FRIED CHICKEN 🍗

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Definition of "cool story, bro" wall of text right below.

Note: All these are pre-tax, store-brand from my local basic supermarket, and in Freedom Units™ (do not feel like converting). Taking this extremely basic recipe from AllRecipes: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/8805/c...d-chicken/. Right now at my supermarket, a whole 4 pound chicken would be $9.96 ($2.49/lb), 64 oz of buttermilk is $3.49 (tangent, this could be cheaper with milk + white vinegar), five pounds of flour is $2.99, and 128 oz of vegetable oil is $9.99. I am not even going to count the price of salt/pepper/paprika. 

For sides, two pounds of brown rice is $2.39 and a 1.5 lb package of frozen green beans is $2.59 (throw seasonings/sauce on these sides or whatever, it is minuscule in cost). Let's say we use one serving for each chicken meal. I usually get four to five meals out of the green beans and about eight to ten from the rice. Just going to say water for drink (I drink from the tap, so my whatever my water bill is (very low)).

Grand total is $31.41. Recipe says 8 servings (seems very high, I am going to say ~3-4, depending on how much you eat (two-three chicken pieces each meal).You will be able to have everything, except the chicken for future times you have to meal prep. Say we are conservative and this gives you three meals, that is $10.47 per meal. My local Church's is $24.99 for an 8 piece mixed fried chicken dinner with four biscuits and one large side (assuming 2 breasts, 2 wings, 2 thighs, and 2 drumsticks; do not know weight, so there is the major error. Also, fast-food places usually split the breasts in half, so you get more breast meat on the homemade one). Say we get three meals, that will be $8.33 per meal. Also, assuming tap water for drink. $10.47 versus $8.33.

Looks like fast food is cheaper, but wait! You still have enough flour, oil, buttermilk, and spices for another meal prep. All you need is another $9.96 chicken. Now grand total is $41.37 (initial purchase, plus second chicken) and you can get six meals for a price of $6.90. After this second meal prep, you will need  to purchase more flour and oil (going to say, the AllRecipes recipes seems to use a little too much of the flour and oil, so you may get more meals out of one purchase).

This grocery plan that you've put together is pretty well thought-out. This sounds like somebody who's being preservative of the items that are left over for the rest of the week. But then it boils down to how many meals you eat every day, how long can you make this stuff last, etc. For a one-time meal, fast food is cheaper. But, for a long-term meal, I'll hand it to you and say that preparing a home-cooked meal (once you get your ingredients) is the wisest decision even though it's still more expensive.

I also have no dietary restrictions, so I can go with regular cheapo-depot groceries (e.g., lactose-intolerant person may have to buy a more expensive lactose-free milk). Looked it up for shiggles, Church's "Spicy" varieties do not have dairy, according to their nutrition sheet: https://www.churchs.com/wp-content/uploa...120121.pdf. You will be SOL if you have Celiac Disease, though.[/font][/color]

Not so fast, pal. I'm willing to bet that that nutrition sheet is a lie. I'm not saying you are, I'm saying that fast food joints are very crafty and deceiving when it comes to hiding ingredients into their food products. Whenever they tell you that something is "dairy free", you best believe that there's another ingredient in there that's just as bad as milk and egg (when it comes to lactose-intolerant people). Things like 'yeast' and 'MSG' can certainly be substitutes for 'milk' and 'egg'. Also, the 'wheat' that they used is GMO, which is all designed to corrupt your stomach (if you have gastrointestinal problems).

Reasons stated above why I do not get fast food, plus there are many local restaurants that have the same thing at a much better quality (last time in general was about six months ago at Chipotle). Last time I got fried chicken out was either at a local Nashville hot chicken or a Chinese restaurant, which both blew the socks off any fast-food place. In general, I do not eat fried stuff to begin with due to health and cost (baked or grilled chicken with only seasonings/sauce is significantly cheaper and better for your health). To answer your question, Popeye's for fast-food.

Note, I am not a miser and do go out to eat, but at local sit-down restaurants about two-three times a month.

Any restaurants similar to Chipotle is definitely a healthier choice. I could say the same thing about Alpaca Peruvian Charcoal Chicken. They do have gluten-free options for those who refuse to tolerate gluten into their bodies. Speaking of a Chinese restaurant (or something similar), you should try going to PF Chang's. Damn, their food is really good. It's expensive as hell, but it's really good.

Ahh yes, Popeye's is another great choice! I always order the #1 combo with fries and a frozen, mango lemonade.

FRIEEEED CHICKEN
MM MM IT'S FINGER-LICKIN' GOOD

I don't know why I responded to this.. I don't really eat fried anything. But I sure do love me some chicken.

Grilled or baked?