Spam vs. Tofu
Apparently the rising cost of food has Americans changing their eating habits a bit, and not for the better, in my opinion! It seems that sales of Spam - that slimy canned meat from the 1980's - are through the roof lately, and the economy is to blame. Am I the only one who doesn't quite understand why people seem to be turning to Spam, of all things, when looking for a cheaper source of protein that will stretch their food dollars? Just for fun, let's take a closer look at Spam versus tofu:
According to an AP article, the average cost of Spam is $2.62 for a 12-ounce can of greasy, pinkish, "mystery" meat. Now, that 12-ounce can will give you 6 servings, each of which contain 7 grams of protein, 15 grams of fat and a huge amount of sodium. Even with rising food costs, the price of a block of tofu, which is usually 12 - 14 ounces, is about $2.59 most places, and less if you're lucky or shop around. According to NutritionData.com, a 2 ounce serving of good ole tofu contains about 6 grams of protein and 4 grams of fat. Compare that to 7 grams of protein and 15 grams of fat in Spam, and tofu is starting to look pretty good, I think!
If you're looking for a low-fat and inexpensive protein boost, might I suggest you whip up some tofu fried rice instead of Spam fried rice and if you're really looking to stretch your dollar, cook up some ramen and tofu rather than ramen and Spam! You'll get almost as much protein, much less fat and sodium, and your body will thank you for it!
So, I'm asking you America, would you really rather eat mystery meat than tofu? I'd suggest that if you're tempted to join the ranks of consumers who have been filling their cupboards with Spam lately, please, think twice and stock up on soy instead!
News Link: Sales of Spam rise as consumers trim food costs
See also:
Vegetarian Protein Sources
Easy Tofu Recipes
Ramen Noodle Recipes
Shopping for Vegetarian Ramen
Comments
You’ve inspired me to use more tofu… but I am always a little intimidated by the choices: soft tofu, firm tofu, tofu in plastic containers, in bags, etc. Do you have an article (or articles) that tells what kinds of tofu are good for various purposes? Thanks.
I love Tofu. Spam is scary!
Love, Love, Love Tofu!
My dinner is Tofu pudding…this is filling and I so look forward to it everyday ~ can NOT get tired of it. Been living on this for years. My old roommate calls me tofu-face! I have eatten other types of tofu but i can’t get enough of tofu pudding! Bring on the tofu recipes…
Spam’s been around since way before the 1980s. My mom served Spam when I was a kid, and I was born in 1958. As I understand it, my grandma served my dad Spam when he was a kid, and he was born in 1934.
Be that as it may, I wouldn’t go near Spam or any other meat product like that.
The original sense (canned ham) is a proprietary name registered by Geo. A. Hormel & Co. in U.S., 1937. It is presumed to be a conflation of spiced ham but was soon extended to other kinds of canned meat. Spam was dished out to the GIs during WWII. It is still quite popular in parts of Southeast due to the GIs.
Hi Nancy: Here’s an article that will hopefully be what you’re looking for:
Types of Tofu
Never liked flavor of tofu and spam does have a similar taste of ham and I never eat only one slice at a time and everything is loade with salt. I never use it except for some on french fries
Couldn’t agree with you more and your description of Spam is accurate and amusing. Do you think there’s a link between email Spam and the mystery meat? Same name…same disgusted/annoyed feeling, especially when the Spam recipe cook-off happens.
You’ve inspired me to hunt down the best tofu deal in town too! Thanks.
We had Spam in the 50’s …a fried spam sandwich was a treat..
I don’t gt your point here…six grams of protein and then 7 grams of fat for tofu and 15 grams for Spam..makes Spam better energy source (and isnt’ tht what food is supposed to be?) The hungry folks of the world need that fat..
So 70 years old and still like my spam…and by the way my arteries are in great shape..Don’t see how you can describe Spam as mystery meat when you compare it to tastless tofu..
If I see tofu on the plate or Spam you betcha I will go for the full flavor spam. It is a real treat for people in Hawaii.
$2.59!? Where is this? I must be lucky to live in Los Angeles. Even at Whole Foods tofu is no more than a buck and a half or so. At Trader Joe’s it was 99 cents last year (it’s up slightly).
And Colleen: the connection between email spam and the canned stuff is Monty Python’s Flying Circus (by way of 80’s computer nerds). If you don’t know the sketch, search YouTube for “monty python spam”.
I totally forgot about that sketch! Trip down memory lane and it’s still hilarious, if not more!
Why are we compelled to add “vs” to every conversation about any two things?! Tofu is a versatile addition to any diet. You go to great lengths to point this out. Unfortunately, you don’t bother to get even the most basic facts about spam correct. A person’s diet should not revolve around Spam but it is also a versatile foodstuff that can add flavor and texture to a family’s dinner. In the future please do your homework before you offer what people assume is a professional opinion.