The "eating healthy is expensive" myth

tsh0ck

Why is this chart made using the cheapest "healthy" food and the most expensive "unhealthy" food?

because it isn't an honest chart. it's a graphic made with the intention of proving a point. one that, in the experience of many, is incorrect. so, in fact, the myth is a myth myth is a myth.

VanillaBeanSeed

I think we need a comparing costs thread. List some of your items and how much you pay, and where you are in the world, and see how others differ :]

ssdivot

So much of it depends on where you live, what you were eating before and whether or not now that you are now choosing organic produce and meat vs just non-organic versions of the same. I don't usually buy the organic versions unless they are the same price as the regular.

I'm spending a lot less money now because of not buying doritos, bags of pizza rolls, fast food, and the like. I also don't buy much fruit, sometimes strawberries or bananas, but usually only if they are on sale. Prices for blueberries and other small berries really are expensive..haven't checked out the frozen versions though, I will! Chicken breasts I often get for 2.00 to 2.50 a lb (boneless skinless, on sale). I buy a lot when they are on sale. If they aren't on sale I buy thighs instead, and debone them myself and those are often between 1.50 and 2.00 a lb. I just bought three 2 lb bags of frozen broccoli for 1.98 a bag. I eat a lot of rice and beans, and use a lot of canned tomatoes. Lettuce, red or green peppers, cucumbers and onions are things I buy every 5 or 6 days and can't really wait for a sale on but they aren't too expensive usually. The most expensive things I regularly buy are greek yogurt (about 6 dollars for one of the 4 cup tubs) , one of the low calorie breads (usually about 4 to 4.5 dollars) and eggs. I only will buy cage free eggs, the regular eggs are usually cheap though. I live 20 miles away from the closest big grocery stores and find myself now planning my shopping in great detail, whereas before I didn't plan much at all. We do have a small grocery close to us but items are much more expensive there in general.

Zylayna

I'm in Canada and it's mainly the cost of fresh fruits and veggies that rack up my cost. If you buy in season it's not too bad but I love berries and they aren't in season long so most of the year I'm paying 4 bucks for 1/2 cup of blueberries!!! Plus I tend to buy a lot more chicken breasts which is much more expensive than hamburger. Other than that, it's not too bad.

I buy frozen berries and buy extra meat when it is on sale.

I try to do that too (a great way to save a bit) but I love fresh fruit with yogurt, or desserts or just about anything. Frozen berries just aren't quite the same after you thaw them. I actually have a freezer full of berries that I've picked and frozen (farm girl living in town now) and I use those for things like pies, shakes etc.

kmorris123

I'm spending more at the store now, but I'm able to make more meals out of what I buy than if I spent $20/day on restaurant meals. We were doing way too much eating out even if we were making the healthier choices from given menus. I shop the perimeter and have started buying more fresh fruit, especially on sale. I keep an eye out for coupons that will help with dairy prices and frozen fruits/veggies as well. I started coupon shopping last year and figured out how to stretch the grocery money a bit further. Now If I can just convince my self that water that I put through my Brita pitcher tastes as good as bottled water and start refilling my water bottles, we will be onto something.

megsmom2

I think we are spending about the same, maybe slightly less sine I've been eating healthier. I am very lucky though since I have easy access to many good grocery options including a farmers market. There are a lot of people in poverty stricken or rural areas who don't have that luxury. Where the only place to get food for miles (and with no reliable transport) is the 7-11 or other convenience store. It id next to impossible to eat cheaply OR healthy in a food desert. This is s major problem tor far too many people.

LDunzweiler

It can be more expensive as my husband and daughter are obviously not dieting...lol! I get different butter, mayo, ect and get the stuff they like as well. It has only changed in the form of fast food, eating out, and quick stop marts. I don't go in for a Starbucks 3 days a week and take my lunch to work daily, including all snacks.

It WILL change and go up drastically if you make the change to veggie / vegan eating. Veggie food is super pricey!!!! Oh, and you are right, our produce here in the states can be a bit on the expensive side, so we just hit up the farmers market during the season and are starting our own garden as well!

ChelleDT

Why is this chart made using the cheapest "healthy" food and the most expensive "unhealthy" food?

because it isn't an honest chart. it's a graphic made with the intention of proving a point. one that, in the experience of many, is incorrect. so, in fact, the myth is a myth myth is a myth.

Ha ha ha.. .I like your logic!! (so true)..

