I appreciate the math check. I was skeptical, double-checked my numbers, and checked again:

You're right, my math was wrong. I set up a dimensional-analysis grid thing from decades ago in physics class, and instead of 5lb on the top and bottom, I have 1lb being equivalent to 2260g, which makes the total cost for these ~3.5 cups of seeds per week about 3 USD.

The cheapest 5-lb bag is the brown lentils ($6). Wheat is $7, black beans $8, aszuki $12, garbanzo $13, and mung $14 per five-pound bag.

As someone generally turned off by sensationalism, I'm feeling rather hypocritical now...

The 718g last a week though, so it's more like $2 for a 5lb bag of seeds.

I have no frame of reference for how reasonable that is, but it's more reasonable than $.25/5lb bag.

If 718g lasts a week, then that's 100g per day, or 3.5 ounces of food per day. That's even less likely.

There are 1600 calories per pound of dried beans (https://modernsurvivalblog.com/survival-kitchen/calories-per...) 3.5 oz would contain 350 calories.

The average person needs 2,000 to 2,500 calories per day. No, this guy isn't living on 350 calories per day.

You're right about that. I add whatever vegetables and greens and fruit we have excess of, things from our farm share that my family doesn't like, and some things I buy for myself (beets, mainly). I add some olive oil, but am really trying to follow my doctor's advice about treating GERD and not have too much fat (I'm not opposed, otherwise, and would be thoroughly omnivorous if I didn't have this acid reflux. I've messed around with fasting but aside from occasional skipped meals and ending eating at least three hours before sleep I don't do that anymore).

This is a lot of bulk and water, so I can eat for a half-hour and feel full and hydrated for hours, but I do get hungry in the evenings when it's best I don't eat too much.

I could benefit from losing 10-20 pounds, but I'm holding steady eating like this, so I'm probably getting those 2,000 - 2,500 calories a day (I'm much less physically active than I used to be). Using smaller bowls, not snacking, and making meals more of a ritual rather than an indulgence might be helpful in reducing total consumption, slowly rather than precipitously. I do like the taste of these one-pot sprout-based meals, as it's a way to exercise control over my environment. That search for control may well be part of the problem.

My local grocery store sells a 4 pound bag of dried beans for $10 or so, which seems kind of high. Amazon basic beans are $1.50 a pound or so.

But he's buying bulk coop beans, so it's cheaper? All the bulk coop beans I can find online are actually more expensive, like $3-$5 a pound.

You're correct, I did my math wrong. It's more like $3/week.

I think the post mentioned that the 718 grams of dry goods lasts a whole week. That would cost about 38¢ per pound, and they are bulk-ordered from the local food cooperative.

Why did you multiply by 7? I believe this 718 grams is the entire weeks, not per-day.

Example math:

Wheat seeds ($7/5-lb) * (5-lb/2260g) * 204g = $0.63

You're right; the 718g or ~3.5c (after measuring with the scale I just use 1/2 cup scoops now) is about a week's worth of "seed base" for my daily meals. I make a big bowl in the morning and eat it throughout the day, scooping into a smaller bowl.