Scratch Made, Speed Scratch, and Convenience Foods

For this video, scratch made, speed scratch, and convenience foods were compared in time for preparation, cost, calories, sodium, protein, fat, and in some calcium or fiber per serving. I will include charts below for each food so that you can see details. It may be important to begin to define speed scratch. Speed scratch, or semi homemade, is a term that means a combination of scratch and convenience foods. For example using a cake mix to make a dump cake. It usually involves some sort of mix/convenience food combined with some other ingredients. Semi-Homemade is a term that was coined by Sandra Lee, a food network tv host/cook. She is well known for her recipes that use convenience foods but appear to be and taste like homemade. This allows for unskilled or busy cooks to prepare impressive foods quickly and easily. 


Mac and Cheese

The first item compared in the video is Mac and Cheese. Mac and Cheese is kind of weird when it comes to convenience foods because most teens prefer the processed foods as opposed to homemade. When we did this as a lab in class, the homemade mac and cheese never got eaten completely, but the Kraft and Velveeta were always completely gone, regardless of how much I bought. As you can see in the chart below, Mac and cheese is a bit of a strange convenience food compared to others. The nutritional value is not significantly better for the homemade version. In fact, in some areas it is worse. 

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Pizza

Pizza is something that we very rarely make, but the cost savings in making pizza is huge. The difference between homemade pizza and delivery is $1.27 a slice. That adds up. Homemade pizza is also more customizable, has fewer calories, and is easier to make than you would think. (Check out this video to see a detailed video. https://youtu.be/nRklGVDvKtk ) Check out the chart below for details. 

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Salad

Salad, especially salad dressing, is something we have given up to “experts.” The fact of the matter is that by doing this we are throwing away money and options. Salad is much cheaper when you cut your own vegetables and you can add on plant based proteins (or animal based) and make your own meal very easily. Purchased salad dressings are hidden sources of sugar, fat, and we almost always use more than a recommended serving. Check out the chart below for the comparison. 

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Cookies

Cookies are really the stand out in this video. The only area that homemade do not excel in is time, and let’s face it, making cookies is fun! Homemade cookies are lowest in cost, calories, sodium, and fat.

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Check out the full video here! https://youtu.be/ZybB8i3L87I 

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This is the camera Equipment that I use for my YouTube videos. 


Erin Mercs