The Cost Of Food: Media Is Full Of Something And Its Not Dinner
By: Amy Jeanroy
Published: May 29, 2011

Really, $200 to feed 12 people a cookout? Are you mad? I was reading the New York Post's article on the rising cost of food, nodding my head in agreement, until I came to the part where they claim it will cost $200 to feed 12 people what they called a simple barbeque; burgers, franks, potato salad, lettuce, tomato, corn on the cob and ice cream/coffee for dessert. No booze or soda included in that total. I object, feeling particularly qualified to comment on feeding that sort of food to that number of people, since I have 8 in our family. We use the grill quite often all summer long.
My food budget is $200 for two weeks of meals. I nearly choked to see the total for one meal, so decided to take a look at what a cookout for 12 would cost me, if I didn't make my own version.
We live in a food desert. Our local grocery store if full of expired, stale and wilted foods. The prices are outrageous on top of that, so I rarely shop there. The next closest place is 25 miles away - Walmart (no shock there). Since I couldn't find any pricing online (of course) I will take an educated guess at pricing, based on being a grownup who shops all the time. 
 $12.00 for two boxes of hamburgers(10 to a box)
$6.00 for a family pack of hot dogs (not beef, just franks)
$4.00 for two packages hamb buns
$4.00 for two packs of hot dog buns
$3.50 for 5 lbs of potatoes
$2.50 bag of onions
.99 for package of celery
$2.00 jar of mayo
.99 for 1 bottle mustard
$1.50 head of lettuce
$3.00 for may be 4 tomatoes to slice
$6.00 for 12 ears of corn
$2.50 for 1 lb butter
$8.00 for 1 bucket ice cream
$6.00 for an entire can of coffee
$62.98 total. 
There would be exceptions to this meal if it were for real. I would not buy tomatoes or corn right now. They are not in season, they will taste horrible and are just silly to try and find on Memorial day. I also would shop at a day-old bread shop and buy good buns for less than the price of the above generic ones. Also, if I were inviting people over for a holiday cookout, they would all bring a dish. 
So, yes; food is very expensive and getting worse, but let's not get everyone all hysterical and running for the hills. Eat in moderation, buy food when it is in season, and remember the book Stone Soup! Have friends pitch in for a fun, affordable bash.

Comments:
Stacia
May 29, 2011

I to find 200.00 to be an excessive amount, and about fell over, but in my area the prices quoted in this piece are excessive as well.  If I shopped at our local Aldis I would have paid:
$12.00 for the hamburgers (I use that figure only because I don't buy that from Aldis and do not know the current price)
$3.49 for a family pack of hot dogs (24)
.79 for each package of hot dog and hamburger buns
$3.50 for a 10 lb bag of potatos
$1.49 for a bag of onions/ 1.69 for the  sweet onions
$.99 for the celery
$1.79 Mayo ( do buy Miracle Whip and can get the large far for 2.50 at Wal-Mart)
$.79  mustard
$.99 lettuce
$1.99 for a tub of butter
$4.99 for a gallon of ice cream
$4.99 for a can of coffee
And I have no idea about the corn and tomatoes, last I checked at Wal-Mart the corn was .25 an ear.
I come up with 37.80 which doesn't include plates, napkins, glasses, silverware, cold drinks or ice, which I think I could do it all for 55.00.  I think the key is to price shop.
Amy Jeanroy

I remember Aldi's! Loved that place, too. Yes, I would shop differently if this were a real life scenario. We buy a beef so the meat would come from our freezer. I would also invite everyone to bring a dish to pass. 
I might even make the hamb and hot dog rolls since I like to do that sort of thing, but didn't want any readers to think that I had completely lost it. :-)
Thanks for commenting. 
AJ
RJ Flamingo

I'd love to know where they shop to come up with those numbers! I live in Miami, and prices are pretty high here, too. Intrigued, I just pulled up my regular grocery store's weekly ad for this week, and I'm being liberal with the quantities, and not skimping on quality:
3 lbs. ground beef $7.50 (12 1/4lb burgers) (or I can get a 32 oz. pack of Bubba Burgers for $8.00)
2 pks. Oscar Meyer Angus Beef Hot dogs (16 total) $5.49
16 good bakery burger buns $3.99
16 good bakery hot dog buns $3.99
10 lbs. red potatoes $6.00
3 lbs. sweet onions $2.00
celery 99¢
lettuce $1.50
2 48 oz Breyer's ice cream $6.99
2 30 oz Kraft mayo or Miracle Whip $5.29 (or 1 of each)
1 lb. butter $3.50
35 oz. Hunt's ketchup $1.30
French's mustard $1.50
Corn & tomatoes are in season (& delicious!) in Florida right now:
12 ears corn $3.00
4 tomatoes $2.00
1 lb Dunkin' Donuts coffee (bought 4/$20 @ DD store): $5.00
I come up with a grand total of $60.04 (or $60.54 w/Bubba Burgers). Throw in some beer, soda, fresh fruit, eco-friendly paper goods, and I could do it for under $100, and bring a couple of extra friends.
What nonsense!
Amy Jeanroy

Bubba burgers..~snort~
Anyways, yep we are on the same page. We don't have people over all the time, but when we do its more about everyone just bringing what they can and we provide our beef.
Really, why make getting together with friends sound like you need to take out a loan? Yeesh..
Thanks for the comment!
AJ
Katy

Perhaps you can get away with a meal for 12 for $60, but some of us are particular about what we eat and serve to others. I would NEVER buy a box of hamburgers, preferring grass-fed local beef that runs $6-7/lb. And organic fruits, veggies & grains. So I can easily see getting to $200 for a party for 12. And another $50-$70 for alcoholic beverages. I know this sounds ridiculous and snobby, but I feel that what you put into your body is one of the most important decisions in your life.
Amy Jeanroy

Katy-
Thank you for your thoughts. The original article and my blog about it, was meant for the average American, shopping as average people do. They do not buy organic or grass fed or any specialty grains. They also do not raise their own beef or gardens as our family does. 
I agree that the food you put into your body is one of most important decisions to make. Finally, if you can spend $200 on a cookout for 12 people, then the article was not directed at you. It was  meant to show how much *more* the average person would have to spend on a cookout, vs. last year. My blog was also meant for the same audience, in response to the hysterical tone that the original article took. 
I appreciate the feedback!
Warmly,
 
AJ