Getting frustrated over the cost of healthy eating?

clafairy1984

it feels like sometimes most of my wages go on food shopping! I know it's worth it, and i have no intention of swapping to processed rubbish. But sometimes i find it difficult. I soend so much more than my friends and family, sometimes double! it's just so frustrating, especially when i wotk out what that difference is over the month. There must be a cheaper way of doing this. Im spending £300 - £350 a month, whereas other people seem to be spending about £250. Seems so unfair that wanting to look after myself financially effects other things. That proce difference could be a holiday, or redecorating....sulking

LKArgh

What are you buying that costs you so much?

clafairy1984

I buy fresh good quality fish and meat, fresh veg and fruit, nuts etc. All meals are prepared fresh and i use processed ingredients as little as possible. I have soups for lunch, and green smoothies for breakfast, snacking on homous and veggies, nuts etc inbetween meals. There are 2 adults and a 5 year old. I'm even careful about wastage, with any leftovers being taken for my partners lunch at owrk, or being chucked into smoothies and soups. I create meal plans and tend not to devaite from my shopping list or get tempted by deals. Only way i can think to reduce the cost is to buy frozen ingredients and lower quality meat, and substitute for more proccessed foods, all things i dont really want to do.

kommodevaran

I can't say I have experienced the same. Are you sure you are counting everything? Eating out, drinks, pantry staples? Comparing families with the same number of adults and children? What ARE you buying? Everything organic? Frozen vegetables? What do you drink? Do you cook yourself? Do you throw away food sometimes? Do you shun carbs? Lots of healthy foods are cheap, and they go a long way.

SizeTenByTeatime

Nuts are just a rip-off, I agree.

SusanKing1981

Since buying more whole foods and less processed our shopping bill has gone from £100 a week to £70. Where do you shop? We shop at Aldi as it's so much cheaper.

callsitlikeiseeit

i find it costs less to eat fresh food. processed / prepackaged foods cost more per serving than making the same thing yourself.

all meat is 'processed' byt he very fact it is taken off the animal, so if you're spending extra money on something that claims not to be, just go to the regular grocery store. i buy frozen chicken, beef, pork, fish (not the breaded kind, regular frozen fish).

you can also get frozen veggies (not in sauces or anything). and use what you want as you need it. i generally prefer fresh but in the winter especially, frozen is usually more cost effective.

i eat rice and pasta in moderation, and both are cheap. bags of apples, oranges, grapes and bananas are relatively inexpensive.

you do not have to get the more expensive organic versions of foods, as it makes little, if any, nutritional difference.

melonaulait

If you're losing weight, you could basically save money because you're eating less food. (But of course with a family to feed, your situation is different) Maybe you can take advantage of offers and sales? Some out of season items are gonna be very expensive fresh.

snowflake930

SizeTenByTeatime wrote: »

Nuts are just a rip-off, I agree.

Nuts are expensive, but a serving size is 1/4 cup, so it goes a long way. They are also calorie dense, so I limit my daily intake of nuts.
I have been doing this for almost 4 years now. My grocery bill is less than what it was before I joined MFP. Using the guidelines for serving/portion sizes was an eye opener. My use of overly processed foods is minimal. We rarely eat out. I use mostly fresh fruit, veggies, meats. Some frozen fruits and vegetables, and low sodium canned beans, and canned water packed tuna. We don't have a cow, so dairy products are processed, but again, stick to portion size. I cook from scratch. Doing a lot of cooking on the weekend for the coming weeks meals. I use no prepackaged convenience foods. It really is less expensive, this way, at least for us.

Sued0nim

Fresh food is cheaper than pre-made (what people call processed) foods

so meal plan

buy to your meal plan

shop on offers

cook in bulk, portion and freeze

tomw86

A few suggestions for you:

1. Buy frozen meat and fish - no difference in nutritional value but for comparison 1kg Frozen chicken breast fillets are £4 in Asda whereas fresh is £3.50 for 500g, almost twice the price.

2. Add some frozen veg instead of all fresh, again no difference in nutritional value but up to half the price.

3. Switch to a cheaper supermarket if you don't already use them. I do almost all my shopping in Lidl and Farmfoods with occasional trips to Asda for certain things (other supermarkets are available).

4. Decide what is most important to you - good food at a good price or food ethics. A barn raised chicken egg tastes no different to a free range one from a shop (home kept free range are definitely tastier though) but will be up to 20p cheaper per half dozen. I understand and accept that some people like their food to be organic and well raised but to me it comes down to price pure and simple.

