Why is healthy eating so expensive?

lilgemforgets

I have been trying to eat a lot healthier and so for the last three weeks or so i have been buying alot of fresh produce, low fat yogurts, 'whole' foods, quorn (instead of meat) but can not believe how expensive it is! I have done my months shopping budget in 2 weeks!!! Any advice on healthy, cheaper options???

ihateroses

Look for deals, buy stuff that doesn't go bad in bulk, buy fruits and veggies that are in season, be flexible (if you go shopping with a recipe in mind and you see a substitute thats less expensive, buy it)

reojames

My wife and I have been wondering the same thing! We finally signed up for Blue Ribbon foods about 2 years ago and love it! Healthy foods, low price and convenient delivery! If you decide to check them out, remember this: The food is fantastic, but do NOT buy their freezer. Get a good used one or pick one up at Lowes or somewhere....

norabeth

frozen veggies. fruit that is in season. coupons!!!!! look at food ads for better deals. make a grocery list off a menu and stick with it.
change up recipes if an ingredients isn't something that you cook with often.

tamtamzz

I don't know where you live, but start a garden if you feel up to it. It subsidizes the produce cost. I have an over abundance of peppers, cukes, zukes, broccoli and tomatoes. It takes a little work, but it's worth it in the end.

juliaamilee

coupons, deals, check other stores. go to them, if the store you frequent has price match use it! Good luck!

Purple_Orchid_87

i go for frozen vegetables and berries where i can as i can buy those for the month in one go
my monthly shop for dinners this month was £112
my lunches (fresh fruit, yoghurts, cheese dippers, carrot sticks etc) I budget £25 a week
My overall budget comes out to be around £225 (my first week i went over the £25 but my appetite is lessening and now Im learning to eat less but more often)
im lucky, i dont have kids of my own, i dont smoke, i dont drive, i only drink twice a month - my treat is getting my hair done, and so I consider my food to be instead of the smokes, car etc
im very lucky to not have the financial pressures of most when it comes to household outgoings and I know its not as easy for most.

I have found that using a £2.99 pack of quorn (450g) and making a quorn chilli it lasted me 4 days - I had a lot of things in the cupboards so wasnt too bad but using what I used, i think it cost me about £5 to make - £1.25 a day I dont consider too bad - instead of rice or pasta (avoiding those) i just cooked up 100g peas, 100g baby carrots and 100g sweetcorn and had the chilli with those - my frozen vegetables are from Iceland are are c.800g-1000g a bag for £1 each so again, around 50p for the veg, £1.25 for the chilli....

jkleman79

Well I always like this saying... " If you think eating healthy is expensive, have you priced cancer lately?' I know it sucks but you tend to stay healthy longer and away from the doctor if you eat healthy and spend less money paying the doctor and getting to enjoy yummy amazing food that you know is real. =0)

deadstarsunburn

http://www.choosemyplate.gov/healthy-eating-on-budget.html


Try that site.

ErinBeth7

I know this isn't always available for everyone, but try a farmers market for produce. Usually a bit cheaper (but not always).

sunshine31797

I agree with the suggestion to buy fresh food that are in season as they are usually less expensive then. Also, consider buying frozen fruits and vegetables. They are healthy and retain their nutrition better because they are usually frozen at their peak. However, you may want to do a quick check to make there is nothing added but the fruits or vegetables (i.e. no added sugar, salt, seasonings. I hope that helps.

MrGarciasWifey

I have the answer...Co-Op! This lady at my husbands work told him about Bountiful Baskets. We LOVE it! ♥ I encourage everyone to see if they have one in your area. When I initially signed up I was reluctant mainly because of the "unknown". I wasn't sure how much we would get for the money we were paying. IT IS WORTH THE $15! You get more food, fresh food, for $15 from the co-op than you could ever go an buy at the store. Plus they use local farmers as much as possible. They even have the option to upgrade your basket to organic for $10 more!! http://www.bountifulbaskets.org/

jackieatx

I don't understand how you see it as expensive. Buy in bulk and cook.

kent4j

Are there discount food stores in your area? Sometimes you can get healthy stuff at much better prices. It takes a little work shoping around buts once you know where to get what it makes it a little easier. Also adjust your menu to the sales items. THis week lettuce was buy one get one free at our local market so salads it is!

ModoVincere

Compare the costs of the healthy eating to the cost of the unhealthy eating plus the costs of future medical bills related to a poor diet....then which one's more expensive?

megsmom2

I don't think we are spending any more, but I am definately buying different things. No snack stuff, no fast food, more fresh fruits and veggies. I think on average, we are spending about the same...but I do watch for sales and coupons, and tend not to buy organics on most items because of the cost. (some things its worth it, but not always)
If you live somewhere that has a CSA or food co-op, that can be a big help. We buy from Bountiful Baskets co-op twice a month and get an amazing amount of produce very inexpensively. It means spending a little more time cooking and planning, to use it up efficiently, but that's a good thing!
If you're buying most of your food at Whole Paycheck...well then, yeah, its gonna cost you..... I love to shop there. I don't love to buy there.

