The Biggest Loser Gripe: Shopping on a Budget

<<<  SPOILER ALERT  >>>

Image: NBC. The Biggest Loser

So I'm watching TBL, and it's not even five minutes into the show and I already have something to complain about.  No, it's not the cheesy green screen shot of Alison in the super market (or the less than fabulous cut ins with the cast in front of a green screen, obviously taken after the shopping trip) 

It's the whole "shop on a budget thing". 

The idea here is that you can eat healthy on a budget... and the teams are buying groceries for a week on their "low" budget.  And when Alison told the team that they were shopping with $10 per day per person, Cay and I just burst our laughing.  $10 per day is about three times the amount individuals at or below the poverty level and/or on food stamps are estimated to (or expected to) spend.

With $10 per day per person, I could eat like royalty. 

That's not much of a challenge.  The teams didn't seem to find it too difficult, either.  I suppose they want us to think that's the point, that they were successful because it can be done on a "budget".  

Of course when they get back to the ranch, they realized they didn't have what they needed, end ended up bartering, which looks like it's going to result in a lot of drama for the rest of the episode. 

I think it's ironic that I've posted the stuff Cay and I have been buying... and we haven't been to a food pantry in months...  Our budget?  Well, we also buy cleaning supplies, personal care items, paper and so on at the grocery store, and STILL do it on about HALF of what they're spending on TBL.   I don't think it's just our couponing that's making the difference.