Eating healthy is expensive...
MisterZ33
Posts: 567 Member
im going to have to quit smoking and drinking premium beer.
but seriously...no wonder there are so many overweight / obese people out there, eating healthy drains your wallet.
but seriously...no wonder there are so many overweight / obese people out there, eating healthy drains your wallet.
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Replies
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Not really.
Chicken breast $2//lb
In season fresh veggies less than $1/lb
Etc.0 -
I'll be honest with you, I find eating healthy is actually cheaper for us. I'm not sure where you live, but since we've chosen to stop pretty much anything that came in a box and a package, we do very well on 120-30$ a week for 2. We dropped our weekly expense by approx. 30$.
The key, is you have to prep and cook everything. It takes planning, but it is worth it. And I feel that often, people say that they don't have the time to cook. Well, neither did I. Until I made the time. I mean, seriously, we leave home at 6:25 and don't get back until 19:30... and sometimes later.
If you look for specials, and eat 'in season', should be cheaper. On top of it, we don't pay tax on fresh produce/ unprepared meals and foods so you save more :-) It just take a little time and adjusting.0 -
I have to disagree as well. Apples are 1.49lb, 2.49lb if you buy organic. Fruit snacks are like $6.00lb (2 boxes)0
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It's not more expensive, but it's less convenient. No value menu drive thru. You've got to plan, shop and prepare
. But, if you do all of that, it's easy and much better tasting and for you!
You can do it! Chicken breast, lettuce, sweet potatoes, veggies, rice, oatmeal ...all reasonably inexpensive .0 -
i guess i need to take into consideration where i live, you're right. im in downtown Toronto, so youre right, there is always a markup up regardless of where you shop in the city.
but still...it is expensive...add to that, protien bars, shakes etc...it can really add up for the month.0 -
I've never found that to be all that true. I splurge every once in awhile on dried goji berries and fancy raw foods, but honestly, it's not more but rather less expensive. By fresh fruit/veggies for the week (getting too much, they'll go bad, and yes, that can get expensive to pay for food you never even eat to just buy more), stick to whole grain pastas and breads (not much more expensive and can usually be found at the same price, sometimes cheaper, depends where you shop), beans, tofu, and lentils and things of that nature are inexpensive, healthy protein sources. You don't need to get fancy drinks, water is the best thing to be drinking. Rice, quina, and the like can be bought in bulk for relatively cheap.
Don't buy into the diet and "health food" crap. Protein bars and poweders can be good for a quick fix, but buying them regularly can get costly, pre-packaged meals and drinks the same.
I feed a famly of five on a budget of about $550 on entirely vegan food. Healthy eating is possible without breaking the bank.0 -
It's the "healthy" convenience foods that add up. But, in all honesty, they really aren't necessary. We eat a very healthy diet and I don't buy any of that.0
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no need for protein bars and shakes... it's all added stuff you don't need.i guess i need to take into consideration where i live, you're right. im in downtown Toronto, so youre right, there is always a markup up regardless of where you shop in the city.
but still...it is expensive...add to that, protien bars, shakes etc...it can really add up for the month.
The only "extra" thing I buy is protein- 32$ for the big tub- lasts me at least 3-4 months.
otherwise I spend roughly 40-70$ a week- and that's about what I spent when I wasn't counting calories... to be fair- I have changed very little since I started tracking_ i was never obese- I've always eaten chicken stir fry and steaks and salads... but it really isn't that expensive.
Fresh produce and good steaks add up- and making better choices when you go out can add up- but it shouldn't cost you an arm and a leg MORE unless you were ONLY eating ramen noodles.
PS I live in Jersey- eveyrthing's expensive here!0 -
Not really.
Chicken breast $2//lb
In season fresh veggies less than $1/lb
Etc.
I don't know where you are buying your food, but chicken breast is definitely not $2/lb here. More like 15-20 dollars, not just for chicken but for lots of meat. And fruits and veggies can easily be a few dollars for a lb when in season.
ETA, actually we sometimes get it closer to 10 dollars a lb. Still way overpriced.0 -
Not really.
Chicken breast $2//lb
In season fresh veggies less than $1/lb
Etc.
