Healthy eating adds $380 to yearly grocery bill, study shows

CraftyGirl4

This study was done in an area that includes people in Seattle who are among the wealthiest and most educated so the price of $380 might be a little high for other areas, but it brings up a lot of good points.

However, I think $380 is a small price to pay per year when you look at doctor's bills and prescriptions.

Article here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44013462/ns/health-diet_and_nutrition/t/healthy-eating-adds-yearly-grocery-bill-study-shows/

atomdraco

so agree. It's worth it

chubbychristianchick

*bump

Sugs94

I read that report today......makes it even more worthwhile to read the sale ads for stores and go to farmers market while I can (live in MN). I agree...worth more to feel better and be healthy!!!!

crobinson53

It's just money...

deesjourney2fit

Great article, thanks for sharing!

amberlineilene

hmm, I use to live on Ramen Noodles before 'healthy eating' these figures don't apply to me. I spend aloooot more now, trying to avoid such things.

exacerbe

However, I think $380 is a small price to pay per year when you look at doctor's bills and prescriptions.

This.

heathersmilez

I spend $100-150 a month on groceries for 2 people, eating healthy is CHEAP if you know how to shop.

People spending more to eat healthy aren’t buying appropriate seasonal vegetables or aren't shopping at the best stores. Price matching at Walmart and No Frills means I only go to 1 grocery store a week and do not have to run all over town to get the best prices.

Rikki444

It was EXACTLY what I was going to say.... the grocery bill may go up $380, but I can't remember the last time I had a cold.... or a need to see an MD. Totally worth the investment!

brit49

Worth every $ and 380 seems small

AlsDonkBoxSquat

I wonder if it takes into account that I eat less now that I'm eating healthy and portion controlling (i.e., 4 oz of ground turkey instead of 6 - 8 oz on ground beef in a burger)

devineyallen

Wow that is cheap! I guess i am not a good shopper! I can never leave the store with less than 100 bucks and usually lasts about 2 weeks for 2 people!

AlsDonkBoxSquat

I spend $100-150 a month on groceries for 2 people, eating healthy is CHEAP if you know how to shop.

People spending more to eat healthy aren’t buying appropriate seasonal vegetables or aren't shopping at the best stores. Price matching at Walmart and No Frills means I only go to 1 grocery store a week and do not have to run all over town to get the best prices.

I want to shop where you're shopping . . .

CraftyGirl4

Worth every $ and 380 seems small

$380 is for one person.

questionablemethods

I just saw this article and I thought that it neglected to address the fact that, as a country, Americans typically spend a remarkably SMALL portion of our income on food. I don't have the numbers at hand, but I believe we have gotten used to assuming that we should be able to feed ourselves and our family on, like, 5% of our incomes. But of course, all that cheap food is typically full of empty calories. So, then when we turn around and go to buy vegetables and whole foods, we think "OMG! This is sooooo expensive!" (I do it too). And, well, you get what you pay for! Spending so little on food certainly doesn't seem to be doing much for our health!

Edit: Here's a graphic with the figures I was thinking about: http://www.visualizing.org/visualizations/how-much-our-spending-goes-toward-food

It looks as though Americans typically spend just under 7% on their spending (not necessarily income...) on food compared to over 30%, for example, in China.

editara13

That's so true. There is no price compare to the healthy way that we are living now and yes paying for all those pills and doctor visits is way more expensive :-) Living healthy has no price :-)


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yeabby

I agree that it can be more expensive but, there are some ways to offset it. Get to know your local produce stand owner. Usually they'll make you deals on the produce that's about to be pulled from the shelves. Also, look into CSA or delivery programs. I have organic produce delivered to my house and pay $33 for about 15ish pounds of fruits and veggies.

I'm also a huge proponent of saving in other places so I can pay more for food. Making my own laundry and dish detergent costs 3 cents/load. Making my own hand soap is about $3.50/gallon. The best part is it's super easy and saves a lot of packaging so the environment thanks me. Want the recipes? Let me know.

Egger29

hmm, I use to live on Ramen Noodles before 'healthy eating' these figures don't apply to me. I spend aloooot more now, trying to avoid such things.

That's Exactly right. With the trend in clean eating, manufacturers charge a premium for things which are better for us. A loaf of white bread might be $0.99 where as a loaf made with Pure Whole Grains is $4.00! (CDN) If you're being a stickler, you really need to do alot of label reading when shopping, which does lead to a higher bill in the long run.

Granted, $380 bucks in a year is only $30.00 a month which is less than what most people spend on one dinner eating out so it's a worthwhile trade.

Ironically, centuries ago, things like Refined Flours and White sugars and such were reserved for Nobility and the Rich, while the peasants and common folks were stuck with the whole grains and unprocessed food. Funny how now that we know better, the opposite is true with Whole Grains and organic food being double or triple the cost of processed items. :-)

mrnls

It's $380 a year - $31.67 a month - $15.84 every 2 weeks... I bet most of us spent more than $15.84 on fast food every 2weeks before we started eating healthy. Well worth the extra money to save my life.

