Food for thought
This is one week's food for families in different societies. While Coke seems ubiquitous, the differences in fresh versus packaged food is astounding.
Japan : The Ukita family of Kodaira City
Food expenditure for one week: 37,699 Yen or $317.25
Italy: The Manzo family of Sicily
Food expenditure for one week: 214.36 Euros or $260.11
Germany: The Melander family of Bargteheide
Food expenditure for one week: 375.39 Euros or $500.07
United States: The Revis family of North Carolina
Food expenditure for one week: $341.98
Mexico: The Casales family of Cuernavaca
Food expenditure for one week: 1,862.78 Mexican Pesos or $189.09
Poland: The Sobczynscy family of Konstancin-Jeziorna
Food expenditure for one week: 582.48 Zlotys or $151.27
Egypt: The Ahmed family of Cairo
Food expenditure for one week: 387.85 Egyp tian Pounds or $68.53
Ecuador: The Ayme family of Tingo
Food expenditure for one week: $31.55
Bhutan: The Namgay family of Shingkhey Village
Food expenditure for one week: 224.93 ngultrum or $5.03
Chad: The Aboubakar family of Breidjing Camp
Food expenditure for one week: 685 CFA Francs or $1.23
"He who distinguishes the true savor of his food can never be a glutton; he who does not cannot be otherwise." 
I suspect, Mouth, that you leave the rest of us relatively speechless as we pan down to the final family whose needs are met with an outlay of $1.23 and a sole bottle of agua ... no Coke.
Puts a lot in perspective, doesn't it? Do we worry about whether the Health Department has inspected their kitchen facilities and discovered some German roaches under their desert tent? I, for one, wish I could redirect the stupid replacement beef coming to me from Niman Ranch in Sonoma and send to that mom whose kids look like they could use some solid protein ... grass-fed, Angus or otherwise!
Do we all regularly count our blessings as we look ahead into the new year?
Posted by: A. Smedley | January 09, 2008 at 10:51 PM
Not having read "Hingry Planet", I would like to know if your pictures represent a "typical" family of that culture or a randomly chosen family that may or may not represent the "average" consumption of that culture. Why was the Revis family of North Carolina chosen? Randomly? or to represent the weekly consumption of the rest of us in the USA? More information please.
Posted by: Ken | January 10, 2008 at 06:55 PM
Checking the internet, "Hungry Planet" was published in 2005.
Posted by: Ken | January 10, 2008 at 07:24 PM
At least the Germans were able to work beer into their budget.
Posted by: Hank | January 11, 2008 at 10:20 AM