Umm idk where you are shopping but regular chicken breast where I live is 4.99/lb and if you want free range/no added antibiotic chicken breast is 6.49/lb or more. Grass fed beef is 7.99/lb or more, bison is generally 8.99/lb. Avocados $1.69 each! (I get a lot of my daily fat from avocados) I'm lucky to spend $100/week during my cut. During bulk it's closer to $150/week if I'm careful.0 -
I was spending about $35 - $40 a week before, and now am closer to $60. The biggest difference is that I buy meat more often.0
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i guess i need to take into consideration where i live, you're right. im in downtown Toronto, so youre right, there is always a markup up regardless of where you shop in the city.
but still...it is expensive...add to that, protien bars, shakes etc...it can really add up for the month.
You're in Canada... our crap always seems to be overpriced. And I'm in oil city where our sales tax is (i think) lowest in the country!0 -
i guess i need to take into consideration where i live, you're right. im in downtown Toronto, so youre right, there is always a markup up regardless of where you shop in the city.
but still...it is expensive...add to that, protien bars, shakes etc...it can really add up for the month.
There's so much wrong with this...
If you think you need protein shakes, protein bars, organic foods etc to be healthy then your perception of a healthy diet is very skewed.0 -
If you have room for it, contact a local butcher and ask if they have freezer orders available. I save some $ by buying larger quantities of meat at the butcher. I prep it and freeze it in meal sized portions.0
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Not really.
Chicken breast $2//lb
In season fresh veggies less than $1/lb
Etc.
Umm idk where you are shopping but regular chicken breast where I live is 4.99/lb and if you want free range/no added antibiotic chicken breast is 6.49/lb or more. Grass fed beef is 7.99/lb or more, bison is generally 8.99/lb. Avocados $1.69 each! (I get a lot of my daily fat from avocados) I'm lucky to spend $100/week during my cut. During bulk it's closer to $150/week if I'm careful.
Wow, that's extremely unfortunate, I buy chicken breast in bulk at Costco for $2.50 a pound and I live in California where everything is expensive. You don't need Grass fed beef. You could be getting fat from peanut butter instead of Avocados. You're spending a lot of money that you don't need to.0 -
Glad I don't live where you all live with your crazy, overpriced chicken ????0
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You can eat healthy on a budget, it's just difficult and boring I found. I think the pricier food helps, though. I'm slowly trading my unhealthy choices for good ones. Soda for yogurt. Beer for wine. TV dinners for quest bars. Fast food for fresh veggies. I've had to give up a few of my old recreational habits to save money, but that just gives me more time to workout and cook good meals.
The worst thing I've noticed is having to go grocery shopping so much more often. I can't stock up for two weeks at once like I used to.0 -
I live in Toronto, Canada.
Since we stopped eating things out of packages, containers and cans, our weekly groceries are max $60 for 2 people.
This includes an organic produce order bi-weekly. If we go over the norm (rare), it's because we stocked up on dry staples (rice, oats, quinoa, beans etc..) or honey.
Edit to comment more as OP seems to live where I do.
Try shopping at St. Lawrence Market - North Market has many vendors on Saturdays you can purchase things from cheaply.
The butchers are open Tues-Sat. You can get chicken fairly cheap. Try chicken thighs - they are very delicious and not too pricey.
Ground steak there = $3-$3.50/lb
There is an organic market in basement of St. Lawrence - this weekend, I spent $3 there and got asparagus, mushrooms and 4 lemons.
Many cheap fish options at St. Lawrence.
Bulk Barn is your BEST friend. There is a $3 off $10 spent coupon this week.
Try out a produce delivery company - Mama Earth Organics or Front Door Organics.
Try batch cooking and freezing some of your meals.
Split large cuts of meat with a friend and freeze.0 -
I think a lot of it is simply perception as well as how people define "healthy". I can always find a variety of meat, poultry, fish, etc on sale at one point or another...this is a good time to stock up. I also tend to eat more chicken thighs for example because they are cheaper than breasts.
Buying fruits and vegetables in season helps keep costs down as well...and staple kinds of vegetables like cabbage, broccoli, frozen peas, etc tend to be pretty cheap...as do staple fruits like apples and bananas...out of season items tend to be pricier as well as more "exotic" produce that is unnecessary to a healthful diet.
I also buy dried beans in bulk and make big batches of these weekly...I can make about 2 Lbs of dried black beans that will feed my family of 4 for a week plus for about the same cost as buying a can of them that may serve the 4 of us for a single meal. We also eat a lot of rice (I'm partial to brown) and potatoes as well. We eat pasta about once per week.
Things that are often marketed as "health food" often aren't necessary for eating healthfully...protein bars and shakes come to mind...0 -
Not really.
Chicken breast $2//lb
In season fresh veggies less than $1/lb
Etc.
