Why is eating healthy so darn expensive?
Replies
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I hear you hun! i'm lucky I have a father in law that goes hunting he fills up my freezer and thanks to that we will have food for the whole week to feed the 5 of us (really broke right now)all we need is beans or rice or potatoes and we have our dinner!!!!0
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QFTI actually spent way less money when I started shopping healthy. No idea what you're buying or where you're shopping...
same here0 -
I found that cooking from scratch, harvesting my leftovers and freezing things cuts down the overall cost. You can freeze lots of stuff including bread, ginger, spinach, herbs, roast chicken, etc. then pick at them throughout the week. A whole roasted chicken feeds the two of us for 3 days and the stock can be frozen and used for soup. 'Fresh frozen' veg is cheap and so are tins of sardines and dried beans etc. When I was little and we were running out of money at the end of the month my family ate mostly things like rice and sardines, or stir-fries from frozen vegetables and chicken breasts - cheap but reasonably healthy meals.
How to freeze herbs:
http://www.thekitchn.com/freeze-herbs-in-olive-oil-1736480 -
Do you have Aldi near you? They have 6 things for 49p each week. This week was broccoli, onions, carrots, parsnips then 2 other veggies. It's got to always bulk up on those and I corporate them. If you don't have Aldi you should have something similar. I also found a local meat outlet. I get all my meat from there.. It's much cheaper. Got to look around and find out where is cheapest. If you are anything like the old me you'll save money on takeaways or buying junk so it'll even out. Buy what's in season and incorporate a a little more time for good shopping into your week. I also use the local pound stores or we have a store here called home and bargain. I also use the local market. Pays to shop around.
Zara :-)0 -
I think it really depends where you live. From the prices you are quoting, it's a hell of a lot more expensive to buy groceries here in the UK e.g. 1 whole (cheap) chicken would be $7, a loaf of bread $3, a 150g punnet of berries is no less than $5 and 2 small fillets of salmon are $8. I've really had to cut back on the healthy food I enjoy but I have been able to get the same nutrients I need from cheaper options or going to the shop at 8pm when things are being marked down.
The only fruit I buy now is apples, cause their the cheapest, I take a multivitamin every day to counteract the lack of variety of fruit (yes, the cost of the multivitamin does work out much cheaper than buying fruit). I buy tinned sardines instead of fresh fish for omega 3, the only meat I buy is turkey because it's about half the price of chicken and all the veg fresh but marked down (no freezer). We also do not have a coupon culture in the UK, but it's easy to find bargains if you go looking for them and are willing to make many substitutions on your list. Making a long list of things is a way to spend a lot of money too, go to the store and buy what's on offer then make meals around that.
You can make a pack of beans and lentils with some spices stretch very far and they are very cheap and nutritious.
^^ This this this!!!! Fresh fruit and veg based on my 5 a day for just myself cost £30 for the week!0 -
the biggest expense IME is meat. So i only buy meat when it is on sale, and i freeze it. Its perfectly fine to go meat free every once in awhile0
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I'm reading people saying they've never seen coupons for unprocessed foods. I have a kroger in my state and I always get coupons from them for frozen bags of chicken, frozen vegetables, fruits & vegetables. I get all kinds of coupons. I do get lucky to get non kroger coupons for unprocessed foods that I use at walmart. Its all about looking around for those coupons.
I know right? I have clipped more coupons for salad, or fruit, also frozen vegetables, eggs, nuts, peanut butter and the like. I don't find these coupons hard to come by. I also get a good many for fresh meat. Sometimes it may be from the grocery store, but I have also clipped coupons for fresh chicken out of the news paper.0 -
Thats why i grow my own veggies and will be raising.chickens soon0
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In the US healthy food is expensive because only 1% of all government subsidies given to farmers go towards fresh produce. The vast majority just go to corn production, which is why high fructose corn syrup is in all junk here. If the government started subsidizing the cost of healthy food, it would be a lot cheaper. Additionally, due to global warming, severe weather like droughts and fires has affected crops, making less available, and therefore the cost rises. The cost also goes up when gas prices increase since it costs more to ship the food.0
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....Really?
