Does it make cents?

Food brings people together. As Americans plan for Thanksgiving, perhaps the biggest family gathering in over a year, preparations have started despite rising food costs.

I recently took a much-needed vacation to Italy where food and wine are front and center of any social event. Dinner comes with a three-course meal, red or white wine, then a cafe'. The food just tastes so much better. Even with price parity, Italian food presents a better value proposition than in the US. Accessibility to healthy food is an advantage for a country whose food culture is in its DNA. So, it is ironic that despite efforts of producing organic produce, healthy food in the US is still not widely accessible.

Take Ristorante All'Oro (https://www.ristorantealloro.it/), a one Michelin star restaurant in Rome where Chef Riccardo does a playful twist in presenting his meal. A treat indeed. The tasting menu costs 120 €. Or Taverna Estia (http://www.tavernaestia.it/), a two Michelin star restaurant in Brusciano where Chef Franceso's innovation and creativity are unparalleled. This family-run restaurant is in front of the family house. Arguably, a new favorite and well-deserving of the accolades. Two kinds of tasting menus cost between 140 € - 170 €. Lastly, there's Enoteca Pinchiorri, (https://enotecapinchiorri.it), a three-Michelin-star restaurant in Florence where two kinds of tasting menus cost between 175 € - 225 €. Chef Annie, the first woman in Italy awarded three stars, has held on to it since 1993. Sure, multiply the prices by 1.16 to get the USD equivalent but the freshness of ingredients surpasses some of the acclaimed restaurants with equal billing in the US. Okay, those have a different price point.

How about this? An espresso costs 1€ in Florence but $6 at Starbucks. A ham and cheese panini costs 5€ in Puglia but $9.50 in NY. A pizza (there is only one size in Naples) costs 11€ in Napoli but $22 at Lombardi's. Is it because fresh ingredients are easily available in Italy? Is it because the world-renowned chefs in the US command a premium? Or, is there price elasticity among Americans willing to spend? I don't know.

The absence of a healthy diet has led to many food fads ranging from gluten-free, Keto diet, or intermittent fasting, aimed at equipping your body with the natural ability to fight elements, lose weight and heal itself. That's well-intentioned but how does one know that your portion-controlled meal doesn't contain antibiotics? That leafy greens from the farmer's market are not contaminated by synthetic fertilizers? Cage-free, Pasteur raised, or Grass-fed doesn't tell you about the birds' living conditions. There is no standard definition to label food as organic

Among the most valuable consumer, packaged food companies are in the US. General Mills, Coke, Kraft, or Tyson Foods have been successfully selling processed food and drink to millions around the world for eons. And there is no stopping them. A family-size box of Kraft Mac and Cheese costs $2.29 at Target. With a small budget, this presents an affordable alternative.

According to the World Population Review, the US is the 35th healthiest country in the world for 2021. The US takes the crown for eating the most processed food - the land of plenty. All these habits come at a cost. CMS.gov noted that in 2019, the US spent $3.8 trillion or $11,600 per person in healthcare. Now, healthcare is a separate and deep issue to tackle but think about that staggering amount. With all the might, power, and wealth of the US, why can't it solve the fundamental problem of healthy eating? Does that make sense?

It does. Most of these food companies are publicly traded on stock exchanges. They are included in a broader index which is held in 401ks or IRAs. Not to mention their lobbying might. If any of these companies suffer major setbacks, it will have a wealth effect on the economy. They employ millions of workers that support their local economy. So, unfortunately, processed food is necessary in keeping the US economy strong here and in the world. That makes total dollars and cents.

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See 'gioandenzo' on Instagram for exact pictures of the food I tasted in Italy.