Wish fresh veggies weren't so expensive
Replies
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Noreenmarie1234 wrote: »Noreenmarie1234 wrote: »For the calorie amount fresh fruit and veg ARE more expensive. I hate how people say they aren't. If I buy some junk food donuts 1.69 (for pack of 6 at 320 cal per doughnut) and box of cereal (1.69 with 12 servings) that would easily last me 2 weeks of 500-600 calorie breakfasts. HOWEVER, if I buy 4 fresh bell peppers (4.00), one lb broccoli (2 bucks), one large tomato (2), I could eat ALL of that in ONE day and it wouldn't even amount to the same calorie amount of "fuel". So YES eating fresh fruit and veg is more expensive than eating junk because you have to buy A LOT more to get the same calorie amount of fuel.
No way. A few vegetables, some protein and a starch and you can feed yourself for a few days cooking one meal. Even if you buy the cheapest junk food out there you will not get the same nutritional bang for your buck. I wish the myth of "it's cheap to get fat" would die. Some things are very expensive, but seasonal vegetables or frozen vegetables are cheap almost everywhere. Canned vegetables are also an option. All of these are cheaper than a pop tart or hot pocket. I think it's an excuse people use either because they don't know how to cook or they want to keep eating junk and don't want to just admit that.
All of these are not cheaper. A box of poptarts run 1.67 at my local store and that would last a WEEK. For that amount I could get ONE tomato or one head of broccoli, which would just be a small component of ONE meal. I think it depends on location. I am picky about my veg and I don't like canned vegetables or cheap starches such as rice/beans/potatoes so when I make a meal, it is all veg and protein. I buy lettuce which is 2.99 and it lasts me only two salads worth. To eat a salad every day for lunch is quite expensive. I have to buy the lettuce, tomato (2), onions (1), cucumber (99c), radishes (2), green pepper (1), etc it all adds up to about 5 per salad when I figured it out, which is 25 bucks per week. Alternately I could have a hot pocket each day for lunch for the same calories and it would only cost me 7.50 for the whole week.
Just an example, so I don't think you can say it IS just as cheap to eat healthy. It CAN be, but many people such as myself are picky and do not want to eat plain rice and canned vegetables. I also dislike the taste of frozen vegetables. They aren't the same as fresh. So unfortunately with my preferences it is more expensive, although that is my fault LOL. I don't use it as an excuse because my grocery bill is quite high. I do choose to eat mostly vegetables because it's what I enjoy, I just am not happy about it.
It says so much that poptarts are considered a meal. People look to cheap process food before wholesome ingredients. There are many blogs out there where people have set about demonstrating that you can eat well and cheaply -- even on food stamps. However, I acknowledge that it takes desire, time and resource to shop, plan and cook whole ingredients. Desire, time and resources that not everyone has.
There are a number of resources out there for those who want to try and eat whole foods on a restricted budget. These resources help you with planning. You just have to find the time to cook. You also have to be open to leftovers and using ingredients to the fullest as our great-grandparents did -- chicken to eat, leftovers, carcass for soup, etc.
Eat Well on $4/day
https://cookbooks.leannebrown.com/good-and-cheap.pdf
Article about the book http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/07/27/426761037/cheap-eats-a-cookbook-for-eating-well-on-a-food-stamp-budget
7 Of The Best Food Blogs For Eating On A Budget
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/11/budget-food-blogs_n_6135100.html
There are many more resources out there to be discovered.
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Noreenmarie1234 wrote: »Noreenmarie1234 wrote: »For the calorie amount fresh fruit and veg ARE more expensive. I hate how people say they aren't. If I buy some junk food donuts 1.69 (for pack of 6 at 320 cal per doughnut) and box of cereal (1.69 with 12 servings) that would easily last me 2 weeks of 500-600 calorie breakfasts. HOWEVER, if I buy 4 fresh bell peppers (4.00), one lb broccoli (2 bucks), one large tomato (2), I could eat ALL of that in ONE day and it wouldn't even amount to the same calorie amount of "fuel". So YES eating fresh fruit and veg is more expensive than eating junk because you have to buy A LOT more to get the same calorie amount of fuel.
To eat a salad every day for lunch is quite expensive. I have to buy the lettuce, tomato (2), onions (1), cucumber (99c), radishes (2), green pepper (1), etc it all adds up to about 5 per salad when I figured it out, which is 25 bucks per week.
Nothing to do with the topic, but are you saying the above quantities are for 1 salad? As I was reading your post, I was eating a ginormous salad for dinner (filled a serving bowl). I used the same quantities you described (and a half a bag of spinach) and it made mine, the same size for hubby, and some leftover for lunch tomorrow!0 -
kommodevaran wrote: »Are you in the US? I've heard cauliflower is (or was, some months ago) expensive over there. Pick produce in season, or frozen. You're not supposed to overdo it, either. 3 100 grams servings of vegs and 2 servings of fruit per day is enough. Oh, and avoid "organic" if "not organic" is cheaper. And precut will be more expensive.
