Roach Coach Economics

If you work in a warehouse or factory, each morning you hear a familiar sound. It is the roach coach. That is the food truck that comes around each day. Many of us react like Pavlov's dog when we hear the sound. Our mouths water and we run out to get breakfast, a snack, or lunch. Although the guy who owns/drives our truck is great, that is not why we buy from him. It is also not because the food is really nutritious because it is generally not. I don't buy the food because it is a collection of fantastic gourmet items, but they are tasty enough in a high sodium, high sugar, high carb, trans fat kind of way. We buy because the food is tasty, inexpensive, and really convenient. The truck drives right up to our building and we can buy a donut, soda, bag of chips, PBJ (my favorite) or burrito for $1 to $2.

Want a salad or fruit try $4. That is not an outrageous price, but the Roach Coach will tell you the story of why most people eat unhealthy food. It generally costs half as much and is more convenient (finger food). Add some real sweet or salty or caffeine like affects and most people are hooked.

Despite the name I have never seen any roaches. An entemologist once told me that the #1 cause of death for roaches was dehydration because they have a high surface area to body mass ratio.