Why is eating healthy so darn expensive?
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I went grocery shopping for myself my husband and two kids today. Just for today though Friday food cost about $170! I usually spend $100 but I started healthy eating today and counting calories and lets just say chicken salmon and veggies cost a crap load more than pasta and pizza crusts
That's actually not that bad. My wife and I have 3 kids. It's typically $200/week for our groceries. Though we've started buying in bulk for chicken, frozen veggies and other items (oatmeal, granola, eggs etc). That's saved us a lot of money especially when you wait for the sales and use coupons. The chicken we get lasts for almost 2 weeks (we freeze it) and the veggies we always measure out the serving size listed on the bag. We know how much our kids eat and by simply measuring out our servings for each meal we don't waste any. If someone is a little hungrier we have fruit or nuts for a quick snack.0 -
Kroger many times has their bags of frozen veggies 10 for 10. A big tub of salad greens goes a long way. The off brand oatmeal is fairly inexpensive. With kids, you definitely need the pb, bread and milk. Like the other poster said, you can usually find the big bags of chicken breasts on sale. Same with tilapia fillets. Pork loins are very reasonable around here....and you can get a few meals out of one. Not the healthiest of the meats, but you can find fairly lean ones, slice them and grill/broil a lot of the fat out. Get your fruit in season....hopefully now we're into spring the prices will come down. Farmer's markets are a great place to get fruits and veggies at a reasonable price. You'll have to watch for sales on the expensive stuff like salmon and beef so buy them in bulk if possible. Avocados are expensive, but sometimes you can find them on sale. Hope this helps.0
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I thought the best things in life were free...turns out that's a lie :-)0
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I went grocery shopping for myself my husband and two kids today. Just for today though Friday food cost about $170! I usually spend $100 but I started healthy eating today and counting calories and lets just say chicken salmon and veggies cost a crap load more than pasta and pizza crusts
It doesn't have to be expensive. Non perishable foods can be bought on sale and perishable foods can be bought marked down. Adding in dried beans, lentils and such is a great money saver. When I was living alone buying the smallest packages of things felt like I was buying in a warehouse club - buying whole chickens didn't feel like that much more work at the point - or going to the farmers market and cleaning, trimming and freezing extra veg.
Also, if you are lucky to have options on where to shop this can be great. I have Meijer where I live and they always beat Kroger for healthier options at cheaper prices.0 -
I usually spend $200 a week on not such great eating so it will probably go up. My husband started with a personal trainer today so he started a diet as well and he was all gung ho about the healthy food I'm hoping next week will be cheaper. But that is a great idea about the chicken, I usually stick to the already cleaned breasts but I think I'll buy a while chicken next time.I went grocery shopping for myself my husband and two kids today. Just for today though Friday food cost about $170! I usually spend $100 but I started healthy eating today and counting calories and lets just say chicken salmon and veggies cost a crap load more than pasta and pizza crusts
For 4 people that isn't so bad for a week of eating, of course it's all relative to your budget.
Buy whole chickens and break them down, they are the cheapest, then use the carcass to make stock.
Get frozen veggies if that is cheaper
And pasta can be eaten on a healthy diet0 -
Are you anywhere near an Aldi? I have been very impressed with their fruits/vegetables and I also occasionally buy my meat there, too. I buy a lot of frozen vegetables as you can frequently find coupons for them (especially the Steamables and Publix frequently has BOGO). I watch for chicken breast to go on sale (some of the frozen packages have weird preservatives and more calories) and then stock up and freeze it.0
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Believe me, I understand your pain. I spent 40 dollars on four bags of groceries today, just for myself for this week. It's frustrating. The economy makes it much easier for us to make unhealthy choices. Coupons are often for junk foods, but keep looking and you can find good deals. Even if you don't find coupons, sign up for mailed sales flyers and you can always choose which store has the best deals.
It doesn't necessarily get easier, but it becomes less frustrating in time.
This is about what I spend a week on myself. Bread, eggs, bacon, lunch meat, fruit, vegetables, chicken and popcorn is basically my list every week, with variables depending on what I feel like.
