The Junk Food Loan

Eating healthy is generally a goal for most people. For some that goal is front and center and for others it may be way in the back, behind the desire for a third doughnut, but it is there. One of the problems that is regularly brought up is healthy eating is often more expensive than junk food.

I think there is something to this. For $1 I might be able to purchase a single red pepper, or I can go to the dollar menu at my local McDonald’s and get a burger. The factory production of food just is more efficient, regardless of nutrition.

Not all junk food is cheap though. Recently, the Fiscal Times highlighted some of the world’s most expensive junk food:

1. Hamburger: $295 – “Le Burger Extravagant” at Serendipity 3 in New York has gold leaf and truffle butter, waygu beef and caviar.
2. Pizza: $1000 – Nino’s Bellissima Pizza, also in New York, serves this 12″ pizza with lobster and six different kinds of high-end caviar.
3. Chocolate truffle: $250 – In South Norwich, Connecticut, you can find this gem that has high-end chocolate and surrounds a black French Perigord truffle.
4. Hot Dog: $1501 – Topped with lobster tail and gold leaf, this price was set at a charity auction, so the price might be just a tad bit inflated because of that.
5. Ice Cream Sundae: $1000 – Once again at Serendipity 3, the “Golden Opulence” sundae also has caviar, gold leaf and Tahitian vanilla.
6. Cheese Platter: $3200 – High end artisanal cheeses (including from Donkey milk) make up this plate from a cheese show in Somerset, England.
7. Cake: $130,000 – A Japanese cake decorator draped platinum jewelry all over the cake.
8. Mac and Cheese: $95 – Made with truffle shavings and truffle froth.
9. Philly Cheesesteak: $100 – From Barclay Prime in Philadelphia, it is made with waygu beef, foie gras, truffles and is served with champagne.

I think I need to take out a loan to eat many from the list. Look at the pictures here.

This is decidedly not junk food.

I had some red peppers already sliced.

Peppers in the pan.

Add the kale.

A nice side dish.

Kale with Garlic and Peppers

Servings: 4 servings (serving size: 1 cup kale mixture)

Ingredients:

2 teaspoons olive oil
2 cups sliced red bell pepper (about 2 medium)
1 tablespoon chopped seeded jalapeño pepper (about 1 small)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
14 cups chopped kale, stems removed (about 1 pound)
1/2 cup organic vegetable broth (such as Swanson Certified Organic)
1 garlic clove, minced
Lemon wedges (optional)

Directions:

Heat olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add red bell pepper, jalapeño, salt, and black pepper; sauté 3 minutes or until tender. Add chopped kale and broth; cover. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook 10 minutes or until tender, stirring once. Stir in garlic; increase heat to medium. Cook, uncovered, for 2 minutes or until liquid evaporates. Serve with lemon wedges, if desired.

Nutritional Info: Calories 157
Caloriesfromfat 24 %
Fat 4.1 g
Satfat 0.6 g
Monofat 1.8 g
Polyfat 1.1 g
Protein 8.4 g
Carbohydrate 28.2 g
Fiber 4.9 g
Cholesterol 0.0 mg
Iron 4.3 mg
Sodium 321 mg
Calcium 323 mg

Source: http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/kale-with-garlic-peppers