I don't really think you wish vegetables weren't so expensive. Vegs aren't expensive. But you prefer other foods? You can have a little of each, and your taste preferences can change and adapt to what you expose them to. Learn to cook.
Where do you find that more than 3 servings of veggies and 2 servings of fruit is overdoing it?1 -
Noreenmarie1234 wrote: »Noreenmarie1234 wrote: »For the calorie amount fresh fruit and veg ARE more expensive. I hate how people say they aren't. If I buy some junk food donuts 1.69 (for pack of 6 at 320 cal per doughnut) and box of cereal (1.69 with 12 servings) that would easily last me 2 weeks of 500-600 calorie breakfasts. HOWEVER, if I buy 4 fresh bell peppers (4.00), one lb broccoli (2 bucks), one large tomato (2), I could eat ALL of that in ONE day and it wouldn't even amount to the same calorie amount of "fuel". So YES eating fresh fruit and veg is more expensive than eating junk because you have to buy A LOT more to get the same calorie amount of fuel.
To eat a salad every day for lunch is quite expensive. I have to buy the lettuce, tomato (2), onions (1), cucumber (99c), radishes (2), green pepper (1), etc it all adds up to about 5 per salad when I figured it out, which is 25 bucks per week.
Nothing to do with the topic, but are you saying the above quantities are for 1 salad? As I was reading your post, I was eating a ginormous salad for dinner (filled a serving bowl). I used the same quantities you described (and a half a bag of spinach) and it made mine, the same size for hubby, and some leftover for lunch tomorrow!
Haha no! For about a weeks worth of salads.0 -
wellthenwhat wrote: »I made myself a delicious carrot/broccoli/cauliflower cooked veggie combo and had some for breakfast. But for what it cost me I could have bought 3 huge bags of sugar cereal that would last me several months vs a week. It's sad.
You need to buy vegetables according to the season. In season - cheap, out of season - expensive.
Just by the way, how would you get 3 bags of cereal to last several months?? Not in our house for sure!!2 -
Packerjohn wrote: »kommodevaran wrote: »Are you in the US? I've heard cauliflower is (or was, some months ago) expensive over there. Pick produce in season, or frozen. You're not supposed to overdo it, either. 3 100 grams servings of vegs and 2 servings of fruit per day is enough. Oh, and avoid "organic" if "not organic" is cheaper. And precut will be more expensive.
I don't really think you wish vegetables weren't so expensive. Vegs aren't expensive. But you prefer other foods? You can have a little of each, and your taste preferences can change and adapt to what you expose them to. Learn to cook.
Where do you find that more than 3 servings of veggies and 2 servings of fruit is overdoing it?
LOL. Yeah, you don't want to "overdo it" with too many servings of vegetables...
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wellthenwhat wrote: »I made myself a delicious carrot/broccoli/cauliflower cooked veggie combo and had some for breakfast. But for what it cost me I could have bought 3 huge bags of sugar cereal that would last me several months vs a week. It's sad.
My favorite breakfast is a saute of onion, celery, carrot with an egg nestled atop the almost cooked through veggies and steamed to runny yolk but firm white doneness. I use half an onion, 1 long celery rib, 1 medium carrot and 1 egg per serving.2 -
Packerjohn wrote: »kommodevaran wrote: »Are you in the US? I've heard cauliflower is (or was, some months ago) expensive over there. Pick produce in season, or frozen. You're not supposed to overdo it, either. 3 100 grams servings of vegs and 2 servings of fruit per day is enough. Oh, and avoid "organic" if "not organic" is cheaper. And precut will be more expensive.
I don't really think you wish vegetables weren't so expensive. Vegs aren't expensive. But you prefer other foods? You can have a little of each, and your taste preferences can change and adapt to what you expose them to. Learn to cook.
Where do you find that more than 3 servings of veggies and 2 servings of fruit is overdoing it?
LOL. Yeah, you don't want to "overdo it" with too many servings of vegetables...
I didn't think that was how it was intended.
I think the point was that it's crazy to claim that it's expensive to eat healthfully based on a diet that compares getting most calories from fruit and veg (which are not particularly calorie dense, especially veg), in the most expensive option ("fresh" and out of season), plus maybe more expensive cuts of meat and compare that to something like a box of sugary cereal or, now, poptarts.
If you need to eat healthfully, you can do it with cheaper staple foods (stuff like dried beans, oats, potatoes), fewer (but still plenty) of vegetables or frozen veg and fruit (it's March, so most of the fruit I eat is frozen -- I like "fresh" veg so spring for them, but I don't pretend that's the only way to eat healthfully), and cheaper cuts of meat like chicken thighs with skin on, whole chickens, etc.