Mindful_Trent

I spend $100-150 a month on groceries for 2 people, eating healthy is CHEAP if you know how to shop.

People spending more to eat healthy aren’t buying appropriate seasonal vegetables or aren't shopping at the best stores. Price matching at Walmart and No Frills means I only go to 1 grocery store a week and do not have to run all over town to get the best prices.

^^ This. Healthy eating doesn't *HAVE* to be ridiculously expenisive. You just have to shop smart and not buy into all the fads.

This part of the longer associated press version of the article says it all:

But Monsivais may have oversimplified the problem, according to another professor who does research in this area. Parke Wilde, associated professor at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University, said it's not expensive to get all the nutrients a body needs to meet the federal guidelines.

What is expensive, in Wilde's opinion, are the choices Americans make while getting those nutrients.

He said diets get more and more expensive depending on how many rules a person applies to himself, such as eating organic or seeking local sources for food or eating vegetables out of season.

"The longer your list gets, the more expensive your list will be," he said.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2015814645_apusexpensivediet.html

CraftyGirl4

The article does state that it doesn't have to be expensive. It mentions how 95 cents worth of bananas provides enough potassium. And it talks about how people need to know how to get good nutritional bang for their buck.

TheMaidOfAstolat

I agree with you...I'd rather pay a bit more now than pay thousands because my health is ruined.

ladybg81

I beleive it. But, it is 110% worth it!

rankailie

My grocery bill has gone up but my overall expenditures on food has gone down drastically. I compared July 2010 to July 2011 and spent over $800 less.

Why?

I'm not eating out as much, and eating out is far more expensive then cooking at home.

mike_littlerock

<rant>
what a crock of $h&t..
"Almost 15 percent of households in America say they don't have enough money to eat the way they want to eat," Seligman said. Recent estimates show 49 million Americans make food decisions based on cost, she added.

i really just dont buy it. I think that most Americans eat the comfort foods that they grew up with. There are PLENTY of people that think that to eat healthy means to deprive yourself. Its amazing how many people eat the same things over and over, out of habit, etc. Also, the food pyramid is certainly up for debate when you look at the balance they feel is correct. I also think that a person that is not tracking calories has NO clue about what they consume. Im sure I am not the only one in this forum that was shocked to see the hidden calories I was taking in once I started this process.

I am confident you can eat REAL food for the same money as the typical American's crap diet (UK has done a fine job of catching up to us on obesity numbers). The missing element is education.. if you read the posts on here you will realize that people struggle with WHAT to eat, how to prepare it, what is a proper balance, etc.

How do we educate not only low income people, but all people? Diet/nutrition is a field where there is still so many arguments about the details.. meal timing, nutrient balance, etc.. it can easily overwhelm a person. how do we inform people that fad diets simply do not work? yes you may drop X pounds on the cabbage diet, but you can not maintain an extreme eating plan, and when you revert to "normal" eating, the weight will come back (typically with a few new friends)

the last thing we need in the news is junk like this. to give people an excuse to eat crap is just plain crazy. why did the article not discuss the negatives of a "typical" diet?

</rant>

Mike

patiencez2

I think compared to health it is a small price to pay!
And in all honesty I eat more now then I did when I ate unhealthy.
I always have calories left, so I don't feel deprived. But like anything else you have to learn a new way to cook.
some exercise to the mix and wow I feel energized.
Thanks for the article!

abyt42

I haven't had to buy lettuce all summer. Or onions. Or beets.....the raised beds, and the water, are an expense, but they're totally worth it. Plus, each lovely head of lettuce (and the now amazing zucchini, and the spinach, and berries) are further evidence that seasonal eating pays.

I think this is a less expensive life: I'm healthier, I'm outside more, my kids are learning about food, I've learned how to use my solar oven, and I know what has (or hasn't) been sprayed on my vegetables.

It's a choice whether our healthy lifestyle is going to be more expensive than our prior lifestyle: mine feels so much richer now, though.

sinclare

this is hilarious...

where's the article that says how much the average american spends on Soda/Pop? Or the article on the cost of fast food? How much do people spend at Starbucks, I wonder.

Keep your priorities straight and take care of your health!

I_give_it_2_u_str8

I spend $100-150 a month on groceries for 2 people, eating healthy is CHEAP if you know how to shop.

People spending more to eat healthy aren’t buying appropriate seasonal vegetables or aren't shopping at the best stores. Price matching at Walmart and No Frills means I only go to 1 grocery store a week and do not have to run all over town to get the best prices.

this reminds me of the joke where a guy asks for a sandwich with half the calories, and he gets a half of a sandwich.

no frills is cheap - but i dont buy my produce or meat there....you really get what you paid for, its hardly quality

FitandPrettywithME

I think it depends on the person and how it's looked at. Yes, I do spend more at the grocery store now, but I also bring my lunch most days instead of heading to the cafeteria or fast food chain. Therefore, it more than balances out. Not to mention I tend not to eat out a restaurants and don't partake in movie snacks anymore. It's DEFINATELY worth it.