Beans= $1
1lb bananas = 47 cents
1lb apples= 1.50
Rice = $1
Celery = $1
Tortillas= 47 cents
1lb chicken= ~2lb
Chips= ~4-5$ a bag (half filled with air)
Cookies= ~3-4
Meal @ Mcdonalds= 4-5$0 -
This popped up in my newsfeed this morning. Some great ideas in there. http://greatist.com/health/44-healthy-foods-under-10
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We go to the farmers market near us that is in an ethnic area and caters more to Asian and Mexican customers. They do have processed foods, but they are minimally available. I can often find blueberries and strawberries for .99 a container and avocados for .50 each so it is worth it to drive further and stock up. They also offer meats in the full size which puts ribeyes at 5.99/lb or tenderloin for 7.99/lb when they weigh around 8lbs each so I stock and freeze. Same works with chicken leg quarters in bulk which is $27 for 40lbs.
If you have an Aldi they are great for produce and ethnic markets can be your best friend along with pick your own once they come in season.0 -
....Really?
Beans= $1
1lb bananas = 47 cents
1lb apples= 1.50
Rice = $1
Celery = $1
Tortillas= 47 cents
1lb chicken= ~2lb
Chips= ~4-5$ a bag (half filled with air)
Cookies= ~3-4
Meal @ Mcdonalds= 4-5$
That is not how much things cost in my area. 6 bananas cost me £1.29.0 -
Cheap foods contain tons of corn, usually in the form of HFCS. Since corn is by far the most subsidized crop in existence, and HFCS being inherently terrible for you, it's not a surprise that the healthier options are more expensive.0
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I can feel your pain. I went grocery shopping yesterday and mainly purchased fruits and vegetables. I had anticipated on spending a little more than usual, but I was still shocked at what it turned out to be. My goal is to stick with the fruits that are in season.0
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And how much does it cost for a bag of chips there?....Really?
Beans= $1
1lb bananas = 47 cents
1lb apples= 1.50
Rice = $1
Celery = $1
Tortillas= 47 cents
1lb chicken= ~2lb
Chips= ~4-5$ a bag (half filled with air)
Cookies= ~3-4
Meal @ Mcdonalds= 4-5$
That is not how much things cost in my area. 6 bananas cost me £1.29.
3.5 banans is approximately 1 lb. So cut 1.29 in half, and there is your lb. And 1.30£=$1, so it's closelythe same...
And how much does it cost for a bag of chips there?0 -
if you're in the US, here is a hint, the Dollar tree, yes "where everything is a dollar"
the last 3 weeks they have had bags of frozen blueberries and strawberry/rasp black berry blends for 1.00 , for a 12 oz bag,
and freezing doesn't hurt them ,
and for blueberries, well
my kids have COMPLETELY switched off popsicles etc for fresh frozen fruit as a snack ,
it works and they love it , and its fruit, so i dont have to limit them ,
if they manage to snack through a bag in one day its ok...
we also make yogurt pops, i bought the pop containers from the dollar tree, got 4 dozen of them , so i dont have to whip it up every day, and 1 bag frozen blueberries
1 32oz container yogurt,mixed together and frozen , equals a happy bunch of littles...0 -
here is another, when was the last time you looked at how much a bag of chips weighs??? most bags are between 9-12 oz, less than a lb, and generally 1.00 a bag, making them well over the price of a lb of potatoes, or bananas or apples ...0
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if you're in the US, here is a hint, the Dollar tree, yes "where everything is a dollar"
the last 3 weeks they have had bags of frozen blueberries and strawberry/rasp black berry blends for 1.00 , for a 12 oz bag,
and freezing doesn't hurt them ,
and for blueberries, well
my kids have COMPLETELY switched off popsicles etc for fresh frozen fruit as a snack ,
it works and they love it , and its fruit, so i dont have to limit them ,
if they manage to snack through a bag in one day its ok...
we also make yogurt pops, i bought the pop containers from the dollar tree, got 4 dozen of them , so i dont have to whip it up every day, and 1 bag frozen blueberries
1 32oz container yogurt,mixed together and frozen , equals a happy bunch of littles...
I've been trying to find those popsicle containers EVERYWHERE! I never thought to look there :blushing:0 -
Healthy food can be more expensive, but doesn't have to be. What makes the difference is time. Time spent in planning, shopping carefully and in actual prep and cooking. You cant just throw a frozen dinner in the microwave...unless it was something you made yourself, most of the time. Also, your initial investment in the basics of a stocked pantry may be a little higher, but beans and grains and other staples are cheap to keep stocked, so if you're careful about what you buy for fresh items and meats, it can be done. I don't think eating healthy is likely to be cheaper...but it doesn't have to be a bank breaker either.0
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It is more expensive, but I try to control the expense by selecting store brands when cheaper, buying produce at our Sam's Club & buying fresh meats & fish in bulk. I also find meal planning helps minimize waste. We'll also be utilizing a few local farm stands this summer for produce, in our area most farm stand produce is a better value then even the club store prices & better quality.