That someone would say it's more expensive to do that because a poptart is cheaper or a sugary cereal (as if anyone really thinks a poptart is a balanced meal) seems weird to me.
Now, if you can afford it and enjoy 10 servings of veg a day, I think that's fabulous and that's more like how I eat (and I don't think it's that expensive, but I eat in season when possible and now I supplement with frozen, do get things like potatoes and winter squash quite often, and avoid way overpriced things like grocery store organic and pre-cut). Yeah, a candy bar is cheaper than broccoli per calorie, but per calorie is a weird way to think of it, a candy bar is not a meal. (And again, I think that was the poster's point -- that you don't eat vegetables to get the bulk of your calories, but because they are important for nutrition, it is still assumed that you will be eating some foods as part of the overall diet that are quite low cal. Sure, some don't, but not because it's necessary for nutrition.)5 -
Noreenmarie1234 wrote: »Noreenmarie1234 wrote: »For the calorie amount fresh fruit and veg ARE more expensive. I hate how people say they aren't. If I buy some junk food donuts 1.69 (for pack of 6 at 320 cal per doughnut) and box of cereal (1.69 with 12 servings) that would easily last me 2 weeks of 500-600 calorie breakfasts. HOWEVER, if I buy 4 fresh bell peppers (4.00), one lb broccoli (2 bucks), one large tomato (2), I could eat ALL of that in ONE day and it wouldn't even amount to the same calorie amount of "fuel". So YES eating fresh fruit and veg is more expensive than eating junk because you have to buy A LOT more to get the same calorie amount of fuel.
No way. A few vegetables, some protein and a starch and you can feed yourself for a few days cooking one meal. Even if you buy the cheapest junk food out there you will not get the same nutritional bang for your buck. I wish the myth of "it's cheap to get fat" would die. Some things are very expensive, but seasonal vegetables or frozen vegetables are cheap almost everywhere. Canned vegetables are also an option. All of these are cheaper than a pop tart or hot pocket. I think it's an excuse people use either because they don't know how to cook or they want to keep eating junk and don't want to just admit that.
All of these are not cheaper. A box of poptarts run 1.67 at my local store and that would last a WEEK. For that amount I could get ONE tomato or one head of broccoli, which would just be a small component of ONE meal. I think it depends on location. I am picky about my veg and I don't like canned vegetables or cheap starches such as rice/beans/potatoes so when I make a meal, it is all veg and protein. I buy lettuce which is 2.99 and it lasts me only two salads worth. To eat a salad every day for lunch is quite expensive. I have to buy the lettuce, tomato (2), onions (1), cucumber (99c), radishes (2), green pepper (1), etc it all adds up to about 5 per salad when I figured it out, which is 25 bucks per week. Alternately I could have a hot pocket each day for lunch for the same calories and it would only cost me 7.50 for the whole week.
Just an example, so I don't think you can say it IS just as cheap to eat healthy. It CAN be, but many people such as myself are picky and do not want to eat plain rice and canned vegetables. I also dislike the taste of frozen vegetables. They aren't the same as fresh. So unfortunately with my preferences it is more expensive, although that is my fault LOL. I don't use it as an excuse because my grocery bill is quite high. I do choose to eat mostly vegetables because it's what I enjoy, I just am not happy about it.
It says so much that poptarts are considered a meal. People look to cheap process food before wholesome ingredients. There are many blogs out there where people have set about demonstrating that you can eat well and cheaply -- even on food stamps. However, I acknowledge that it takes desire, time and resource to shop, plan and cook whole ingredients. Desire, time and resources that not everyone has.
There are a number of resources out there for those who want to try and eat whole foods on a restricted budget. These resources help you with planning. You just have to find the time to cook. You also have to be open to leftovers and using ingredients to the fullest as our great-grandparents did -- chicken to eat, leftovers, carcass for soup, etc.
Eat Well on $4/day
https://cookbooks.leannebrown.com/good-and-cheap.pdf
Article about the book http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/07/27/426761037/cheap-eats-a-cookbook-for-eating-well-on-a-food-stamp-budget
7 Of The Best Food Blogs For Eating On A Budget
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/11/budget-food-blogs_n_6135100.html
There are many more resources out there to be discovered.
I think there is the problem, not necessarily in OP's case but pertaining to eating healthy while under the poverty line, where what people think is affordable is actually extremely far from being affordable. For example, in my search for budget friendly recipes I've come across so many food blogs that consider $10 a day to be cheap, and that's just so lavishly unbelievable for so many people. Not everyone who needs food stamps has them; also the blogs I've seen "demonstrating" that you can eat healthily on a food-stamp budget usually don't make enough food for a person to live on (and for someone not trying to lose weight, 1300 calories is not enough to be healthy long-term). Honestly, when I was struggling, even $4 a day was more than twice of what I had for food. My point is that it's often not even a matter of "desire, time and resources." It's a matter of choosing between starvation and obesity, with nothing in between and malnourishment either way.
