I’m not even sure where to begin with KFC’s new $10 Challenge commercials, except from a place of frustration.   While it certainly can’t be easy to feed a family when you’re short on time and money, I am certain that a resourceful individual can create much healthier and tastier meals while keeping within budget and scheduling restraints.   You will also have plenty of raw ingredients leftover for more meals.

If you’ve been watching any television lately, you’ve probably caught a glimpse of the absurdity: A woman and her two kids walk into a Whole Foods-esque grocery store with the goal of finding the ingredients to create the equivalent of a KFC family meal for under $10 (the cost of said meal), and after failing to do so, head for KFC.  This glib commercial implies that spending time with your family and cooking a wholesome meal is something to be avoided.   Let’s set aside for a moment KFC’s previously debunked health claims, because I think we can agree that a bucket of fried chicken will not go far in extending your life-span.   And I’ll leave the issue of how KFC suppliers raise their chickens to another post, but it’s safe to say they’re not roaming wide-open, green pastures.    You could certainly do your heart and wallet a favor by reducing or eliminating meat from your diet, but let’s just say the troops demand fried chicken and biscuits.   There are plenty of healthy, alternative recipes that can satisfy those craving.

But the real truth is that nobody shops for just one meal.   If you make a list, plan out some recipes ahead of time, and buy more raw materials (flour, beans, etc.) you can make plenty of under-$10 meals.    Does KFC think we’re going to throw out that bag of flour once we’ve made 4 biscuits?  There are also many hidden costs surrounding KFC’s $10 meal, including medical expenses from a high-cholesterol diet, pollution caused by factory farms,  and increased gas costs from having to drive to get your dinner.   The real challenge is to start cooking for a healthier us and a healthier planet.

takepart by using the Eat Well Guide to find healthy ingredients and these helpful tips to cook a delicous, affordable meal tonight.

Photo:   Nancy L. Stockdale’s Flickr Photostream