Cooking on a Budget

窮人餐點：省錢料理網紅的崛起與通膨挑戰

文章摘要

YouTuber sisters Brooke and Emily create videos teaching viewers how to make ultra-low-budget meals as inflation drives up the cost of living. Their content highlights the growing issue of food insecurity and the stigma surrounding it, while calling for mutual aid in struggling communities.

YouTuber 姊妹 Brooke 和 Emily 製作影片，教觀眾如何以極低預算準備餐點，因應通貨膨脹推高生活成本的壓力。她們的內容突顯了「糧食不安全」問題日益嚴重，以及圍繞此議題的社會污名，同時也呼籲在困境中的社群彼此互助。

新聞影片

小撇步 / 重點提煉 :
這類社會議題報導時，請留意「對比」的寫法。文中將「物價上漲百分比」與「停滯的最低工資」並列，能強化作者想表達的經濟急迫感，這是撰寫勸說性或分析性文章時常用的修辭技巧。

單字學習

Inflation (noun) — 通貨膨脹

描述物價持續上漲且貨幣購買力下降的經濟現象。

常用搭配：rising inflation, curb inflation。例：Inflation has led to a significant increase in grocery prices this year.

Struggle (verb) — 奮鬥；艱難地前進；掙扎

常用於表達在極端困難的環境下生存或克服障礙。

例：Many families are struggling to afford their monthly rent.

insecurity (noun) — 不穩定；無保障

在社會學中常用 food insecurity 指涉無法穩定獲取足夠食物的狀態。

例：The local charity is working hard to address food insecurity in the community.

essential (noun/adj) — 必需品；必要的

指生活中不可或缺的東西，如食物、水和電力。

例：High prices are making it difficult for people to buy basic essentials.

stagnant (adjective) — 停滯的；不發展的

常用來形容工資或經濟長時間沒有增長。

例：The workforce is unhappy because wages have remained stagnant for a decade.

克漏字練習

1. The government is implementing new policies to combat the high rate of ______.

一種導致物價上漲的經濟現象。
解答 : inflation

2. Fresh vegetables and protein are considered ______ for a healthy diet.

指生活中極其重要、不可或缺的事物。
解答 : essentials

3. Despite working two jobs, they still ______ to make ends meet.

意指在困境中辛苦地生活或運作。
解答 : struggle

片語與搭配

Cost of living

生活成本

同義詞：living expenses, overhead costs

常見搭配：rising cost of living, high cost of living。用於討論經濟壓力或居住地區的消費水準。

Mutual aid

互助；社群支援

同義詞：community support, reciprocal help

常見搭配：organize mutual aid, spirit of mutual aid。強調在官方資源不足時，社群內非正式的彼此照應。

理解與測驗

是非題 (Yes or No)

1. The sisters started their YouTube channel partly because of their experience with a family member's secret struggle with food bank usage

點擊查看答案

True

這對姊妹之所以創立她們的 YouTube 頻道，部分原因是來自她們親身經歷：家中某位成員曾默默地依賴食物銀行度過困境。

是非題 (Yes or No)

2. The news states that electricity prices are growing slower than the cost of living.

點擊查看答案

False

新聞指出，電價的上漲速度比生活成本的增加還要慢。

理解與測驗

選擇題 (Multiple Choice)

1. Why does Brooke Sutherland ban political terms from her Facebook page?

A. She is not interested in current events.
B. She wants to keep the community focused on helping each other positively.
C. She supports a specific political party and wants to hide it.

點擊查看答案

B. 她希望社群能專注於以正向、互助的方式支持彼此，而不是被其他議題分散注意力。

選擇題 (Multiple Choice)

2. In the context of the news, what does it mean when wages are 'stagnant'?

A. Wages are decreasing rapidly.
B. Wages are more than enough to cover rent.
C. Wages are not increasing despite rising costs.

點擊查看答案

C. 儘管生活成本上升，工資卻沒有增加

深度思考與延伸

批判性思考問題 1

Why do you think there is a social stigma attached to using food banks or admitting food insecurity?

批判性思考問題 2

How do social media influencers like Brooke and Emily change the public's perception of poverty?

批判性思考問題 3

If minimum wage remains the same while prices double, what are the long-term effects on the younger generation's career choices?

立場辯論

Is it more effective for social media influencers to remain apolitical (to focus on immediate help) or to engage in political activism (to change the laws that cause poverty)?