When 34 Cents for Lunch Is Too Much

Tired of spending more than 30 bucks a month to feed yourself? There's an app for that.

The Treasure Box, which was developed by San Diego-based Good Source Solutions, costs $30, and can feed one person -- one example of such a person they provide, a college student, seems hard to stomach; a senior citizen seems more plausible -- for a month, or four people for nearly a week, according to the company.

Good Source says the food in the box would cost 65 percent more if you bought it at a supermarket.

The Treasure Box is a pre-assembled, frozen box of food being offered in communities around the county, including Clairemont Mesa, Serra Mesa, Mira Mesa, Encinitas, Vista, Oceanside, Escondido, Hillcrest, North Park, La Mesa, Grant Hill, Southcrest, Mountain View Park, El Cajon and Chula Vista. The offer is available to the general public but is typically available through one of the partnerships that Good Source has developed with churches in those areas.

So what do you get for your 30 clams?

November's Treaure Box includes:

  • 3-3.5 lbs. whole chicken
  • 2 pounds of turkey and pork breakfast sausage links
  • 1.625 pounds of "old fashion" meatloaf
  • 1.75-3.5 pounds of ham slices
  • 1 pound of ground turkey
  • 40 ounces of macaroni and cheese
  • 8 ounces of orange/clove glaze
  • 2 packs of three hashbrown patties
  • 1 pound of frozen peas
  • 1 pound of frozen green beans
  • 1 pound of frozen corn
  • 2 packs of buttermilk biscuit mix
  • 1 pumpkin pie


"This program is delivering food at such a savings, people everywhere -- at every economic level -- can take advantage of this value buy," said Steve Guy, the executive director of the Treasure Box.

Still, that's a lot ham, man. And three pounds of veggies for a month doesn't seem Mom's gonna be happy. But you gotta love that price.

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