Economics

Let’s assume you’re on a shoestring budget and need the least expensive way to provide a nutritious meal to your family. A 1 lb bag of dried beans can be obtained at most any store for between $1.00 and $1.50. Two cups of brown rice cost about $1.00. Cooking a pound of beans and two cups of rice with some broth will fill a 6 qt pot. A six quart pot holds 24 cups. $2.50 divided by 24 cups yields 10.4 cents a cup. Assuming a bowl is two cups - a nutritious meal can be made for 21 cents. A family of five can be fed for a dollar, with 7 bowls left over - sounds like a hill of beans is pretty valuable.