Coupons are great for household products though. I don't find many for the food items I'm purchasing now, but last week I did get my yogurt for .96 a 4 pack because there were coupons stuck to them in the store.
ETA: We also buy frozen vegetables and fruits when possible since they tend to be a better value. We tend to stay away from canned fruits & veggies though, the taste is too far off from fresh for me.0 -
if you're in the US, here is a hint, the Dollar tree, yes "where everything is a dollar"
the last 3 weeks they have had bags of frozen blueberries and strawberry/rasp black berry blends for 1.00 , for a 12 oz bag,
and freezing doesn't hurt them ,
and for blueberries, well
my kids have COMPLETELY switched off popsicles etc for fresh frozen fruit as a snack ,
it works and they love it , and its fruit, so i dont have to limit them ,
if they manage to snack through a bag in one day its ok...
we also make yogurt pops, i bought the pop containers from the dollar tree, got 4 dozen of them , so i dont have to whip it up every day, and 1 bag frozen blueberries
1 32oz container yogurt,mixed together and frozen , equals a happy bunch of littles...
Dollar Tree in my area has no refrigerated or frozen foods. Just candy and snack items. In the north I think Sav a Lot and Aldi are pretty good for cheap deals. Where I live you have Kroger, Walmart Supercenter, or Market Baskets (which are locally owned food chains.) I have a family of four and we only buy healthy food and it costs at least $800 per month--and it gets pretty skimpy around here. When we bought all the junk, we spent a lot less and shopped a lot less often. There are NO coupons to buy fresh veggies and fruit or lean meat.0 -
some tips i have learned (as i use the same budget for healthy eating that i did before):
-go frozen for veggies. or farmers markets. if you can do a farmers market buy as much as you can store and process and freeze it. a food sealer works good for this. we bought another freezer for this purpose alone. i just cook or blanch my veggies then freeze in serving size bags.
-buy fruit on sale. so this week you may eat watermelon and next week apples. bananas are always inexpensive and easy to transport.
-bread on sale? buy and freeze.
-buy meat in bulk and then repackage and freeze in smaller servings.
-dried beans can be your new best friend.
-most yogurts can be bought on sale or with a coupon. or better yet made yourself for even cheaper.
-you can add veggies (this is where frozen comes in handy) to a lot of meals to bulk them up so you have to use less of your other ingredients.
-love fish. but frozen tastes just as good as the stuff from the seafood counter and is a lot cheaper. where i buy my fish it comes in individually wrapped fillets and i get 5 of them (2 lbs) for 3.50. where to buy it fresh i would be paying almost 8 a pound. which is way more convient where i can just pull out how many fillets i need for a meal from my freezer no planning on when i can go to the store and get the fish and make sure i use it right away.
- check out the discount stores around you. the ones where you have to buy your own bags and they don't bag things for you kind of stores. i have hit the jackpot on fresh produce and frozen fish at these kind of stores.0 -
You'r dollar tree has fruits? That's awesome. I wish ours didif you're in the US, here is a hint, the Dollar tree, yes "where everything is a dollar"
the last 3 weeks they have had bags of frozen blueberries and strawberry/rasp black berry blends for 1.00 , for a 12 oz bag,
and freezing doesn't hurt them ,
and for blueberries, well
my kids have COMPLETELY switched off popsicles etc for fresh frozen fruit as a snack ,
it works and they love it , and its fruit, so i dont have to limit them ,
if they manage to snack through a bag in one day its ok...
we also make yogurt pops, i bought the pop containers from the dollar tree, got 4 dozen of them , so i dont have to whip it up every day, and 1 bag frozen blueberries
1 32oz container yogurt,mixed together and frozen , equals a happy bunch of littles...0 -
I have kroger stores by me, and there is always organic food on sale. I also go to a meat market by my house, and they have very good prices on meat. 5lb's of fresh chicken breast is around 11$, lean ground turkey is $2.79 a lb. So it may be a good idea to check around at local meat markets, you never know what kind of prices they might have.0
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Great ideas! Thank you![
quote]
some tips i have learned (as i use the same budget for healthy eating that i did before):
-go frozen for veggies. or farmers markets. if you can do a farmers market buy as much as you can store and process and freeze it. a food sealer works good for this. we bought another freezer for this purpose alone. i just cook or blanch my veggies then freeze in serving size bags.