TKHappy

I buy things I can use for lots of different meals! I refuse to buy fake processed meat products because they are way to pricey so I make my own! Buying things in bulk is a good idea, instead of 5 small things of yogurt I have started buying the big tub and adding my own fruit!

You can look at my diary and see how I manage!

jcstanton

I don't know where you live, but start a garden if you feel up to it. It subsidizes the produce cost. I have an over abundance of peppers, cukes, zukes, broccoli and tomatoes. It takes a little work, but it's worth it in the end.

^^This! And gardening is great exercise, too. You can also take some of the surplus and can your own veggie soups. Less sodium and it gives you some good veggies throughout the winter.

mndamon

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/22/farm-subsidies-junk-food_n_975711.html

This is part of it. Loooooong discussion entailed in that one though.

Short answer is what everyone else has said. Look for sales, buy in bulk, freeze what you can. It's still totally workable, just takes more effort than eating junk.

Grimmerick

My wife and I have been wondering the same thing! We finally signed up for Blue Ribbon foods about 2 years ago and love it! Healthy foods, low price and convenient delivery! If you decide to check them out, remember this: The food is fantastic, but do NOT buy their freezer. Get a good used one or pick one up at Lowes or somewhere....

Where do you see the prices, I went on there but they showed no prices even when I went to place my order........................I don't like that.

confettibetti

Well I always like this saying... " If you think eating healthy is expensive, have you priced cancer lately?' I know it sucks but you tend to stay healthy longer and away from the doctor if you eat healthy and spend less money paying the doctor and getting to enjoy yummy amazing food that you know is real. =0)

hmmm, never thought about it this way...

Jacwhite22

chicken is usually < $3 / lb. I don't understand the dilemma.

cramernh

I dont find it expensive at all... I only purchase fresh vegetables (frozen will do when prices are too high for fresh but it doesnt happen often), real meats but purchased in bulk. I bought a 50# case of fresh boneless chicken breasts for $1.68/lb last month. A 40# case of 80/20 for $1.99/lb, pork center cut for $1.99/lb (approx 15#), pork ribs - a cryovac 20# pkg at $1.78/lb...

You have to be really good at knowing where the sales are, who has the best deals.. and do yourself a favor.. dont use that "Quorn" stuff.. get real foods...

TheNewo

I'm on the fence when it comes to this topic.
On one hand I look at a box of macaroni and cheese for $1 and it appears that it is indeed cheaper to eat junk...but perhaps I'm just not looking in the right places. After all, I can get a few tomatoes or a couple apples for the same price, right? Either way, the bottom line is that the cost of your healthcare after eating a steady diet of cheap, over processed, preservative packed meals is going to be astronomically higher than if you try to eat healthier food. I'm terrified of the doctor so this argument wins it for me every time. Got a good article below for cheap healthy food:
http://eatthis.menshealth.com/content/healthiest-cheap-food-america

BinaryPulsar

Also, if you want a garden, but don't have a yard you can get a small plot of land in a community garden (if that is available). It might be late in the season for that, but something to look into.

willia123

I spend less. I know because I've tracked it very carefully since nov 2011 when I started this. I buy so much less filler and junk food....soda...etc....our meals are really simple. When I was baking I would buy so many ingredients for each meal. Now, it's a head of broccoli or a couple of zucchinis and some lean meat...maybe a sweet potato. We grow a few different veggies but that doesn't really add up to that much savings.

ihateroses

Also crockpot+canning!

iiiEllie

We spend about 400$ a month for just myself and my boyfriend to eat healthy, and that's with me buying sale items. Where I'm from food is overpriced as heck because it's an island and everything has to be brought in. We grown almost nothing but potatoes on island. A package of 6 chicken breasts is typically 30$

shock2920

Well I always like this saying... " If you think eating healthy is expensive, have you priced cancer lately?' I know it sucks but you tend to stay healthy longer and away from the doctor if you eat healthy and spend less money paying the doctor and getting to enjoy yummy amazing food that you know is real. =0)

Definitely agree.

I like a lot of the suggestions that others have made around ways to reduce the cost, but if there's anything you can do to increase your food budget, I think that's also important. It might hurt a little at the cash register every month, but what you spend now you'll save later on in healthcare costs and quality of life.

ToughTulip

I spend close to nothing on my food bill anymore

I buy lots of rice, beans, oats, chicken breast and such

margojr4

All good info from previous posters! We normally buy in bulk and catch sales often. I know certain areas can be pricier than others (Hawaii vs Ohio for example)

Our cheap go to foods..

Rice
Dry beans
Bananas that are turning (peel and freeze for smoothies- cook for muffins)
Eggs
Salsa