I tend to stock up on bags of frozen vegetables, both the SteamFresh bags and just plain frozen veg; I add peppers and onions to just about everything to bulk up for less calories. I cut out bread which has actually saved me a decent amount of money. I buy chicken and fruit mostly every week. I love Cuties, those adorable little clementines. Only 80 calories for two of them and they satisfy my sweet tooth fairly well. The only processed food I really buy anymore is Special K red berries cereal. Other than that, my cart is generally very healthy. I'm lucky to spend 40 bucks this week; it's usually about 60 for me, but this particular week was tight.0 -
Kroger many times has their bags of frozen veggies 10 for 10.
Alright, Kroger is NOT all bad. I DO love their frozen veggie section. Especially at $10 for $10 (and their bean selection is FAB!) My Kroger's all lack in the fresh veg and produce section though!0 -
You may not get coupons for fresh chicken/meat, etc., but it does go on sale. I always check the circulars and if some form of antibiotic-free chicken or ground turkey or even ground beef goes on sale, I stock up. Same with fruit/veg--a little harder to stock up on, but if you eat what's in season as others have noted it's generally cheaper.
Even Whole Foods has some really good prices if you shop their circular and their Friday one-day sales (last week I stocked up on chicken breast and Kind bars, and some 50-cent mangoes). You just have to get a little more used to planning your meals around what's cheap that week.0 -
Where do you live? I'm in new York. The cost of living is a fortune. I easily spend $800 a month on groceries which does not include diapers, paper towel etc. you don't even wanna know what I spend on rent lol
haha it completely depends where you're from. I spend over 600$/month for my boyfriend and myself. Nothing is cheap where I'm from. Damn Island.
Well, potatoes are dirt cheap..0 -
Have you tried ethnic shops? I used to live right between a Turkish supermarket and a Greek greengrocer - lovely fresh food, mostly unprocessed, for little money.
Also, cutting out meat made my food bill way, way lower <snip>
I second the ethnic grocery idea. Last week I got almost more bok choy than I could use for $2 (I would have sautéed it and frozen it if it had been in danger of going bad). And, while DH and I have not cut out meat, we eat a lot less. Today I stuffed a pork chop that weighed nearly 1 lb. before stuffing- yes, ONE pork chop. DH and I shared it and still had some left over. They came two to a pack and the other is in the freezer. I have no idea how anyone could eat one of those things. Portion control is a good cost-cutter.
I know that most coupons are for processed foods and we still buy some. I like canned soup for the convenience and a can of chicken noodle soup with a ton of sautéed veggies is 100 calories plus the veggies. (I use a nonstick spray to sautee.)
Finally, check out Whole Foods for items sold in bulk- couscous, bran, bulghur, dried beans, etc. I once bought a cabbage without looking at the price and nearly had a heart attack, but the bulk foods in the bins are competitively priced and you can buy as little as you need.
Edited to add: it's expensive to make food without additives because it has to taste good all by itself and it doesn't stay stable on the shelf as long. Saturday I compared the "plain" yogurt DH bought earlier (ingredients included sugar, cornstarch and another thickener I can't remember) to my favorite brand of Greek yogurt (which is only nonfat milk plus yogurt cultures). The Greek yogurt was twice as much per ounce even though it came in a bigger container (and you'd think the per-ounce cost would be less because of that).0 -
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No here we have shoprite pathmark and walmart I try to get what they have on sale ... Like I'll never buy cherries unless they are on sale, I'm looking forward to blueberry season!
Are you anywhere near an Aldi? I have been very impressed with their fruits/vegetables and I also occasionally buy my meat there, too. I buy a lot of frozen vegetables as you can frequently find coupons for them (especially the Steamables and Publix frequently has BOGO). I watch for chicken breast to go on sale (some of the frozen packages have weird preservatives and more calories) and then stock up and freeze it.0 -
Check the circulars to see what's the best price where.
I can usually find boneless skinless chicken breast for $1.99 a pound at one of the three stores I regularly shop. Sometimes fish (salmon, tilapia) and pork has BOGO sales. Buy meats in the "big packs" and freeze what you won't use immediately.