For the record, a sleeve of poptarts is about 400 calories, which is a meal.8 -
If you're buying fresh keep the salad ingredients separate until you're ready to eat (even lettuce varieties) produce stored together will accelerate the oxidation process. No one likes slimy spinach0
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A mixing bowl and a cereal bowl are quite different in size and capacity!!0 -
A mixing bowl and a cereal bowl are quite different in size and capacity!!
Cereal actually lasts a lot longer than a couple of months in my house, not just because the serving size is so small, but because the serving size is so small, I'm not willing to use the calories on it at all!
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It's definitely a balancing act. I have to agree with other posters that if you can, look for frozen fruits and veggies. If nothing else, you can puree and freeze them to use in place of some ingredients in cooking. If you have a Sprout's/Sunflower nearby, their fresh produce is really economical.
Meal planning also helps. If you plan your week in advance, you can budget for the fresh items you need. You may even come up with ways to use the entire bag of veggies or fruit within the week without it spoiling. In fact, restaurants practice this, which is why you'll see so many dishes using the same components prepared different ways.
I remember seeing a spot on America's Test Kitchen on PBS in regards to freezing your own fresh fruit. Apparently, it can be done at home without damaging the fruit too much. If I can find a link to the video, I'll see about posting it here.
Good luck!1 -
I've become sold on good quality frozen veggies. They are affordable and you always have them on hand to steam with a meal or throw in a dish.3
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That's just crazy. I believe I eat plenty already, I enjoy that my diet is well balanced; I think more vegetables would make it hard for me to get enough energy. I'm also thinking of the adverse effect of this recommendation - the more difficult goal, the more people will feel that they are failing. And people who feel that they're failing, are not prone to make good decisions. If the intention is better public health, I would think emphasizing the recommendations that have big impact on health, and giving recommendations that are possible to reach in practice (not just in theory), will be most effective.Lillymoo01 wrote: »kommodevaran wrote: »Are you in the US? I've heard cauliflower is (or was, some months ago) expensive over there. Pick produce in season, or frozen. You're not supposed to overdo it, either. 3 100 grams servings of vegs and 2 servings of fruit per day is enough. Oh, and avoid "organic" if "not organic" is cheaper. And precut will be more expensive.
I don't really think you wish vegetables weren't so expensive. Vegs aren't expensive. But you prefer other foods? You can have a little of each, and your taste preferences can change and adapt to what you expose them to. Learn to cook.
Except that 10 serves of fruit and vegetables are now recommended. 800 grams in total of vegetables and 200 grams of fruit. The reason most countries haven't adopted these recommendatios is because they know that most people are already not getting enough. I don't think many people around the world are overdoing vegetables, if that is even a possibility1 -
I think we can agree that it's expensive to be picky. High-end foods are expensive. A protein+veg diet will be expensive. But that's your personal choice, and you are the one who should make that choice.Noreenmarie1234 wrote: »Noreenmarie1234 wrote: »For the calorie amount fresh fruit and veg ARE more expensive. I hate how people say they aren't. If I buy some junk food donuts 1.69 (for pack of 6 at 320 cal per doughnut) and box of cereal (1.69 with 12 servings) that would easily last me 2 weeks of 500-600 calorie breakfasts. HOWEVER, if I buy 4 fresh bell peppers (4.00), one lb broccoli (2 bucks), one large tomato (2), I could eat ALL of that in ONE day and it wouldn't even amount to the same calorie amount of "fuel". So YES eating fresh fruit and veg is more expensive than eating junk because you have to buy A LOT more to get the same calorie amount of fuel.
No way. A few vegetables, some protein and a starch and you can feed yourself for a few days cooking one meal. Even if you buy the cheapest junk food out there you will not get the same nutritional bang for your buck. I wish the myth of "it's cheap to get fat" would die. Some things are very expensive, but seasonal vegetables or frozen vegetables are cheap almost everywhere. Canned vegetables are also an option. All of these are cheaper than a pop tart or hot pocket. I think it's an excuse people use either because they don't know how to cook or they want to keep eating junk and don't want to just admit that.
All of these are not cheaper. A box of poptarts run 1.67 at my local store and that would last a WEEK. For that amount I could get ONE tomato or one head of broccoli, which would just be a small component of ONE meal. I think it depends on location. I am picky about my veg and I don't like canned vegetables or cheap starches such as rice/beans/potatoes so when I make a meal, it is all veg and protein. I buy lettuce which is 2.99 and it lasts me only two salads worth. To eat a salad every day for lunch is quite expensive. I have to buy the lettuce, tomato (2), onions (1), cucumber (99c), radishes (2), green pepper (1), etc it all adds up to about 5 per salad when I figured it out, which is 25 bucks per week. Alternately I could have a hot pocket each day for lunch for the same calories and it would only cost me 7.50 for the whole week.