But yes, If you compare expensive unhealthy foods to healthy foods that you buy on sale/discount/clearence... or at the local foodshare group.. then yes it "COULD" be less expensive.

But, in general, If picking the Quick lower cost (ie - dollar menu at fast food, Off brand fast frozen fixin's).. compared to a variety of fresh fruits & veggies... Lean cut meats, it is WAY more expensive to buy healthy foods. Not saying that it is "wrong" to buy healthy, just in general I've found it more expensive by far.

Fieldsy

I wouldnt call a lot of those "healthy" options healthy.

OwloftheFuture

I love this!

calliope_music

it's honestly about the same. i still buy a lot of "convenience foods" which can be expensive, but fresh and frozen aren't too bad. i generally only buy store brand too, i'm not that picky.

Serenstar75

So I looked at this with the hope of what would show me cheaper ways to eat healthy. You can NOT buy most of those items they show for the prices they show. Bananas are at least 55 cents a lb, and most of the fruits are very expensive here. I shopped beans and those were nearly $4 for a bag, even a small bag wasn't cheap. It all depends on -where you live- and what they have to ship into the area where you live. Even canned veggies here are over $1 a can. Frozen is nearly $4-5, fresh doesn't last that long and isn't cheap. I buy foods to fix for both of us, but buy more healthy snacks for me to eat outside the home since he's home. This whole thing is frustrating. Yes, I revived the topic, but I had so much hope when I came to this topic.

kayl3igh88

For me the expense has risen - I'm shopping more often and buying a new variety of things - some of which does amount to more than I'd get if i wasn't worrying about my weight.

PANZERIA

While I agree with this, I only agree to a point and it really depends on a person's living situation. Where I am, a lot of the food has a hefty shipping cost. The area is very low income, and everyone is obese. No one can AFFORD the good stuff. Plus the drive to get it is 45 minutes down the highway, which is gas money someone might not have.

Might be easier to just go down to the one gas station in town and buy a pizza from them rather than pay for a car ride into town.

Generally, for people living in large urban areas, YES the eating healthy thing being expensive is a myth. But for a poor, rural community in northern Canada, it most certainly is not.

secretgirl4611

O HAHA I guess I have been doin it all wrong.. cuz I find yea its a lil cheaper but I also tend to run out of my healthy foods faster Like for examples: Banana's gone in 1 wk, peanut butter gone in 11 days, bagged beans gone the day i make them or my have left overs for a few days thats it.. and alot of the healthy food it just goes soooooooo fast.. so yea, its cheaper but then its not. CUZ U IMMEDIATELY HAVE TO CONSTANTLY BE BUYING FOOD AGAIN

Funsoaps

The chicken one would not cost $6, it would be much more than that!

Our bills are way up because of our healthy eating but I wouldn't change it- we are healthier because of it and therefore use less medication, less doctor trips/hospital trips, etc. Our health is much better because of it.

Personally, I don't feel that those processed soy burgers are healthy for you, either. That is not real, raw food that grows on a tree, but some people do feel it's healthy.

Pebble321

Honestly - I think it can be cheaper, or It can be more expensive. For me it is cheaper to eat healthy - because I can cook all my food from basic ingredients. I have transport to get me to the shops, I have gas and power and a well set up kitchen.

It really depends on your level of knowledge of healthy choices, your ability to meal plan, shop smart and cook well, and the availability of basic healthy ingredients in your area.

Unfortunately many people who don't have much money also don't always have all those skills and may not have transport to get to bulk buy places or farmers markets where you can get cheap healthy food.

PANZERIA

Honestly - I think it can be cheaper, or It can be more expensive. For me it is cheaper to eat healthy - because I can cook all my food from basic ingredients. I have transport to get me to the shops, I have gas and power and a well set up kitchen.

It really depends on your level of knowledge of healthy choices, your ability to meal plan, shop smart and cook well, and the availability of basic healthy ingredients in your area.

Unfortunately many people who don't have much money also don't always have all those skills and may not have transport to get to bulk buy places or farmers markets where you can get cheap healthy food.

This!!!! =D Well said!

deannakittygirl

for me the price seems higher now but I am noticing with potion control I still have a lot of some things left over and I'm half way thru the week. I am eating perishable first and I do buy canned instead of dried beans. but as I get a handle on this I expect it to go down. I am not shopping extra during week for cr@p. I am planning out my meals.