the ones who need cheap food because it's all they can afford to eat. Without "Great Value" Wal-Mart Brand food, my own monthly food bill would be outrageous--in fact, for two people to eat food that is made of real ingredients (chicken, fresh veggies, raw fruit, etc), it's $200 or more a month in Ohio. That's IF we shop at Wal-Mart, and that's not buying any sort of convenience food whatsoever (no deli, no frozen, no pre-made) and no processed "box" type meals. For working-class people, that's not an insignificant amount. We make too much money to get food stamps, but not enough to be considered middle class; we're right on the line where we are responsible for paying all of our own bills, have almost no benefits, and don't get to do things like 'buy the latest gadgets or go shopping for jeans.'

So, you know, I'd LOVE to spend more on food and buy the all-natural organic stuff--but I would have to take a second job to do so, and I don't think it's really worth it to me.

[anyoneoutthere]

05:59 PM on 01/18/2010

Your point is well taken, but I do think that there is a distinction still to be made between highly processed foods and meals that you prepare from raw ingredients.
Even if you cannot afford organic, there are places that sell good food for low prices. Look for ethnic MIddle Eastern, Indian, Iranian, etc. places and you will find that they sell fruit, veg, and other stuff much cheaper than any supermarket. Those cultures prize cooking and the "market" caters to them even in this country.
Unfortunately, not in small town America, typically only in larger cities where there are substantial immigrant populations.

[mlaiuppa]

09:11 PM on 01/08/2010

We have to dedicate a smaller percentage of our income to food when a larger percentage of our income is demanded by: healthcare, mortgage, gasoline, gas & electric, water, sewage, etc.

You have to cut back somewhere.

I shop flea markets and second hand stores if I need furniture. I also hit second hand stores for clothes. Also eBay.

I also make what I need. I cook from scratch instead of buying pre-processed food. I sew my own clothes, repair them, etc. I knit and crochet.

If something needs repair in my house I do it myself unless I absolutely have to hire a professional. I do electrical and plumbing. I paint. The only thing I won't do is roofing and gas pipes. I can drywall, mud and tape.

But as health insurance, etc takes a larger and larger portion of and finite paycheck something has to give. Buying cheaper and cheaper food is one solution. And like any deferred maintenance, it usually comes back to bite you with a really immediate and expensive bill.

If we want to clean up our food, the Federal Government can start by ceasing to subsidize corn and soy in any form and forbid the use of high fructose corn syrup in any food products. That's a start.

[yemaya]

05:50 PM on 01/09/2010

Agree but hey Wow, you can do everything eh?

I rather splurge on good wholesome quality food than say a pair of jeans or the latest gadget. Just me.

[greengeekgirl]

08:27 AM on 01/10/2010

You're assuming that people who don't spend their money on organic food spend the money on clothes or gadgets. Clearly, you didn't read what was said--the other money isn't spent on shopping, it's spend on necessities. So, your 'jeans' comment is irrelevant.

[SamKnause]

02:14 PM on 01/08/2010

I disagree with this article. In 1949 a lot of people had chickens, grew gardens, and canned. There were a lot more family farms with a few cows and hogs. People had root cellars for their fruits and vegetables. Without doing the research myself I think this article is way off base. Maybe I am wrong, but I do not think so.

[yemaya]

05:59 PM on 01/09/2010

somewhat, Remember that the first drive thru's popped up on our highways around the 50's. this has had a lot to do w/it. We have been lied to into thinking the value of beef is cheaper than it s/ be, at least not for good quality meat. We have been marketed to by McDonald's and Burger King for so long and we've succumbed to the idea that our farm raised animals lives should be cheap; that nowwe have the problems we have w/contamination, sick beef and and unhealthy cheap production of disgusting meat factories which produce meat that isn't really meat. And we feed it to our kids at their schools, AAh!
Meat should be valued higher. It was before. Families enjoyed a roast on Sunday but spread it out as leftovers for the week. Because we've been used to the paradigm shift of eating cheaply processed meat, we also eat tons more of it now than we did before as well. This is how successful the meat industry marketing has been. Oh, and corn products as well. Cane sugar used to sweeten our cereals and cookies, but now it's HFCS.

[greengeekgirl]

08:29 AM on 01/10/2010

Although you do have a point about the production of meat, you shouldn't dismiss others' points so casually. In 1949, people DID still raise a lot of their own meat. My grandmother's family did it; they had hogs and chickens, and grew their own food a lot of the time.

[yemaya]

06:10 PM on 01/09/2010

Our food is very cheaply produced and it's crap, therefore the value has remained low or has been lowered, especially for meat. Back in the day, families had meat on Sundays like a roast chicken or loin of beef, that they spread out during the weak in the form of leftovers. We eat alot more meat now too cuz it's so cheap, but it ain't really meat either.

The real question is, why do Americans spend more for other things and not high quality food?

[Julia Bailey]

01:15 PM on 01/08/2010

I stopped watching after they asked if there was a correlation between Americans spending more on their health care compared to the rest of the world, and the amount they spend on food.

I don't know what box you have to live in to not realize Americans spend more on health care because we have a crappy system where some people make huge profits. So of course we pay more, we are paying the expensive salaries of CEOs in the insurance companies.

The overall message of this ad may be true, but its washed down by this huge inaccuracy.

[TaurusRose]

12:30 PM on 03/05/2010

Our food, esp meat and foul make Americans sick and results in high cost Healthcare.

[mzrecycle]

12:39 PM on 01/08/2010

This is comparing apples and oranges. In 2009 Americans eat out a LOT. And there are all those coffeeshop coffees and lattes. In 1949, there was much less eating out. And coffee at the office, etc. was basic coffee and cheap. If ALL the meals that Americans eat now were added together (at home and eating out), the cost would be MUCH more.

[onalimb]

12:27 PM on 01/08/2010

I have to disagree - we are spending much more than ever at the grocery store.
Especially in Whole Check.