Following those principles my weekly shop averages £20 to £25 (single male preparing all his own food - no prepackaged or convenience).

clafairy1984

I dont understand why it's working out so much more expensive for me. Typical day, like today, consists of wholewheat toast with avocado and tomato with a green smoothie, homous and veggie sticks as mid morning snack. Soup, ryvita and piece of fruit for lunch, mid afternoon treat of couple squares chocolate. Dinner protein with lots of veggies, tonight im making a sausage a root vegetable bake.

clafairy1984

i dont like to buy frozen meat and fish, as often pumped full of water, meaning you actually get less for your money. My Dad used to work in a eat proccessing factory, and was a fisherman for a while, and he's told me so many stories of what they do to the meat/fish before it's frozen.

chljlleal

£350/month isn't that bad! We are a family of four and I have spent over £100/week for the last two weeks in Aldi and that doesn't cover everything we eat in a week.

clafairy1984

Tomw86 How are you managing this? i spend 70 - 100 for 2 adults and a child

lynnstrick01

sounds to me like you are shopping twice, once for the family and once for yourself, try to get the family in on some of the healthier food choices that you are eating, or even better, you eat what they are having, just watch your portions, that is more realistic anyway, you eventually have to learn to eat those same foods but in moderation unless you plan to eat separate meals your entire life

kuranda10

I also suggest frozen veggies over fresh. "They" (no I don't have sources materials at my finger tips, so nobody ask) are finding that frozen veggies may be more nutritious than fresh. They are frozen quickly after harvest where as fresh are stored and may travel for days before reaching the stores, losing nutrients the whole time.

Plus frozen is considerably less expensive. For example right now cauliflower is $2.10 for 1/2 of a tiny head, It is $2.60 for 500g frozen.

SusanKing1981

I get the Aldi everyday essentials dark chocolate. 30p for 100g bar. It lasts me all week as there are 20 squares.

snowflake930

clafairy1984 wrote: »

i dont like to buy frozen meat and fish, as often pumped full of water, meaning you actually get less for your money. My Dad used to work in a eat proccessing factory, and was a fisherman for a while, and he's told me so many stories of what they do to the meat/fish before it's frozen.

I agree. A lot of sodium added to frozen chicken/turkey as well. Fresh is better, but it is more expensive unless you can get it on sale.

tomw86

clafairy1984 wrote: »

Tomw86 How are you managing this? i spend 70 - 100 for 2 adults and a child

By being very careful with what I buy, I tend to eat the same things most of the time as I'm a creature of habit and this knocks on to my shopping lists.

Before I switched to eating better and to eating the right size portions I was spending upwards of £35 a week on food shopping plus another £15 on takeaways.

And maybe the frozen food industry used to have a few tricks of the trade but I don't notice my chicken or fish shrinking any more than when I do use fresh.

Also my idea of processed food might be different to yours, for example canned tuna doesn't register as 'processed' to me but a ready meal does. £70 a week for two adults and a child is not bad either.

clafairy1984

It doesnt help that i have an active family, who are constantly hungry. My OH cycles 8 miles a day to and from work, and plays American football (so has a massive appettite) plus we hit the gym together 4 times a week. I walk up to 5 miles a day too. So we may be eating bigger portions compared to less active families. According to the papaer this morning 'healthy eating' costs up to 1/3 more than regular eating, whatever that is. I'm trying to put in perspective, to feel less depressed about it by thinking how much my bill comapares to take out of restuarant prices. Just frustrating knowing that other in my family are eating for £40-50. Fair enough there are lots of 'cheats' and not overly healthy, but it frees up money for activities and non food related treats. Atm it feels like my wages are just going on food and the gym.

tomw86

clafairy1984 wrote: »

It doesnt help that i have an active family, who are constantly hungry. My OH cycles 8 miles a day to and from work, and plays American football (so has a massive appettite) plus we hit the gym together 4 times a week. I walk up to 5 miles a day too. So we may be eating bigger portions compared to less active families. According to the papaer this morning 'healthy eating' costs up to 1/3 more than regular eating, whatever that is. I'm trying to put in perspective, to feel less depressed about it by thinking how much my bill comapares to take out of restuarant prices. Just frustrating knowing that other in my family are eating for £40-50. Fair enough there are lots of 'cheats' and not overly healthy, but it frees up money for activities and non food related treats. Atm it feels like my wages are just going on food and the gym.

I can totally appreciate the feeling of wages not going far enough, I often feel exactly the same way but put it into perspective. You have a roof over your head that's dry and heated, you eat good food and can afford to go to the gym. You have a loving family - what more do you actually need?

That's the mantra I run through in my head when I get that feeling of 'all my money goes on bills etc' and it reminds me that I am very lucky when compared to so much of the worlds population that I have all of those things.

