How Much Does It Cost To Eat?

Everyone feeds and as nutrition is a
fundamental characteristic of biotic
construction, there is none alive that does not
eat! While a lot of us may be averse to eating
out, there are those as few as they may be,
who take flights (e.g. Abuja to Lagos) to
savour that special treat at that renowned
cove- that is as bad as it is; as good as it
gets.
I fondly remember how during a cholera
outbreak in Abeokuta (later denied...) people
still ate out. Ironically, a doctor contracted the
epidemic right in the Emergency Unit; yes,
without having to eat out. Something about a
patient's vomitus splashing... (I hereby save
you the gory details.)
With safety and hygiene no longer valid points
in the debate, those of us that do not eat out
insist it is rather cost-effective, a stance that is
perpetually challenged by those that do,
particularly on the basis that the variety,
adventure, freedom, that one enjoys eating out
far surpasses whatever profits one may realise
otherwise.
So... Just how much do you save when you
choose to cook rather than eat out frequently?
And why should it even concern you?
If you are a student you must have avoided
asking the latter question since you very well
understand why it concerns you. Indeed in an
economy where resources are scarce
maximization is the rule rather than the
exception. As a bachelor, should I swallow my
ego and trounce Ughelli main market in search
of Maggi and pepper or eat out at my
innominate regular spot with my cloven? By the
way the answer is 60%.
You save 60%.
Now to the matter...
Let's examine the facts using a thirty-food
serving period. How much would it cost you to
eat to satisfaction 3 times a day for 10 days?
At a very conservative estimate of 400 naira per
meal you require 12 000 naira. Why is this
conservative? Do I even need to expatiate on
that?
Apart from the need to be served double
portions you are more likely to pay above
budget for the cow head, the orobo (big; 50cL)
coke or the extra side of beef. Yet, this
assumes you live within walking distance from
your favourite food vendor. It also presumes
you will strictly avoid forays into the more
illustrious fast food joints such as Mr Biggs,
McDonald's,... (No offense intended.)
How much do you require for 3 times a day
homemade meals for 10 days.
Say you focused on the staples rice, beans,
garri and yam. A basket of rice here costs 900
naira consisting of 24 peak milk cups.
Assuming 2 milk cups per meal it comes to 12
servings. An average 300-naira tuber of yam
goes for 2 servings; half a basket of beans of
450 naira goes up to 12 servings especially
when you add potatoes of say 200. A basket of
garri for 350 would last you at least 7 servings-
if you are not feeding to be sold, that is.
Already past 30 servings.
Next is the tricky part: soup and stew. But it
does not defy analysis.
Well priced, 800 naira worth of meat should
outlast 12 servings of rice. So will 400 naira
worth of fish for 6 servings. Another 1 700 naira
should get you more than enough melon,
pepper, tomatoes and other condiments in
addition to energy. I'm assuming you use the
more energy efficient gas cooker or if a student,
the very pocket friendly electric cooker. Not so
energy friendly though.
In total you've just spent 5 100 naira procuring
your 33 plus servings. Correcting for the extra
servings leaves you with an unbelievably high
(above) 60% savings. But how can this be?
Could it possibly be that much?
Well, consider what you pay for: convenience
(or inconvenience) depending on how easily you
can procure your meals, not having to do the
dishes, being waited on by canteen staff, etc.
You also pay for the time these persons put
into these efforts which is understandable if you
have a demanding, time-consuming, job. They
after all say time is money.
This all seems very textbook and prone to
flaws. It would for instance cost me more to
prepare Edi (the Igbo draw-soup) but falls into
perspective when you pay 2 000 for single
serving of same in a two star hotel.
More importantly, this model also assumes that
the meals you make would be edible if not
palatable.
Personally, I remain grateful to my mum for
leaving me no choice but to learn to cook. For
those who missed kitchen posting, it may be
time to consider marrying. Indeed couples save
more money when they eat from the same pot
as compared to individually. This is so as it
may not be necessary to double all costs. For
instance, energy expenditure remains near
constant.
I think I have made my point. I refuse to dwell
on the economics of spending a million or two
in order to save on feeding costs. That is a
discussion for a later date.