DeKalb Farm Bureau & local 4-H’ers are observing Food Check-Out week through February 21st.
It’s the 11th year of this observance.
DeKalb County 4-H’ers will be at Food Lion in Smithville and Prichard’s in Alexandria, on Thursday to hand out information on healthy snacks such as apples (healthy food) and comparing their cost (.18 cents) with candy bars (85 cents or two for $1), Twinkies ($1), Animal Crackers ($1.39), Lunchables ($2.89), and chips ($1).
The cost of most things increases on an annual basis. It is frequently necessity items, such as food, clothing and shelter, that draw the attention of most shoppers in regards to the monetary cost and the devaluation of the dollar.
The Agriculture Department’s Economic Research Service charts food expenditures by Americans.
According to their recent findings, the average U.S. consumer spends 10 percent of their disposable income on food each year. That equates to each household working five weeks out of 52 to provide necessary food staples annually.
In comparison, it takes Americans a considerably longer period of time to earn enough disposable income to pay for health and medical care. The average household must work nearly two months (52 days) annually in order to provide health and medical care, 62 days to pay for household operation, and 77 days annually to pay federal taxes.
Americans enjoy the safest, most abundant and most affordable food supply on earth. As a comparison, residents of Japan spend 14 percent of their income on food; China, 26 percent; and Indonesia, 55 percent.
The fist national commemoration of Food Check Out Day was held 11 years ago and was born from an idea through Farm Bureau Woman’s Leadership Committee.
The annual program provides a means for shoppers to celebrate the bounty from America’s farms and is shared by consumers through affordable food prices.
The average American’s annual consumption of food includes 118.4 pounds of red meat, 31.25 pounds of cheese, 84.5 pounds of poultry, 204.6 pounds of fresh vegetables, 21 gallons of milk and 127.1 pounds of fresh fruit.
The majority of food produced in the United States comes from family owned and operated operations with 98 percent of all farms owned by individuals and families, while just 2 percent are non-family owned or operated.
Knowing your food budget and planning balanced meals by making a grocery list and sticking to it is a good way to provide for a healthy diet.
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