Media obsession with 2-minute noodles

[SueDonim]

There's yet ANOTHER article (https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/money/202...bites.html). At least for a change it's not Stuff - they usually seem to be in to this. I wonder if the reporters go around asking people if they buy 2-minute noodles and rub their hands with glee when someone says "Yes". Trouble is, even if they aren't directly laughing at the people, they must know that the rest of us will. And that it doesn't actually help create awareness of how some really are struggling.

If you are poor, 2-minute noodles must be about the last thing you would buy. Surely you would spend your last dollar on real food, eg wholegrain rice and frozen veges or something that provides some nutrition.

In the years when my weekly food budget limit was $65, I bought cheap food. Knock downs, managers specials, use by date toss outs. I rarely bought frozen stuff, and I never ever bought health food type food like wholegrain anything, because it came at a premium price. And yes, lots of noodles, pasta, and white rice, because it was a great filler that extended proteins and vegetables.

I was lucky. I was educated and I am a great cook. But it has become a habit, that budget shopping, but these days I have a newish efficient fridge freezer, a much higher income, much more teasonable rent, and can afford far more vegetables. I still don't buy wholegrain rice though! ?

I was using the example for when there was no other food for the week, wholegrain rice is better than white.  I don't think it's any dearer but I'm sure on that one as I rarely buy rice anyway. If you are buying other food then white pasta or rice compared to wholegrain don't matter as much. It's the 2-minute bit that I'm getting at - all the goodness stripped out and flavoured with empty chemicals.