rallybug

Petrol is still hovering around $2.99 a gallon here, and one of the main benefits of the loyalty card for the Smith's Food & Drug chain (Krogers) is that you build up points that allow up to $1 a gallon off gas at the larger store pumps. Last time we filled up it came to $1.829 a gallon, which was nice

Agreed that bread is expensive - we buy bread in Costco that is made in a bakery about 30 miles up the road, but it is still around $3 a loaf (the squaw bread is really nice, with a slight reminiscence of malt loaf to my taste buds).

Milk here is pretty much always $2.49 a gallon from our local Smith's, so if I've worked that out right it's 44p a litre (£1.67 per US Gal at $1.49).

Chicken ranges due to offers, but I think normal price for skinless boneless breasts is $2.49 a lb, so £1.67 a lb. That equates to £3.69 a kilo - Tesco runs from $7.69 a kilo for the same in the Market Value range We do find that the breasts themselves are a lot bigger than I remember in the UK, such that one breast is ample for the two of us, so 10 meals out of the 5 breasts in the pack for around $10 (I think we paid $1.79 a lb last time).

Cereal is more expensive, and there is a lot more options if you want the sugary stuff, but I can still find plain old corn flakes, krispies, shredded wheat (bite-size and normal - by Post cereals) in most grocery stores. No replacement for Shreddies yet, and I did find Weetabix in a local store - slightly more expensive than the other cereals (and a hell of a lot more than the UK ) as it is imported from Canada.

fatbrit

Don't ever ask yourself why the American breasts are bigger. Otherwise you'll be finding yourself buying the normal-sized ones at TJ's at twice the price.

Octang Frye

I'm late to the thread. What, you can buy boobies? What is this TJ's? A strip club? Most of the American girls I've dated have had smaller to lovely size breasts.

fatbrit

It's certainly an orgasmic discovery the first time.

Bob

That's amusing as there's a Weetabix factory just up the road from me in a neighbouring town

rallybug

Strange, only ever seen this Canadian import in Dick's Market (just to keep the nudge-nudge-wink-wink jokes going ) and in Whole Paycheck. I wonder where the output from that factory goes

Englishmum

Yeah.......just watch "Food Inc." the poor chickens have been bred to be so heavy that their legs can't support them and they never see sunlight

http://www.amazon.com/Food-Inc-Eric-...7519235&sr=1-2 (amazon prime members can watch it for free)

Englishmum

That sounds exactly like that experiment in "Super Size Me" where Morgan Spurlock did an experiment with a MacDonald's 'Filet of Fish'. He put it in a bell jar and left it to see how long it would take to go mouldy. Weeks later it still looked as fresh as a daisy, because of all the preservatives in the bread and fish...!

http://www.amazon.com/Super-Size-Me-...7519422&sr=1-1

Englishmum

Unless that milk is organic or labelled free of hormones and rBST then you should take on board what is actually inside that $2.49 gallon of milk:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bovine_somatotropin

Note that it states "The USA is the only developed nation to permit humans to drink milk from cows given artificial growth hormone. Posilac was banned from use in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and all European Union countries"

"Milk - America's Health Problem"

http://www.preventcancer.com/consumers/general/milk.htm

http://www.sustainabletable.org/issues/rbgh/

I'm not a vegetarian hippy but I am concerned (and scared to tell you the truth) about the junk which is going into food to maximise profits, especially when it can have long-term effects (some yet unknown) on our health.

I'm also very careful about buying meat too; I always try to buy organic or meat which is labelled coming from grass-fed cattle, without them being treated with natural or growth hormones or antibiotics.

http://www.sustainabletable.org/issues/hormones/

"The European Union, however, does not allow the use of hormones in cattle production, has prohibited the import of hormone-treated beef since 1988, and has banned all beef imports from the US"

Bob

Probably Trader Joes? That's where I've seen it cheapest at least

rallybug

No TJs in Utah - Utah liquor laws won't allow them to sell wine with the food, so TJs won't open here.

And, according to the label, the farmers pledge not to use artificial hormones in the milk provided to the dairy.

cheers

That's good to know.

Mummy in the foothills

I wish I could find it for $2.99 we are at $3.79 a gallon and my light came on driving home, so I will take it like man in the morning and spend too much for gas.

Bob

That's weird....because they're only allowed one store in a chain to sell booze in MA, and Trader Joes are everywhere here

Some are definitely better than other stores though, but the one in Boylston st that's over 3 floors is crazy...but the one in Framingham has the booze so that wins

ottotheboar

There are six of us with 4 teens who eat a lot. We buy the cases of frozen French bread from Sams Club, bake it around 14 minutes in the oven and you have hot bread. They do not promote the frozen baked goods for some reason. We wait till say boneless chicken breasts are on sale then buy a lot. The market is awash with chicken at present so look for some good deals.