-buy fruit on sale. so this week you may eat watermelon and next week apples. bananas are always inexpensive and easy to transport.
-bread on sale? buy and freeze.
-buy meat in bulk and then repackage and freeze in smaller servings.
-dried beans can be your new best friend.
-most yogurts can be bought on sale or with a coupon. or better yet made yourself for even cheaper.
-you can add veggies (this is where frozen comes in handy) to a lot of meals to bulk them up so you have to use less of your other ingredients.
-love fish. but frozen tastes just as good as the stuff from the seafood counter and is a lot cheaper. where i buy my fish it comes in individually wrapped fillets and i get 5 of them (2 lbs) for 3.50. where to buy it fresh i would be paying almost 8 a pound. which is way more convient where i can just pull out how many fillets i need for a meal from my freezer no planning on when i can go to the store and get the fish and make sure i use it right away.
- check out the discount stores around you. the ones where you have to buy your own bags and they don't bag things for you kind of stores. i have hit the jackpot on fresh produce and frozen fish at these kind of stores.
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I agree totally!! I tend to buy bulk and freeze things. When I am lower on cash I buy a bunch of canned beans/cheap package of ground chicken/turkey and make a good batch of chili, which i portion out and freeze as well. You can do this with soups and casseroles as well. Plus, it saves time in the long run as well!
Do you have a local veggie market? I have a little fruit/veggie store down the road and find it waayyyyy cheaper than the actual grocery store!
Good luck0 -
[/quote]Great ideas! Thank you![
quote]
some tips i have learned (as i use the same budget for healthy eating that i did before):
-go frozen for veggies. or farmers markets. if you can do a farmers market buy as much as you can store and process and freeze it. a food sealer works good for this. we bought another freezer for this purpose alone. i just cook or blanch my veggies then freeze in serving size bags.
-buy fruit on sale. so this week you may eat watermelon and next week apples. bananas are always inexpensive and easy to transport.
-bread on sale? buy and freeze.
-buy meat in bulk and then repackage and freeze in smaller servings.
-dried beans can be your new best friend.
-most yogurts can be bought on sale or with a coupon. or better yet made yourself for even cheaper.
-you can add veggies (this is where frozen comes in handy) to a lot of meals to bulk them up so you have to use less of your other ingredients.
-love fish. but frozen tastes just as good as the stuff from the seafood counter and is a lot cheaper. where i buy my fish it comes in individually wrapped fillets and i get 5 of them (2 lbs) for 3.50. where to buy it fresh i would be paying almost 8 a pound. which is way more convient where i can just pull out how many fillets i need for a meal from my freezer no planning on when i can go to the store and get the fish and make sure i use it right away.
- check out the discount stores around you. the ones where you have to buy your own bags and they don't bag things for you kind of stores. i have hit the jackpot on fresh produce and frozen fish at these kind of stores.
You got it down! Take a calculator with you too so you now actually how much your spending. Go from store to store but try to do your shopping all at once, the more you go to the store to pick something up the more you'll buy.0 -
Here it is very expensive to eat healthy( Nova Scotia) $8 for a bag of milk , close to that for cheese. For three of us to eat for two weeks we are looking at about $150 to $170 a week I am really the only one who eats healthy here and I can be a bit of a food Nazi here because it is so expensive I try to make sure everyone is eating portion sizes and not sitting there eating the entire box of cereal all at once and also my hubbys side of the family has really bad food issues, most of them are obese and have health issues related to their diet and it will be over my dead body before I allow my daughter to be like that to, my moms side is the polar opposite where they will not eat most processed food and my mom will not eat sugar at all. I am trying to teach my daughter to be in the middle and it is such a fight. My hubby will eat out of boredom and will polish off entire box's or bags of food in a sitting.0
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I'm feeding myself, husband and my daughter. We spend between 150-200$ every 2 weeks. My daughter is 17months and VERY picky, so I'm still having to buy some of the baby food. She's tired eating a lot of things but isn't ready to take to it yet. My husband doesn't eat healthy so theres all ranges of food on my list. Yes it al depends on where you live that plays a HUGE part in it. It takes time and pratice to get your grocgery bill down. Take advice given here and google shopping on a budget to get more tips! I'm looking for ways to spend less right now. I'm a stay at home mom so having 1 income is really hard.0
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