Just an example, so I don't think you can say it IS just as cheap to eat healthy. It CAN be, but many people such as myself are picky and do not want to eat plain rice and canned vegetables. I also dislike the taste of frozen vegetables. They aren't the same as fresh. So unfortunately with my preferences it is more expensive, although that is my fault LOL. I don't use it as an excuse because my grocery bill is quite high. I do choose to eat mostly vegetables because it's what I enjoy, I just am not happy about it.
Price is not the same as value. Everybody has to decide for themselves, and in each individual case, what's worth and not worth the cost. Decision making takes place on both rational and irrational levels. And that's great. That's what makes us human, and not machines.3 -
Lillymoo01 wrote: »kommodevaran wrote: »Are you in the US? I've heard cauliflower is (or was, some months ago) expensive over there. Pick produce in season, or frozen. You're not supposed to overdo it, either. 3 100 grams servings of vegs and 2 servings of fruit per day is enough. Oh, and avoid "organic" if "not organic" is cheaper. And precut will be more expensive.
I don't really think you wish vegetables weren't so expensive. Vegs aren't expensive. But you prefer other foods? You can have a little of each, and your taste preferences can change and adapt to what you expose them to. Learn to cook.
Except that 10 serves of fruit and vegetables are now recommended. 800 grams in total of vegetables and 200 grams of fruit. The reason most countries haven't adopted these recommendatios is because they know that most people are already not getting enough. I don't think many people around the world are overdoing vegetables, if that is even a possibility
To keep my costs down I mainly stick with what is in season or frozen.
Huh? I thought it was 10 serves of fruits/veggies at 80g per serve (not 100g) for a total of 800g of fruits and veggies.1 -
kommodevaran wrote: »Noreenmarie1234 wrote: »For the calorie amount fresh fruit and veg ARE more expensive. I hate how people say they aren't. If I buy some junk food donuts 1.69 (for pack of 6 at 320 cal per doughnut) and box of cereal (1.69 with 12 servings) that would easily last me 2 weeks of 500-600 calorie breakfasts. HOWEVER, if I buy 4 fresh bell peppers (4.00), one lb broccoli (2 bucks), one large tomato (2), I could eat ALL of that in ONE day and it wouldn't even amount to the same calorie amount of "fuel". So YES eating fresh fruit and veg is more expensive than eating junk because you have to buy A LOT more to get the same calorie amount of fuel.
But that is such an unreasonable way to compare foods (far beyond apples vs oranges). It doesn't even make sense, as the main problem with modern diets is too many calories. You don't buy vegetables to get calories, but to get vitamins, minerals and fiber. Normal people don't fill up on fruit and veg.
Actually, I want nutrition - vitamins, minerals, fibre etc - from pretty much all my food.
Here in Australia, good quality fresh fruit and veg is pretty pricey. I saw half a head of cauliflower for $4.98 the other day. A whole cauliflower was twice that.
And don't get me started on meat!
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kommodevaran wrote: »
That's just crazy. I believe I eat plenty already, I enjoy that my diet is well balanced; I think more vegetables would make it hard for me to get enough energy. I'm also thinking of the adverse effect of this recommendation - the more difficult goal, the more people will feel that they are failing. And people who feel that they're failing, are not prone to make good decisions. If the intention is better public health, I would think emphasizing the recommendations that have big impact on health, and giving recommendations that are possible to reach in practice (not just in theory), will be most effective.Lillymoo01 wrote: »kommodevaran wrote: »Are you in the US? I've heard cauliflower is (or was, some months ago) expensive over there. Pick produce in season, or frozen. You're not supposed to overdo it, either. 3 100 grams servings of vegs and 2 servings of fruit per day is enough. Oh, and avoid "organic" if "not organic" is cheaper. And precut will be more expensive.
I don't really think you wish vegetables weren't so expensive. Vegs aren't expensive. But you prefer other foods? You can have a little of each, and your taste preferences can change and adapt to what you expose them to. Learn to cook.
Except that 10 serves of fruit and vegetables are now recommended. 800 grams in total of vegetables and 200 grams of fruit. The reason most countries haven't adopted these recommendatios is because they know that most people are already not getting enough. I don't think many people around the world are overdoing vegetables, if that is even a possibility
So a goal for good health, developed by and pretty much agreed upon by experts in the field should be watered down because its' too hard?