Umm idk where you are shopping but regular chicken breast where I live is 4.99/lb and if you want free range/no added antibiotic chicken breast is 6.49/lb or more. Grass fed beef is 7.99/lb or more, bison is generally 8.99/lb. Avocados $1.69 each! (I get a lot of my daily fat from avocados) I'm lucky to spend $100/week during my cut. During bulk it's closer to $150/week if I'm careful.
Wow, that's extremely unfortunate, I buy chicken breast in bulk at Costco for $2.50 a pound and I live in California where everything is expensive. You don't need Grass fed beef. You could be getting fat from peanut butter instead of Avocados. You're spending a lot of money that you don't need to.
Ah yes I know I could spend less if I wanted to buy cheaper meat...but I prefer animals that haven't been fed a strictly corn based feed diet or loaded with growth hormones. We ingest whatever the animal we're eating has ingested and I personally don't want a buildup of hormones, antibiotics, etc. in my body; with the amount of meat I eat (I average 8 lbs/week) I would rather be safe than sorry. Same deal with peanuts and why I no longer buy peanut butter-peanuts are one of the most heavily sprayed crops and I don't want to poison myself. I do buy almonds/almond butter instead-expensive but worth it to me.
I'm sure there are several people who will disagree with my logic and/or thoughts but these are just my opinions/personal choices.0 -
Not really.
Chicken breast $2//lb
In season fresh veggies less than $1/lb
Etc.
Umm idk where you are shopping but regular chicken breast where I live is 4.99/lb and if you want free range/no added antibiotic chicken breast is 6.49/lb or more. Grass fed beef is 7.99/lb or more, bison is generally 8.99/lb. Avocados $1.69 each! (I get a lot of my daily fat from avocados) I'm lucky to spend $100/week during my cut. During bulk it's closer to $150/week if I'm careful.
Wow, that's extremely unfortunate, I buy chicken breast in bulk at Costco for $2.50 a pound and I live in California where everything is expensive. You don't need Grass fed beef. You could be getting fat from peanut butter instead of Avocados. You're spending a lot of money that you don't need to.
Ah yes I know I could spend less if I wanted to buy cheaper meat...but I prefer animals that haven't been fed a strictly corn based feed diet or loaded with growth hormones. We ingest whatever the animal we're eating has ingested and I personally don't want a buildup of hormones, antibiotics, etc. in my body; with the amount of meat I eat (I average 8 lbs/week) I would rather be safe than sorry. Same deal with peanuts and why I no longer buy peanut butter-peanuts are one of the most heavily sprayed crops and I don't want to poison myself. I do buy almonds/almond butter instead-expensive but worth it to me.
I'm sure there are several people who will disagree with my logic and/or thoughts but these are just my opinions/personal choices.
You can cut your meat costs by buying an entire or half a cow from a farmer and having it butchered. Find some friends to go in on it with you.0 -
It is only expensive if you are vegan, buy strictly organic, or buy free range/grass fed meats.
Otherwise it is fairly inexpensive.0 -
Cut out convenience health foods. Those are ridiculously expensive and add up quick.
You can do things to cut budget and it usually involves planning and cooking. Also experimenting with new foods. You can search for cheap healthy meals etc and get some good ideas. There are lots of web sites dedicated to healthy eating on a budget. I've found some really great meals that way too.
I do some vegetarian nights so I'm not trying to serve meat at every meal.
Another thing to think about is that food is what you put into your body. What could be more important? So if it costs a little more to fuel it with the healthiest food you can isn't it worth it?0 -
Not really.
Chicken breast $2//lb
In season fresh veggies less than $1/lb
Etc.
Umm idk where you are shopping but regular chicken breast where I live is 4.99/lb and if you want free range/no added antibiotic chicken breast is 6.49/lb or more. Grass fed beef is 7.99/lb or more, bison is generally 8.99/lb. Avocados $1.69 each! (I get a lot of my daily fat from avocados) I'm lucky to spend $100/week during my cut. During bulk it's closer to $150/week if I'm careful.
Wow, that's extremely unfortunate, I buy chicken breast in bulk at Costco for $2.50 a pound and I live in California where everything is expensive. You don't need Grass fed beef. You could be getting fat from peanut butter instead of Avocados. You're spending a lot of money that you don't need to.
