Eating healthy costs

santje00

Although I can maintain my diet pretty well atm, I have been noticing that eating healthy comes with a very heavy price tag here in England. Prices of good food is nearly trough the roof whilst junk food is dirt cheap... And they wonder why the UK is having so many people who struggle with obesity!

Mokey41

You don't have to buy organic, monk picked, special foods to be healthy. Whole grains, lean meat, eggs, frozen veggies and fruit are all equally nutritious and don't cost a lot.

2FatToRun

Is it too rainy there to grow a garden? I have never been there just going by what I hear all the time about the non stop rain lol I hate buying frozen veggies I dont know why.....but I have started buying them more doing half fresh have frozen,Same with fruit.

MissMormie

We actually spend less when we're focusing on healthy eating compared to regular shopping. But it does take a bit more time and planning. There's actually quite a few healthy options that are cheaper than the less healthy ones, you just need to take the time to find them.

redraidergirl2009

Prepacked foods marketed as healthy are expensive...I don't think foods that already are healthy like beans and veggies are that expensive...

sullus

Eating Healthy is expensive. This is a myth.

4 Quarter Pounder with cheese meals = +/- $28

I can make the same 4 meals at home with healthier options for about $6

baileysmom4

But if you want those burgers to be healthy you have to pay more for leaner hamburger, better buns and good veggies! Lean hamburger in Illinois is about $6.00 lb.

ldrosophila

this is my thought on why it seems to cost more. First you are buying more groceries than before. Second you are spending less going out to eat which once again will drive up your apparent grocery costs. Last, if you normally spend $30-$40 going out to eat on one meal in the past I bet you are going out to eat less now so that $30-40 that you wouldnt have noticed because it was spent at a restaurant is now being used at a grocery store. Try this exercise go look at your bank account from 6 months ago add up how much you spent on going out to eat, fast foods, extras like coffee, ice cream, and your grocery bill look at all food and beverages. I bet if you look at the raw numbers it is very close to what you were spending it's just now most of it is going to groceries now instead of all those little extras we forgot about when we werent taking care of our bodies.

sullus

this is my thought on why it seems to cost more. First you are buying more groceries than before. Second you are spending less going out to eat which once again will drive up your apparent grocery costs. Last, if you normally spend $30-$40 going out to eat on one meal in the past I bet you are going out to eat less now so that $30-40 that you wouldnt have noticed because it was spent at a restaurant is now being used at a grocery store. Try this exercise go look at your bank account from 6 months ago add up how much you spent on going out to eat, fast foods, extras like coffee, ice cream, and your grocery bill. I bet if you look at the raw numbers it is very close to what you were spending it's just now most of it is going to groceries now instead of all those little extras we forgot about when we werent taking care of our bodies.

Agreed. Family of 4 that would eat out 3-4 meals a weekend (fri restaurant, sat sandwich shop lunch, restaurant dinner, sinday breakfast), and that alone was costing about $300 a weekend.

Sure my grocery bill went up about $50 a week, but it's still costing me $250 less, Net.

SamDanielleB

It'll also pay off in the long run with lower insurance bills and medical costs

FettsLady

Eating Healthy is expensive. This is a myth.

4 Quarter Pounder with cheese meals = +/- $28

I can make the same 4 meals at home with healthier options for about $6

Yes. Exactly. I have found that making meals from scratch SIGNIFICANTLY reduces the cost. We stay away from prepackaged anything!

redraidergirl2009

But if you want those burgers to be healthy you have to pay more for leaner hamburger, better buns and good veggies! Lean hamburger in Illinois is about $6.00 lb.

Or you can make burgers out of something besides beef. Hold on, I know this might blow some minds, but a hamburger doesn't have to be beef.

Tme2change

When you buy in season foods or buy locally (non imported foods) you'll save more. Definitely try not to stay away from prepackaged things as suggested from others, those are bad and can contain hidden preservatives/additives to keep them shelf stable.

tekwriter

I agree that it is more expensive. If you buy top quality food that prepares easily. It is a lot of work to plan healthy food and do all the prep that is required for the less expensive alternatives. Although it is worth it in the long run.

sullus

But if you want those burgers to be healthy you have to pay more for leaner hamburger, better buns and good veggies! Lean hamburger in Illinois is about $6.00 lb.

On the east coast 93/7 Ground Beef is around $3.50/lb

Tme2change

Here in NY Lean 93/7 ground turkey runs 4.50 a pound when seasoned well even my coworker today thought my taco meat was beef

keith0373

You don't have to buy organic, monk picked, special foods to be healthy. Whole grains, lean meat, eggs, frozen veggies and fruit are all equally nutritious and don't cost a lot.