Sumiblue

Meat is expensive and I prefer fresh over frozen too. We don't eat fish as much as I'd like due to expense. If you use meat sparingly in stir fried or over pasta with lots of vegetables you can stretch it farther. But I know your pain. I have been trying to not base our meals on rice & carbs and it's gotten more expensive. Beans and lentils are a good source of protein and very inexpensive. I buy dry lentils & beans at an Indian grocery and you get more for less money. I get canned tomatoes and use frozen vegetables for soups & stews. Do big cook ups on the weekend and you can eat for days or freeze for future meals.

lynnstrick01

My father in law had a very good perspective on the cost of food... He always said that you will eventually spend the $$ one way or the other, you can spend a little more every week on good healthy foods or you can spend a WHOLE lot going to the Dr. later on when you get sick because you didn't eat well.

Kyrenora

This is something that's easy for me because I live in a rural/farming community, but I've found that buying meat from a local butcher is often much cheaper than buying it from a grocery store.

RodaRose

clafairy1984 wrote: »

i dont like to buy frozen meat and fish, as often pumped full of water, meaning you actually get less for your money. My Dad used to work in a eat proccessing factory, and was a fisherman for a while, and he's told me so many stories of what they do to the meat/fish before it's frozen.

If I had that kind of first hand knowledge of the industry, I would not eat frozen meat or fish either.
Do you have access to fresh fish once in a while? I rarely buy it but I know that others like it. When I was a kid we raised our own beef (one or two cows at a time), chickens, and hogs on a tiny
family farm. Now I live in the semi-tropics where I can get local fresh shrimp that I trust for hubby once in a while.

I eat beef in a good restaurant once every four or five months and hubby buys cooked chicken sometimes for himself, but mostly we eat lots of black beans, lentils, chick peas, eggs, rice, sweet potatoes, butternut squash. . . .

-> Frozen fruits and veggies have more nutrition than fresh because they are packed close to the farms.
Hubby buys huge bags of rice from an ethnic market. . .
. . . Also he buys certain veggies that are cheaper there than in our supper markets.
With my guidance, lately one of his dishes for the two of us is stir fried (very little oil) tofu and veggies with garlic or onion.

Smoothies by the way are often expensive.
Consider adding beans to the smoothies for protein, carbs, and fiber.
https://fullplateliving.org/blog/secret-ingredient-making-one-minute-high-fiber-and-protein-rich-breakfast-treat

W

Meganthedogmom

Those of you saying processed food is more expensive than fresh food, clearly don't understand that ramen is 10 for $1.
When I was living by myself and on a grocery budget of about $60 per MONTH, I mostly survived off processed food.
Now between my boyfriend and I, we easily spend $800 a month on groceries. It sucks, but we do like to eat well.

lynnstrick01

Kyrenora wrote: »

This is something that's easy for me because I live in a rural/farming community, but I've found that buying meat from a local butcher is often much cheaper than buying it from a grocery store.

Definitely, and if you have a freezer, even better, I buy local fresh produce (in season) and freeze it myself. (especially if your area has a U-pick season) Then I Buy bulk meats, instead of 4.99lb for pork chops, buy a tenderloin for 1.69 and have the butcher cut it. Instead of nearly $14/LB for boneless rib eye, I buy the whole rib eye for $6.50lb.. If you don't have a local butcher you can usually do the same at Sams club or GFS market. If they won't cut it for you, go get an electric knife for $20 and cut it yourself. Buying in bulk saves a ton of $$ but again you kind of have to have a freezer.

tomw86

meganridenour wrote: »

Those of you saying processed food is more expensive than fresh food, clearly don't understand that ramen is 10 for $1.
When I was living by myself and on a grocery budget of about $60 per MONTH, I mostly survived off processed food.
Now between my boyfriend and I, we easily spend $800 a month on groceries. It sucks, but we do like to eat well.

Kudos to you.

Actually I clearly understand that packets of instant noodles are dirt cheap, 19p a packet the last time I looked but I think you are getting things a little muddled. The OP was concerned that her grocery/food bill was higher than some others in her family now she has switched to a greater whole food diet. The rest of us have been trying to help her find ways to eat well for less outlay by sharing our experiences.

Has your post actually tried to help the OP at all? Or were you more interested in telling us all we are wrong? Just out of curiosity of course - no offence intended.

happymom221

Are your friends eating out a lot more than your family? I spend a lot of money on food quality food and shop twice a week My friend who eats out all the time- said she hadn't been to the store since before Christmas
I eat a lot of salads and protein but I cook in bulk. Made the family package of chicken breasts and seasoned them 2 ways. I will use all week.

lynnstrick01

Just curious here, I live in central florida, lots of farms... so also lots of little road side stands that sell all sorts of local fruits and veggies at VERY reasonable cost. Do all of you have that same opportunity where you live? If so it is a much better option than the grocery stores