News flash, replacing for the most part the empty calories in sugary drinks, chips, candy, cookies, cakes, etc with fruits and veggies would have a big impact on public health2 -
Yeah guys, this can be a real issue with families in poverty at least in the US. Or, even if not in abject poverty, there are "food deserts" where there is a store, but no access to a lot of fresh, affordable fruits and vegetables (think Family Dollar). It's easy to criticise, but if money is tight in the budget food that's expensive, perishable, and the kids whine about eating it anyway are often the first to get cut.4
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Packerjohn wrote: »kommodevaran wrote: »
That's just crazy. I believe I eat plenty already, I enjoy that my diet is well balanced; I think more vegetables would make it hard for me to get enough energy. I'm also thinking of the adverse effect of this recommendation - the more difficult goal, the more people will feel that they are failing. And people who feel that they're failing, are not prone to make good decisions. If the intention is better public health, I would think emphasizing the recommendations that have big impact on health, and giving recommendations that are possible to reach in practice (not just in theory), will be most effective.Lillymoo01 wrote: »kommodevaran wrote: »Are you in the US? I've heard cauliflower is (or was, some months ago) expensive over there. Pick produce in season, or frozen. You're not supposed to overdo it, either. 3 100 grams servings of vegs and 2 servings of fruit per day is enough. Oh, and avoid "organic" if "not organic" is cheaper. And precut will be more expensive.
I don't really think you wish vegetables weren't so expensive. Vegs aren't expensive. But you prefer other foods? You can have a little of each, and your taste preferences can change and adapt to what you expose them to. Learn to cook.
Except that 10 serves of fruit and vegetables are now recommended. 800 grams in total of vegetables and 200 grams of fruit. The reason most countries haven't adopted these recommendatios is because they know that most people are already not getting enough. I don't think many people around the world are overdoing vegetables, if that is even a possibility
So a goal for good health, developed by and pretty much agreed upon by experts in the field should be watered down because its' too hard?
News flash, replacing for the most part the empty calories in sugary drinks, chips, candy, cookies, cakes, etc with fruits and veggies would have a big impact on public health
You are hearing something I'm not saying. I'd be replacing bread, milk, nuts, meat and fish, eggs, beans, rice, pasta, butter and yogurt with fruit and vegetables to reach that goal. So it's going to be negative for my health.
I'm so happy I've stopped blindly taking expert's advice.1 -
"Food deserts" is blown out of proportion. Not eating healthy is a lot more about not being able/willing to plan meals, never having learnt how to shop and cook, and fear of trying new things or choosing the path of least resistance. Oh, and constantly being told about food deserts and how expensive healthy food is.kenyonhaff wrote: »Yeah guys, this can be a real issue with families in poverty at least in the US. Or, even if not in abject poverty, there are "food deserts" where there is a store, but no access to a lot of fresh, affordable fruits and vegetables (think Family Dollar). It's easy to criticise, but if money is tight in the budget food that's expensive, perishable, and the kids whine about eating it anyway are often the first to get cut.2 -
kommodevaran wrote: »
That's just crazy. I believe I eat plenty already, I enjoy that my diet is well balanced; I think more vegetables would make it hard for me to get enough energy. I'm also thinking of the adverse effect of this recommendation - the more difficult goal, the more people will feel that they are failing. And people who feel that they're failing, are not prone to make good decisions. If the intention is better public health, I would think emphasizing the recommendations that have big impact on health, and giving recommendations that are possible to reach in practice (not just in theory), will be most effective.Lillymoo01 wrote: »kommodevaran wrote: »Are you in the US? I've heard cauliflower is (or was, some months ago) expensive over there. Pick produce in season, or frozen. You're not supposed to overdo it, either. 3 100 grams servings of vegs and 2 servings of fruit per day is enough. Oh, and avoid "organic" if "not organic" is cheaper. And precut will be more expensive.
I don't really think you wish vegetables weren't so expensive. Vegs aren't expensive. But you prefer other foods? You can have a little of each, and your taste preferences can change and adapt to what you expose them to. Learn to cook.
Except that 10 serves of fruit and vegetables are now recommended. 800 grams in total of vegetables and 200 grams of fruit. The reason most countries haven't adopted these recommendatios is because they know that most people are already not getting enough. I don't think many people around the world are overdoing vegetables, if that is even a possibility
I actually think the 10 servings is a great goal, but what you have to realize is that a serving isn't that large, something like 80 g (less if leafy greens) or even just a piece of fruit (half a piece if a big fruit), a cup of veg (whatever that is), 2 cups of uncooked leafy greens, so it's more like 200 g with breakfast, 300 grams with lunch and dinner, and it does count at least one serving of beans toward it, if memory serves.
