Eating healthy is privilege of the rich?

ladybg81

I agree. how grocery bill has increased approx 100 every 2 weeks. But, I feel like it is money well spent.

azsuzi

I agree. how grocery bill has increased approx 100 every 2 weeks. But, I feel like it is money well spent.

Totally agree that it is money well spent.

brittanyjeanxo

Of course this is true. It's cheaper for a family of 3 to eat off the dollar menu at McDonalds every day than prepare three to six well-rounded meals for each family member on a daily basis. I've had to learn to cut my expenses in other areas in order to buy fresh produce/healthy items.

This is actually something I did research on and posted on another topic.

"I actually disagree with the "fact" that it's cheaper to buy fast food than make, say, a salad. A head of iceburg lettuce that will easily feed 4 people costs about $1.79. Let's say you get one full-sized cucumber. That's anywhere from .79 cents to 1 dollar. Let's say croutons are 2 bucks. A bag of carrots is about $1.89. Let's say you even decide to do dressing, that's $3.00. You now have a salad to feed, let's even say just three people for a total of $9.68, but let's just round it up to $10.00 for the sake of argument.
Now, this same family can go to McDonald's and (assuming this 3 person family is two parents and a child) they get two small meals, and one happy meal. Around here, though I know it's different in different states, a small chicken nugget meal is about $4.50 each. A happy meal is about $3.50. You now have an unhealthy meal for three, for about $12.50. Not only is that more expensive, but even if it were the same price, it's still massively unhealthy, and still takes the time of getting up, going to the drive thru, and going back home."

And even off the dollar menu, people will still get a smaller burger for 1 dollar, small fries for 1 dollar, and a small drink for 1 dollar. Let's say that same family of three spends 3 dollars each, that's 9 dollars, only a dollar less expensive than a salad, and over-all, less filling than a salad. They will end up being hungry again later.

Michellerw1

I disagree...when one buys the packaged "health" foods and low-fat this and that, etc. it is much more expensive, yes. BUT some of the most healthy foods are the least expensive. Such as, dried grains and beans, in-season vegetables and fruit, chicken, shrimp, etc.

Autumn15

I am on a small budget so I feel the pinch. It is more expensive to eat healthier in my opinion but you have to learn to budget well and since you shouldn't be buying all the previous junk foods and meal time extras you can balance out the expense some. And in the long run you can save yourself money in other ways with better health and buying smaller clothes since they charge extra for those X sizes. And the way eating right can improve your health and making your feel better are PRICELESS!

Michellerw1

FYI if anyone is interested Eatingwell.com has tons of "budget" recipes that range from $1-3.50 per serving. I have good luck with their recipes and they are healthy with the nutrition info listed.

pen2u

I think the problem is that there aren't a lot of markets that carry fresh meat and produce in poor areas. It takes a lot more effort (taking public transportation, etc.) for people who live in poor areas to get to the neighborhoods where supermarkets are plentiful, so they often just buy from the mini-mart (Slim Jims, donuts, chips and candy) or go to local fast food restaurants which are on every corner, it seems. There are movements starting to get Fresh n' Easy and other markets to take a chance on opening up in poor areas, but it's slow going.

veganbaum

Disagree -- yes healthier foods are more expensive but they tend to fill you up longer and you eat less... processed foods are cheaper but you tend to eat more of them...

This. People who have been on a diet of junk food do not realize that eating less of real food will fill you up more. It takes time for your body to adjust to a whole foods diet. For example, most people I know who have gone vegan had a couple of weeks of being absolutely ravenous all the time (if they were eating mostly whole foods, not packaged stuff). Then, your body adjusts. I don't know if it's scientific or not, but those are the experiences I have heard, like our bodies were working to relearn how to digest more nutrition-packed food or something. If one has been on a diet of junk food, they can eat a meal and feel full, but then are hungry again soon after because there is little nutritional value in their food and then they have to eat more junk. So really, I think it's the quantity of food one has to eat to feel full that makes healthy eating SEEM more expensive at first because they are eating the same amount of healthy food as they were junk food, but that will eventually decrease. That can turn people away from healthy eating, they don't realize their body will adjust and they will be able to feel full on less food.

Additionally, the percentage of income Americans spend on food is ridiculous - most don't know the true cost of food because they are not paying it in dollars. I don't have the numbersright now, but maybe fifty years ago, we used to spend so much on medical care and so much on food, and now those numbers have flipped, so we're spending more on medical care and less on food.

frostiegurl

I disagree...when one buys the packaged "health" foods and low-fat this and that, etc. it is much more expensive, yes. BUT some of the most healthy foods are the least expensive. Such as, dried grains and beans, in-season vegetables and fruit, chicken, shrimp, etc.

This completely.

