Lie. Only a person in the bubble that is the snotty east coast rich enclaves of DC, NY, Boston, et al would think such drivel. The writer needs to get out into the real world.

Cooking a full, healthy meal and cleaning up isn’t a huge chore unless one makes it so. Hellooooooo. Anyone heard of a slightly over exposed Food Network personality – Rachael Ray? 30 minute meals, try ’em, they’re good, easy and quick to prepare. How about Semi-Homemade Cooking with Sandra Lee. With a little forethought and pre-preparation on the weekends, it would be a snap to have a full week of meals, from scratch.

Oh, and Ms. Wartman, if those on the lower economic rungs are ever to escape upwards, they can’t afford to piss away all their scarce money on restaurant or pre-made store bought meals. My goodness, does she even procure food herself? It’s FAR less expensive to make from scratch. I just made an enormous lasagna this weekend for under $2 a serving. Toss in some toasted, buttered bread or rolls (dimes each) and about 50 cents of steamed veggies and a full, scratch made, better than restaurant dinner was had for about $3 per person. Compare and contrast to the cheapest lasagna dinner that one can get out – at least $10 / head. Another one is pancakes – from scratch, as in flour, baking powder, butter, eggs and milk. It’s about 1/3 to 1/2 the cost of pre made mix. Steak under the broiler, with a 50 cent baker potato in the microwave and steamed veggies – call it 1/3 the cost of going out and ready in 15 minutes.