I love food. I read about it... talk about it... write about it... and three or four times a day I like to eat some of it. So does my family. They seem to have acquired this habit of wanting to eat... several times a day.

I am trying to figure out how to tell them that they may have to change this habit somewhat. It seems that the traditional food we have eaten for many years because they are nutritious, tasty and not too expensive, may soon price themselves right off of our family's menu.

For example, pasta. For years we have eaten pasta several times a week.. It fills up the empty space in your middle. And my sons get empty often. It has not been expensive, and it is versatile. I can take small quantities of more expensive food items, make a sauce and serve it over pasta and fill everyone up.

Sadly, this may have to end. Everytime I go to the store, pasta has gotten more expensive.

Six weeks ago I was paying 86 cents a package for the brand of pasta my family likes... It takes two packages for a meal.

Then, a few weeks ago, the price went up to $1.28 a package. I was shocked. That is a huge jump in price. Ok, I refigured the budget.... a little less meat...fewer veggies... a little more sauce... we could manage...

Tonight I went to the store to buy pasta.... There were new price tags on the shelf.... $1.52 a package.

My mouth fell open... I just stood there in shock. I could not take my eyes off the price tag.

How .... Why.... How can this be?????

I turned and silently left the store.