... about the medical expenses. For someone taking the cholesterol-lowering and diabetic medications ... these can cost hundreds of dollars a month. Fine if you have insurance, not fine if you don't. And some of us are trying to stave off potential health problems ... so, the money we save won't be realized right away.

Another expense to consider is the power needed to prepare the food. Carby foods take longer to cook (if unprocessed and not refined, pre-packaged). Meats, vegetables and salads are pretty quick to prepare, and generally do not require long cooking times ... except for roasts, etc ... and then the veggies can be cooked in the same pan.

Nat brings up a good point about less waste and garbage to put out. Most processed carb foods and junk food are overpackaged, and so there's the cost of recycling and disposing. It adds up if you're in a community where you pay a fee per bag of garbage.

For families where kids don't have weight & health issues ... it is a good idea to cut out the sugar and refined white stuff as others have pointed out. If they still want pasta ... try whole wheat. True, it's more expensive ... but it's twice as filling, so the portion size can be smaller. And potatoes aren't necessarily a no-no except for strict low-carb levels. It's the fluffy white pure starch in the middle that's the problem. Toss it in the compost ... and serve the skins and the ½-inch or so of potato flesh just inside the skin. That's where all the nutrition is found.

Just my thoughts ..

Doreen