I like eating this way and don't find it hard and tend to be really high on the value of vegetables in particular, BUT I totally agree that if thoughts are "this is so much more expensive than a Snickers" (which is not a meal) then start with just the 5 servings and work up. There are many options in-between all sugary cereal and all vegetables, and although I've always hated sugary cereal most everyone seemed to eat it for breakfast when I was a kid and you ate vegetables and fruit ALSO, so I really don't understand this idea that you contrast the costs of the two things. You can find non sugary cereal cheap too and eggs are pretty inexpensive in the US.
Some links for the 10:
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/feb/23/five-day-10-portions-fruit-veg-cut-early-death
http://www.thekitchn.com/10-photos-that-show-you-your-daily-recommended-servings-of-fruits-vegetables-207261
Current US recommendations: https://www.choosemyplate.gov/vegetables3 -
kommodevaran wrote: »Packerjohn wrote: »kommodevaran wrote: »
That's just crazy. I believe I eat plenty already, I enjoy that my diet is well balanced; I think more vegetables would make it hard for me to get enough energy. I'm also thinking of the adverse effect of this recommendation - the more difficult goal, the more people will feel that they are failing. And people who feel that they're failing, are not prone to make good decisions. If the intention is better public health, I would think emphasizing the recommendations that have big impact on health, and giving recommendations that are possible to reach in practice (not just in theory), will be most effective.Lillymoo01 wrote: »kommodevaran wrote: »Are you in the US? I've heard cauliflower is (or was, some months ago) expensive over there. Pick produce in season, or frozen. You're not supposed to overdo it, either. 3 100 grams servings of vegs and 2 servings of fruit per day is enough. Oh, and avoid "organic" if "not organic" is cheaper. And precut will be more expensive.
I don't really think you wish vegetables weren't so expensive. Vegs aren't expensive. But you prefer other foods? You can have a little of each, and your taste preferences can change and adapt to what you expose them to. Learn to cook.
Except that 10 serves of fruit and vegetables are now recommended. 800 grams in total of vegetables and 200 grams of fruit. The reason most countries haven't adopted these recommendatios is because they know that most people are already not getting enough. I don't think many people around the world are overdoing vegetables, if that is even a possibility
So a goal for good health, developed by and pretty much agreed upon by experts in the field should be watered down because its' too hard?
News flash, replacing for the most part the empty calories in sugary drinks, chips, candy, cookies, cakes, etc with fruits and veggies would have a big impact on public health
You are hearing something I'm not saying. I'd be replacing bread, milk, nuts, meat and fish, eggs, beans, rice, pasta, butter and yogurt with fruit and vegetables to reach that goal. So it's going to be negative for my health.
I'm so happy I've stopped blindly taking expert's advice.
I wasn't referring to you. I have no idea what you eat. The fact is Americans in general don't rat enough fruits and vegetables.
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wellthenwhat wrote: »I made myself a delicious carrot/broccoli/cauliflower cooked veggie combo and had some for breakfast. But for what it cost me I could have bought 3 huge bags of sugar cereal that would last me several months vs a week. It's sad.
I went shopping last night. (Kansas, Walmart, winter)
I bought a large bag (2lb 1.5 oz) of a chocolate puff cereal with marshmallows for $5.98. That bag is 32 servings.
I also bought vegetables and some fruit (not organic). I spent about $28 on vegetables and fruits for a family of 3 humans plus 2 guinea pigs. Some will last us a few weeks and some will be used up in a week.
The cereal is cheap per serving ($.18) but 1 large meal of vegetables would not cost the same as 3 big bags of cereal.
3 lb bag of fresh apples $5.54
3-5 lb (?) bag of fresh potatoes $3.67
16 oz bag of fresh parsnips $2.68
Bag of fresh oranges $4.97
26 oz bag frozen broccoli $1.98 (8 servings)
16 oz bag frozen spinach $1.44 (6 servings)
Fresh cherry tomatoes $2.98
4 fresh bell peppers $3.52
I didn't buy fresh carrots or cauliflower this week. An old receipt from January has a bag of whole carrots at $1.48.
Frozen and canned vegetables and fruits can be cheaper than fresh in winter. Investigate those.
Ultimately it is a choice of how you want to live and what it is worth to you.
This perplexes me, being as how we're both in the midwest. I'm in IA, and here the apples would be about $3, potatoes on sale for $2 or less, oranges for about $3.50, & green peppers .50. This week, I got asparagus for .99 a bunch, cauliflower for 1.99, kale for .99, and strawberries for 1.29/lb.
Even so, I don't want fruits & veggies all the time and don't understand the OP's either/or scenario.
It is what I actually paid for those items this week. I haven't compared prices to other stores in nearby cities or states. I'm not sure why things are priced differently-Different varieties costing different amounts? Produce coming from different places to IA vs. KS. Different taxes on fuel, etc affecting cost of doing business in different states passed on to consumers? Less competition being the only store selling fresh produce in town? Walmart/Kansas just being *kitten*?