I buy chicken breast in bulk pkg on sale for .99/lb. A serving is 4oz. That's ~.25 a serving. A giant pkg of field greens on sale is ~$4-5 and lasts me at least 3-4 days if I have two salads a day. I grow my own tomatoes, cucumbers and zucchini ( initial cost about $30 for plants) and they produce abundantly all summer long with plenty to share with friends and neighbors. Seasonings run me about $2 a jar and last ages. I buy mushrooms on sale and get other veggies at the farmers market. Dried bulk beans, nuts, rice, etc are a helluva lot cheaper than any packaged box meal out there and a lb will last for a long long time. I do spen a bit more on Greek yogurt but, once again, buy it cheaply ( trader joes for ~4 for a huge container that lasts me a week). I can easily feed myself wholesome and nutrient dense meals every single day for a fraction of what it would cost to poison my body with processed convenience foods.

sgriddler

I have no idea about the us. But here in the uk it isn't the case. Our bill has gone down.
I did laugh the other day when i say a news feature on just this thing. A family was moaning about just this. The young lad was sat there eating pre cut apple slices from a sealed container. Well if you do that instead of cutting up your own apple it will be.
Stupidity knows no limits sometimes.

honu18

It can, for sure. However, the other day, I just got 3 bananas for $0.50. Compare that to a bag of doritos at $3.50 or so, and not so much. Not buying drinks (except for soymilk), and drinking water eliminates juice budgets, soda budget, etc. Portion control, or eating hte right amount as opposed to too much, can also decrease costs. It really depends on how you shop. I try to shop in season for certain fruits and vegetables, which makes them cheaper. And always looking for sales. For me, food is the one place where I don't cheap out. I want the healthy options. It's going to cost me a lot less in the future with health care costs!

bachooka

I would not say its a privilege of the rich, but I do agree that those in poverty cannot afford to eat healthy food. To make meals that will feed their entire family, they must resort to processed foods that can be stretched (hamburger or tuna helper, ramen noodles, mac-n-cheese, etc.) My budget is stretched to the limit keeping us in fresh fruits, veggies and low-fat meats - and we don't buy chips and other snacky processed foods.

I couldn't disagree more. Cooking your own is cheaper but a lot of people can't be bothered these days. And I speak from my own experience growing up not from an ivory tower.

I find it soooo much easier to stretch a pot of chili that I can make for under ten dollars (serves about 12 ginormous servings) than a box of mac and cheese which is over a tenth of the price... And chili can be things other than chili....macaroni and cheese can't. I find it so much cheaper... not only because of the money we spend on groceries, but because of the money we don't spend on eating out.

ETA: Your freezer is your friend if you really want to stretch your food budget... it totally eliminates the need for prepackaged lunches.

Michellerw1

I disagree...when one buys the packaged "health" foods and low-fat this and that, etc. it is much more expensive, yes. BUT some of the most healthy foods are the least expensive. Such as, dried grains and beans, in-season vegetables and fruit, chicken, shrimp, etc.

This completely.

I buy chicken breast in bulk pkg on sale for .99/lb. A serving is 4oz. That's ~.25 a serving. A giant pkg of field greens on sale is ~$4-5 and lasts me at least 3-4 days if I have two salads a day. I grow my own tomatoes, cucumbers and zucchini ( initial cost about $30 for plants) and they produce abundantly all summer long with plenty to share with friends and neighbors. Seasonings run me about $2 a jar and last ages. I buy mushrooms on sale and get other veggies at the farmers market. Dried bulk beans, nuts, rice, etc are a helluva lot cheaper than any packaged box meal out there and a lb will last for a long long time. I do spen a bit more on Greek yogurt but, once again, buy it cheaply ( trader joes for ~4 for a huge container that lasts me a week). I can easily feed myself wholesome and nutrient dense meals every single day for a fraction of what it would cost to poison my body with processed convenience foods.

I want to do cucumbers and zuchini but I am afraid they will fail. What kind of climate are you in?

frostiegurl

I disagree...when one buys the packaged "health" foods and low-fat this and that, etc. it is much more expensive, yes. BUT some of the most healthy foods are the least expensive. Such as, dried grains and beans, in-season vegetables and fruit, chicken, shrimp, etc.

This completely.

I buy chicken breast in bulk pkg on sale for .99/lb. A serving is 4oz. That's ~.25 a serving. A giant pkg of field greens on sale is ~$4-5 and lasts me at least 3-4 days if I have two salads a day. I grow my own tomatoes, cucumbers and zucchini ( initial cost about $30 for plants) and they produce abundantly all summer long with plenty to share with friends and neighbors. Seasonings run me about $2 a jar and last ages. I buy mushrooms on sale and get other veggies at the farmers market. Dried bulk beans, nuts, rice, etc are a helluva lot cheaper than any packaged box meal out there and a lb will last for a long long time. I do spen a bit more on Greek yogurt but, once again, buy it cheaply ( trader joes for ~4 for a huge container that lasts me a week). I can easily feed myself wholesome and nutrient dense meals every single day for a fraction of what it would cost to poison my body with processed convenience foods.

I want to do cucumbers and zuchini but I am afraid they will fail. What kind of climate are you in?

I live in Sacramento if that helps.