Ah yes I know I could spend less if I wanted to buy cheaper meat...but I prefer animals that haven't been fed a strictly corn based feed diet or loaded with growth hormones. We ingest whatever the animal we're eating has ingested and I personally don't want a buildup of hormones, antibiotics, etc. in my body; with the amount of meat I eat (I average 8 lbs/week) I would rather be safe than sorry. Same deal with peanuts and why I no longer buy peanut butter-peanuts are one of the most heavily sprayed crops and I don't want to poison myself. I do buy almonds/almond butter instead-expensive but worth it to me.
I'm sure there are several people who will disagree with my logic and/or thoughts but these are just my opinions/personal choices.
From Scientific American:What makes organic farming different, then? It’s not the use of pesticides, it’s the origin of the pesticides used. Organic pesticides are those that are derived from natural sources and processed lightly if at all before use. This is different than the current pesticides used by conventional agriculture, which are generally synthetic. It has been assumed for years that pesticides that occur naturally (in certain plants, for example) are somehow better for us and the environment than those that have been created by man. As more research is done into their toxicity, however, this simply isn’t true, either. Many natural pesticides have been found to be potential – or serious – health risks.
There is also evidence suggesting that about half of the natural pesticides used in organic farming are carcinogenic. Also organic fruits and vegetables grown WITHOUT synthetic pesticides have many more natural carcinogens than the ones grown with synthetic pesticides. Don't just believe something that's labeled "Organic" is healthy for you without doing any research...0 -
As said, it totes depends on where you live. Chicken breast here is insanely expensive, but protein powder is quite cheap - as are other forms of lean protein.
You just have to find ways to make it work, and maybe put a priority on paying more for good choices?
Spending $2/lb sounds so awesome though, I am super jealous at how cheap grocery shopping in the states is.0 -
Not really.
Chicken breast $2//lb
In season fresh veggies less than $1/lb
Etc.
Where you buying your chicken breast? My local Hyvee is like $3.50/lb0 -
It really depends on what you LIKE to eat, too.
We have a lot of poultry around here. I like to get boneless, skinless turkey breasts and roast it in the oven. It's around $10 or so for 3 or so lbs of meat. We buy loads of chicken - it's cheaper to buy the whole bird and roast it or cut it up yourself than it is to buy the pre-butchered meats.
If you are somewhere close to or have access to it, maybe look into buying a quarter or half cow from a farm? If you have the freezer space for it you can get it for pennies on the dollar compared to buying beef in individual packages, and they'll usually butcher it for you. Yeah it's a lot of money up front but you'll have meat for months.
I find farmers markets can be very inexpensive if you like a wide range of fruits and vegetables. I don't know what is near by to you and this may not be a feasible solution for you but it is worth looking at to see if there's something near by.0 -
It is only expensive if you are vegan, buy strictly organic, or buy free range/grass fed meats.
Otherwise it is fairly inexpensive.
See my above comment, I feed a family of five on $550 a month completely vegan. Not expensive.0 -
if you want bars, there are plenty on line recipes that are cheap and easy. Alton Brown on Food Network did a whole show on it. Recipes from that at Foodnetwork.com0
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Not really.
Chicken breast $2//lb
In season fresh veggies less than $1/lb
Etc.
Umm idk where you are shopping but regular chicken breast where I live is 4.99/lb and if you want free range/no added antibiotic chicken breast is 6.49/lb or more. Grass fed beef is 7.99/lb or more, bison is generally 8.99/lb. Avocados $1.69 each! (I get a lot of my daily fat from avocados) I'm lucky to spend $100/week during my cut. During bulk it's closer to $150/week if I'm careful.
Wow, that's extremely unfortunate, I buy chicken breast in bulk at Costco for $2.50 a pound and I live in California where everything is expensive. You don't need Grass fed beef. You could be getting fat from peanut butter instead of Avocados. You're spending a lot of money that you don't need to.
Ah yes I know I could spend less if I wanted to buy cheaper meat...but I prefer animals that haven't been fed a strictly corn based feed diet or loaded with growth hormones. We ingest whatever the animal we're eating has ingested and I personally don't want a buildup of hormones, antibiotics, etc. in my body; with the amount of meat I eat (I average 8 lbs/week) I would rather be safe than sorry. Same deal with peanuts and why I no longer buy peanut butter-peanuts are one of the most heavily sprayed crops and I don't want to poison myself. I do buy almonds/almond butter instead-expensive but worth it to me.
I'm sure there are several people who will disagree with my logic and/or thoughts but these are just my opinions/personal choices.
If you feel that way it is fine. Just know that your preferences cost you more. /shrug0
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