We get better deals at the farmer's market in summer.
Are 3 big bags of cereal cheaper than 1 large meal of carrots, broccoli and cauliflower at your stores? Because it would not be from mine.
I also don't think you need to eat just sugary cereal or just vegetables even on a budget. Eggs, dry beans, lentils, rice pasta, oatmeal, chicken thighs, powdered milk, tuna, peanut butter, frozen vegetables, canned vegetables and fruits are all decent budget food choices in many locations.
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It's definitely a balancing act. I have to agree with other posters that if you can, look for frozen fruits and veggies. If nothing else, you can puree and freeze them to use in place of some ingredients in cooking. If you have a Sprout's/Sunflower nearby, their fresh produce is really economical.
Meal planning also helps. If you plan your week in advance, you can budget for the fresh items you need. You may even come up with ways to use the entire bag of veggies or fruit within the week without it spoiling. In fact, restaurants practice this, which is why you'll see so many dishes using the same components prepared different ways.
I remember seeing a spot on America's Test Kitchen on PBS in regards to freezing your own fresh fruit. Apparently, it can be done at home without damaging the fruit too much. If I can find a link to the video, I'll see about posting it here.
Good luck!
Yep, flash freezing fruit is pretty easy
I freeze a lot of blueberries and strawberries in the summer (get them from the U-pick farms for really cheap)
http://pickyourown.org/freezingblueberries.htm
I also freeze a lot of corn, which is a bit more time consuming but it preserves the 'fresh' corn on the cob taste really well!
http://www.pickyourown.org/freezingcorn.htm1 -
kommodevaran wrote: »
That's just crazy. I believe I eat plenty already, I enjoy that my diet is well balanced; I think more vegetables would make it hard for me to get enough energy. I'm also thinking of the adverse effect of this recommendation - the more difficult goal, the more people will feel that they are failing. And people who feel that they're failing, are not prone to make good decisions. If the intention is better public health, I would think emphasizing the recommendations that have big impact on health, and giving recommendations that are possible to reach in practice (not just in theory), will be most effective.Lillymoo01 wrote: »kommodevaran wrote: »Are you in the US? I've heard cauliflower is (or was, some months ago) expensive over there. Pick produce in season, or frozen. You're not supposed to overdo it, either. 3 100 grams servings of vegs and 2 servings of fruit per day is enough. Oh, and avoid "organic" if "not organic" is cheaper. And precut will be more expensive.
I don't really think you wish vegetables weren't so expensive. Vegs aren't expensive. But you prefer other foods? You can have a little of each, and your taste preferences can change and adapt to what you expose them to. Learn to cook.
Except that 10 serves of fruit and vegetables are now recommended. 800 grams in total of vegetables and 200 grams of fruit. The reason most countries haven't adopted these recommendatios is because they know that most people are already not getting enough. I don't think many people around the world are overdoing vegetables, if that is even a possibility
Yes, yes it is. And if you want to join the rest of us crazies who are actually doing the 800g veg/fruit challenge (10 a day), the more the merrier
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10521320/10-a-day-800g-veggie-fruit-challenge-participants-check-in/p1
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ladyreva78 wrote: »Lillymoo01 wrote: »kommodevaran wrote: »Are you in the US? I've heard cauliflower is (or was, some months ago) expensive over there. Pick produce in season, or frozen. You're not supposed to overdo it, either. 3 100 grams servings of vegs and 2 servings of fruit per day is enough. Oh, and avoid "organic" if "not organic" is cheaper. And precut will be more expensive.
I don't really think you wish vegetables weren't so expensive. Vegs aren't expensive. But you prefer other foods? You can have a little of each, and your taste preferences can change and adapt to what you expose them to. Learn to cook.
Except that 10 serves of fruit and vegetables are now recommended. 800 grams in total of vegetables and 200 grams of fruit. The reason most countries haven't adopted these recommendatios is because they know that most people are already not getting enough. I don't think many people around the world are overdoing vegetables, if that is even a possibility
To keep my costs down I mainly stick with what is in season or frozen.
Huh? I thought it was 10 serves of fruits/veggies at 80g per serve (not 100g) for a total of 800g of fruits and veggies.
It's 800g total, in any sort of veg/fruit combination.0 -
Well, excess calories not quantity of food caused us to gain. I was eating a lot more crackers, popcorn and cheese before finding out the calories. Scaled back to more appropriate portions for me and crackers are not worth it. I wasn't going overboard on spinach or carrot calories.
My daughter is the only one who regularly eats cereal. She does not have the appetite of a larger man. I don't find cereal filling or appetizing personally so don't eat it often. I have never seen dh eat cereal. He usually skips breakfast. He might eat a mixing bowl serving of ice cream.
The big bag will last a really long time. The last time we bought cereal may have been 3-4 months ago.0
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