Seriously, Zucchini, Tomato and Cucumber are about the easiest veggies out there to grow. I've never ever ever done a vegetable garden prior to this year and I seriously underestimated how much they would produce so I bought a few of each plant and now I'm giving away tons of veggies because I just can't eat them all fast enough.

Michellerw1

I am in Tahoe. So, this year it snowed until June as you may be aware (grrrr). Maybe I will try starting some indoors. I have had luck with berries and same thing, I have so freaking many.

leanne2376

I would have to agree. But i will do anything to lose weight and be healthy - now if i can just stop smoking - but that is another question

AimingHighWeighingLow

Disagree completely. Shopping is expensive as you make it.

You could invest in a few seeds and grow your own fruit and veg to cut down costs. Granted junk food is cheap, but so is fruit! It's just junk food tastes soooooo much better when you feel rubbish

SirBen81

Maybe if you depend on a grocery store for your food. Gardening, foraging, and hunting are skills everyone should know in my opinion.

Kohadre

It depends on what kinds of foods you are trying to buy, and the quantity of them you are buying. So I guess its a bit of yes and no at the same time.

LisaMarieee

I disagree. Our grocery bill has been cut in half since we're not eating a lot of frozen/pre-packaged meals.

maidentl

I don't think you need to be RICH to eat healthfully. I think most of us can find affordable ways to eat well. I do, however, think that it is very difficult for those who live below the poverty line and that's a shame.

servilia

I would not say its a privilege of the rich, but I do agree that those in poverty cannot afford to eat healthy food. To make meals that will feed their entire family, they must resort to processed foods that can be stretched (hamburger or tuna helper, ramen noodles, mac-n-cheese, etc.) My budget is stretched to the limit keeping us in fresh fruits, veggies and low-fat meats - and we don't buy chips and other snacky processed foods.

I couldn't disagree more. Cooking your own is cheaper but a lot of people can't be bothered these days. And I speak from my own experience growing up not from an ivory tower.

An edit to my post: I do cook my own now and I'm spending way more than I used to.

I'm sorry but in that case you're not shopping very smart.

i_love_vinegar

disagree. Granted, I live in California so what is considered rich here tends to be much higher than a lot of places, but I would think one would have to be very poor and/or unable to cook to be unable to afford healthy food.

adross3

buy in bulk and buy a foodsaver. in the beginning it is a bit more expensive, but after the build up in your freezer it becomes cheaper.

ATT949

There's no doubt that eating healthier is more expensive. Frozen meat vs fresh meat. The price difference is quite a lot. As you'd expect. Processed food can be sold cheaper as it has a much longer shelf life than fresh.

Still, if you CAN afford it, its worth it.

There may not be any doubt in your mind that eating "healthier" is more expensive but my life does not bear that out.

Could you be so good as to share why you're so convinced.

Scoobies87

Eating healthily is sooo expensive in the UK compared to other countries! I used to live with some spanish girls who couldn't believe how expensive fruit and veg and fresh fish is over here. They said healthy food is cheaper over there!

servilia

There's no doubt that eating healthier is more expensive. Frozen meat vs fresh meat. The price difference is quite a lot. As you'd expect. Processed food can be sold cheaper as it has a much longer shelf life than fresh.

Still, if you CAN afford it, its worth it.

There may not be any doubt in your mind that eating "healthier" is more expensive but my life does not bear that out.

Could you be so good as to share why you're so convinced.

I agree with the second poster in these quotes.

To the first person, what do you mean by "frozen" meat? Do you just mean fresh meat that has been frozen?

azsuzi

Isn't it interesting that for every poster who agrees, there's another that does not agree? Perhaps it all has to do with where we each started and where we're each heading. Without knowing the specifics of one's budget and eating habits, past and present, it is impossible to gauge oneself against another. We each carry our own truths.

moprincess76

I havent seen that dramatic of a difference in my grocery budget.. I stopped buying the soda, frozen quick dinners, chips, popcorn, snack cakes and well garbage foods, and started buying more fruits, veggies, and better meats and it has balanced out.. Hit your sales.. hit your farmers markets, collect coupons to use on non food items so you have that extra for groceries... I can feed my family ( when all are home) on a hundred dollars a week. for food and non food items.. when my man is gone.. i can feed myself and 3 kids for about 60-70 a week..... and im FAR from rich... just ask my bank...

XXXMinnieXXX

Hi my names Zara. I'm finding I'm spending less than I used to. The salad, fruit and veg is expensive, but I'm eating much less meat. This has made a huge difference. I'm also not snacking, eating takeaways, drinking expensive fizzy drinks or going out to eat as much. I also check on the internet for the best deals from the supermarkets for the fruit and vegetables that week and shop around, takes a little more effort but is definately worth it. The other thing I do is cook up lots of things in bulk, as I find out it doesn't cost much more to double what your making, I then fridge or freeze it. This cuts down on expense and time. I cook all my food myself too. Putting the time and effort in to planning what your eating also works out cheaper, because you write a shopping list for what you need and stick to it. I'm definately spending much less and eating really well, and really good food. Zara