U.K. scientists claim to have found cheapest meal


Times are tough in Canada, but is the economy bad enough to eat a toast sandwich?

Scientists from the Royal Society of Chemistry in the U.K. are calling the sandwich (which costs the equivalent of 12 cents Canadian), the cheapest meal.

It is a slice of toast between two pieces of buttered bread with salt and pepper. Although according to the Guardian, it can also be one untoasted piece between two toasted pieces.

"I've tried it and it's surprisingly nice to eat and quite filling," says Dr. John Emsley of the RSC in a statement. "I would emphasize that toast sandwiches are also good at saving you calories as well as money, provided you only have one toast sandwich for lunch and nothing else."

According to the RSC this sandwich has 330 calories, 9.5g of protein, 12g of fat, 55g of carbohydrate and contains vitamins A, B1, B3, B3 and D. To cut calories even more, people can opt for margarine instead of butter.

The meal may sound strange, but it has appeared in British culture before. It first showed up in the best-selling book, Mrs. Beeton's Book of Household Management, 150 years ago.

[See also: Family lives without groceries for a year]

The scientists chose this meal because they want to help the country through the harder times, which they say are to come.

"Given the stern days we are yet to experience, we decided to go for an unknown dish that requires little money and little time," Emsley says in a statement.

Melissa Little of the British Dietetic Association tells the BBC, for not much extra money people can add an egg, sardines or vegetables to the sandwich.

If anyone knows of a cheaper meal, the RSC is offering $320 (200 pounds) to anyone who can come up with a meal for less.

(Getty Images)

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