Buy fresh fruits and vegetables in season, and check frozen if it's not. I can get seedless grapes now for $1.49 a pound. A few months back, they were $3.99 a pound, so I didn't buy them. I recently bought 8 pounds of navel oranges for $3.99... that's about the cost of a big bag of potato chips. In a few weeks, strawberries will be a better price than they are now. In the summer, check local farmers markets for fresh produce.0 -
Chicken where I buy it is $7 a lbPasta and rice are not unhealthy.
A whole chicken is like, $3.
Pasta and sauce is maybe $5.
Whole chicken and rice is probably $3.10. I disagree with your hypothesis completely.0 -
I'm definitely going to do that . I've never been to our farmers market but I'm sure it will be worth the tripCheck the circulars to see what's the best price where.
I can usually find boneless skinless chicken breast for $1.99 a pound at one of the three stores I regularly shop. Sometimes fish (salmon, tilapia) and pork has BOGO sales. Buy meats in the "big packs" and freeze what you won't use immediately.
Buy fresh fruits and vegetables in season, and check frozen if it's not. I can get seedless grapes now for $1.49 a pound. A few months back, they were $3.99 a pound, so I didn't buy them. I recently bought 8 pounds of navel oranges for $3.99... that's about the cost of a big bag of potato chips. In a few weeks, strawberries will be a better price than they are now. In the summer, check local farmers markets for fresh produce.0 -
I know, healthy food is more expensive. It's much cheaper than medical expenses, though. That's how I rationalize it. Hope it helps.0
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Chicken where I buy it is $7 a lb
I got antibiotic-free chicken breast (admittedly with bone and skin, but that's easily enough taken care of) at Whole Foods in Manhattan for $2.99/lb last week. A few weeks ago I got antibiotic-free whole chicken from Fresh Direct for $1.99/lb. I promise you can do better than $7/lb.0 -
I go to costco and get a big thing of spinach or mixed greens for $4. That makes 10 salads a week (lunches for myself and my husband). A few cucumbers, some grape tomatoes, Scallions, are $2. I pair that with a lean protein - tuna, grilled chicken, etc.and I have a whole week's of lunches for $10. Just read the ads and plan a week of meals based on what is in season and on sale.0
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I have just started planning meals ahead and making EVERYTHING from scratch. You pay for convenience. Boneless, skinless chicken breast is convenient but expensive. Bone-in, skin-on breast is cheaper. Shrimp with the tail and vein still attached are cheaper. Dry beans are way, way cheaper than canned. In many cases frozen fruit is cheaper than fresh due to seasonality, quality, and what's available in your area. Walmart is by far the cheapest place you can shop. I recently purchased the following for about $180 at Walmart (this is a copy-paste from my thread on prepping food):
Medium/small tupperware (I have big ones, need some for meals/sauces)
Two sizes of Ziploc freezer bags
Saran-wrap
Sharpie marker
Cooking spray
roasted red pepper (for wraps)
rotisserie chicken (to shred & freeze)
big bag of almonds (for snacking and to make almond flour)
oats (to make oat flour)
canned pumpkin (for baking)
vanilla extract (for baking)
one each of mexican, italian, and indian spice blends
canned chick peas (for hummus & salads)
fresh garlic
frozen berries (for smoothies)
ezekial bread (to freeze)
flat-out wraps (for...yea)
lettuce
avocado & guac mix
turkey pepperoni (don't judge, I love mini pizzas)
mozzarella
pasta sauce
frozen shrimp
ground beef
unsweetened applesauce (for baking)
buckwheat (this usually replaces rice)
dates (for baking)
dark choco chips (for OMNOMNOM--er, baking)
some sort of veggie spread mix I can put into...
plain greek yogurt
light coconut milk
sweet potato
egg white (I do eat whole eggs)
veggie boullion (for eventual crock pot & buckwheat)0 -
Wait, what? I've saved hundreds of dollars a month since I started eating healthy! I'm literally eating less food, so everything I buy lasts so much longer, and some of the meals I make last for 3-5 meals. I freeze a lot of stuff so it doesn't go bad. I also rarely ever eat out now, which saves a ton, but my grocery spending alone has dropped so much.
