Price Comparison Assignment

Many people believe it is too difficult or expensive to eat healthy. In this assignment, you will calculate the real costs of eating healthy.  Choose ONE of the two meals listed below.  Calculate the exact cost per serving to prepare this meal at home (20 points).  Instructions to help you calculate costs are listed below.  Once you have calculated the costs of the meal, compare your cost per serving to the cost per serving of purchasing a similar meal at a restaurant.  State whether your meal was more or less expensive than the comparable restaurant meal and list one tip, suggestion, or strategy individuals can use to save money at the grocery store (5 points). How to calculate cost per serving: • Go to grocery.walmart.com and select a store location. (It doesn’t matter where the store is; you are only accessing their food prices.) You don’t need to purchase any ingredients or cook anything! • Search for the ingredients listed in your meal’s recipe. Make sure to select the proper size (12 oz., 1 lb., etc.). • Add the total food costs to prepare the recipe and divide by the number of servings. For example, if the grocery costs are $50 and the recipe serves 10 people, the cost per serving is $5. Option #1: Lasagna with mixed salad and garlic bread Serves 8 people Ingredients: • 16 oz. box of lasagna noodles • 24 oz. pasta sauce • 1 lb. (16 oz.) ground turkey • 12 oz. package of chopped spinach • 16 oz. Italian sausage • 15 oz. ricotta cheese • 8 oz. shredded mozzarella cheese • 10 oz. fresh mixed greens • 16 oz. bottle salad dressing • 1 loaf (14 oz.) fresh French bread Comparison meal: Lasagna Classico at Olive Garden; cost per serving $14.29 Cost per serving of homemade lasagna with salad and garlic bread: _________ Option #2: Beef and bean burrito bowl with chips and salsa Serves 6 people Ingredients: • 1 package of 8” tortillas (10 count) • 1.5 lb. of flank steak (assume $8.00 per pound) • 8 oz. brown rice • 2 x 15.25 oz. cans of black beans • 8 oz. guacamole • 8 oz. sour cream • 1 fresh onion • 1 fresh green bell pepper • 13 oz. bag tortilla chips • 16 oz. salsa Comparison meal: Steak burrito bowl with brown rice, black beans, fajita vegetables, guacamole, sour cream, chips, and salsa; comparison price $11.95 Cost per serving of homemade beef and burrito bowl meal: _________ Was your homemade meal more or less expensive than the comparable restaurant meal? What’s one tip or suggestion that individuals can use to reduce their food costs at the grocery store?