I do most of my shopping at Trader Joe's and local fruit & veggie stands. Eat less meat and you'll save tons of money (and your health!). There's no reason to eat a lot of chicken, and red meat is not good for you in any amount. Lentils, beans, quinoa, greek yogurt, eggs, and mountains of veggies.0 -
I have a deep freezer and will stock up on meats whenever possible. For example: when chicken breast goes on sale for $1.99lb I will by 20 pounds then portion it out into 1lb packages and use my food sealer to vacuum pack it. Now that Easter has passed I am waiting for them to mark down the boneless lamb legs so I can buy a few of those to freeze. Buy a couple of turkeys after major holidays as those will be marked down too. If you are going prepare a meal with shrimp, buy it frozen raw then thaw and peel it yourself. You will save a few dollars per pound and it tastes better too! I will not buy fish if it has been frozen. The texture is just to funky for me. We have it at least once a week so I buy what is on sale. This week wild caught fresh cod is on my list to buy.
Produce....I try to stick to what is on sale for fresh, but there are just things that we buy on a weekly basis no matter the price. We eat some frozen veggies, but not a whole lot. Again, it's a texture thing for me. In the summer my DH grows a garden and we eat from that and can some things.
We are trying to eat less refined foods so I am starting to make more things from scratch. I make Belgian waffles and freeze them (can do this with pancakes too). Cakes & frostings never come from a box or can. I started making our own ice cream last week and this week I will make our own breads. We want to start buying more organic items so this will help make our weekly budget stretch further.0 -
i've never seen coupons for unprocessed meats, seafood, FRESH vegetables and FRESH fruits.
I have often gotten register coupons that are "Save $3 off your next [produce/meat/etc] purchase." at my local Meijer store and if you receive Kroger coupons that are linked to your card you can get coupons (often times for a free item) for whatever you regularly buy, eggs, bagged salad and veg are a few examples! I've also seen coupons for Earthbound Farm brand organic produce.0 -
Bananas, apples, frozen veggies, brown rice, whole wheat pasta and simple cuts of chicken (or opt for a whole chicken which feeds our family of 3 for 3-4 meals)
Get produce that is good priced fresh. Lettuces, celery, carrots, onions, cabbage. Those are nearly always low cost.
It just takes some practice
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It's all relative. If everything is portioned normally and you cut back on the dining out, the savings is there. I always have plenty of leftovers to get me through the week. A $10 lunch out in town can buy me 2-3 days worth of food at home (averaged out).
^^^ this! We thought the same thing: healthy food was too expensive! As a result we didn't eat out all week because we thought we were broke. End result: we had more money at the end of the week than we usually did simply because we hadn't gone out.0 -
Where do you live? I'm in new York. The cost of living is a fortune. I easily spend $800 a month on groceries which does not include diapers, paper towel etc. you don't even wanna know what I spend on rent lol
I'm in Eastern Canada. Everything food wise is expensive here. I easily spend 600$/month for two of us. Hell, 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts will run you almost 30$ here when they aren't on sale, bone in - skin on is only about a dollar cheaper.0 -
paying 2x the amount on our food is worth our heath any day!0
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There was a guy on Bill Maher about 2 weeks ago who said "Calories are cheap, Nutrition is expensive" and I completely agree.
At the same time, being sick is a lot more expensive on both your health and wallet.
Since I started my journey, I've been a lot healthier than the same coworkers (who all caught horrible flu while I stayed just fine) who cracked jokes about my lifestyle change. Now they seldom laugh and most of them have started to try to get healthier themselves.0 -
whats more expensive spending a hundred and some on food or dying? think about it. you'll find that 170 bucks for food is worth it.0
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Where do you live? I'm in new York. The cost of living is a fortune. I easily spend $800 a month on groceries which does not include diapers, paper towel etc. you don't even wanna know what I spend on rent lol
I'm in Eastern Canada. Everything food wise is expensive here. I easily spend 600$/month for two of us. Hell, 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts will run you almost 30$ here when they aren't on sale, bone in - skin on is only about a dollar cheaper.
are you near a costco? they have the best prices on meat (I live in Ontario). I have 8 mouths to feed so every penny counts. Our grocery bills are over $300 a week on a non-meat week. I buy a ton at costco, they have a ton of gluten free options for me, lots of organic produce.0
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