This!

ay1978pa

It might be a little bit more expensive but not by much. Things that I find helpful:

1. Buy in bulk (Costco).
2. Shop in budget store chains (Aldi and Lidl might not carry foie gras but they are great for staples)
3. Look for deals and offers. It involves gathering information and going to multiple stores. Then again, if you find a good deal on chicken breasts, buy in bulk and freeze.
4. Cook in bulk and freeze your meals. Leftover home cooked meals are great for week nights.
5. Invest in a large freezer. You can find a cheap/free one on Craigslist/Gumtree and the likes.
6. Buy frozen veggies and fruit. They are second best to fresh
7. Stock up on spices. This might set you back at first but they last a long time and add variety to meals.
8. Plan your menu for the week (breakfast, lunches if you pack your own, dinners, snacks, desserts) and only buy what you need. This way you save money, don't waste food and don't have food surplus around the house.
9. Grow your own if you have an opportunity to do so. Fresh herbs and veggies can be grown all summer long. Even if you don't have a garden you can build a compact herb garden out of a wooden pallet: http://lifeonthebalcony.com/how-to-turn-a-pallet-into-a-garden/

Lieann22

I'm uk based.

I buy my meat from the butchers - this weekend I got 14 chicken breasts for £20 which I was really pleased with. You can grab a bargain on fruit and veg on market stalls with the "£1 a bowl" option. I also but cheap beef cuts and make my own mice / burgers / meatballs.

The only things I really get is household stuff from the super market and sometimes the odd bit of shopping. I can easily feed myself and my husband on £50.

I also get tesco value porridge oats 75p a kilo

1jobean

Most people dont think twice about buying a car that has lots of options or a house that has more square footage or even a cute outfit to wear when they go out. I would rather cut those things back and be healthy.

1jobean

Wanted to add bypass surgery, blood pressure meds, dr appts those are expensive

mgore0404

In the end the cost of not eating healthy is more expensive. You could end up with thousand's of dollars in medical bills just because of not eating healthy. The cost of your life is worth the money you spend on your own body !!

cmriverside

I eat my full day's nutritional quota of 1700 calories and all my basic nutritional needs (vitamins, minerals etc.) on $5-6 a day.


If I ate $5 of chips, McDonald's burgers and Coke, I would be seriously lacking in fiber, potassium, calcium, protein, Vit B, Vit A, magnesium, Vit C, and who knows how many other nutrients.

Oh! But I'd have plenty of poor quality fats, sodium and sugar. So....

And it would be harder to lose weight without fulfilling my body's need for all those things.

chellec23

I'm in the US and I agree that it is costlier to buy all healthy things than to get less healthier and pre-packaged food. For example, ground beef is cheaper than ground turkey. Pasta is cheap, but not healthy. If I substitute quinoa for pasta, it does cost more. Plus vegetables. I buy frozen broccoli florets a lot ($1.38/bag) because we love broccoli. I use 1-4 bags when I cook depending on what I'm cooking and how much leftovers I want to end up with. Ramen noodles are dirt cheap but unhealthy. Can you name something healthy that can feed you as much as ramen for the same price? I can't think of anything so if anyone knows anything please tell me! (Other than dried beans!)

chellec23

I eat my full day's nutritional quota of 1700 calories and all my basic nutritional needs (vitamins, minerals etc.) on $5-6 a day.


If I ate $5 of chips, McDonald's burgers and Coke, I would be seriously lacking in fiber, potassium, calcium, protein, Vit B, Vit A, magnesium, Vit C, and who knows how many other nutrients.

Oh! But I'd have plenty of poor quality fats, sodium and sugar. So....

And it would be harder to lose weight without fulfilling my body's need for all those things.

I would be interested in seeing your food diary, so i can get ideas

Lieann22

In the end the cost of not eating healthy is more expensive. You could end up with thousand's of dollars in medical bills just because of not eating healthy. The cost of your life is worth the money you spend on your own body !!

Thats part of the problem of obesity over here - we don't have to pay those bills, we have the NHS which gives us free medical care.... which some people take advantage of. I know a lady who had a gastric bypass free on the nhs because she was depressed, and another who got new boobs for the same reason......so thats where my taxes go

chocobunny122

You don't have to buy organic, monk picked, special foods to be healthy. Whole grains, lean meat, eggs, frozen veggies and fruit are all equally nutritious and don't cost a lot.

Exactly! You don't really need organic foods, it doesn't really affect your health in anyway its just kind of a fad. All the money you would have spent on junk food is equal to the healthy foods. In fact, I spend less money eating healthy since all I am buying is fruit, veggies, yogurt, and meat. That's it! No processed foods. A bag of chips is about $4 here in California, well I ca get a bag of apples for the same price. So no, eating healthy does not cost more if that's all your buying.

sammielealea

I think that people confuse themselves when it comes to the "cost " of eating healthy. The key is planning and organizing! Do your research about what's on sale or less expensive at certain markets/stores, and meal plan accordingly. If you think that you need to be eating certain things to be healthy, of course that could get more expensive. If you do your research about what healthy, good for you options are within your budget and meal plan around that, your dollar is going to go much farther.

joleenl

I seriously think it all balances out. Fresh fruit and veggies are expensive but you can offset the cost by cooking at home instead of eating out. An example of how eating healthy can save money take salad dressing - oil/vinegar combos are way cheaper then store bought dressing. Whole grains and beans are cheap if you buy them unprepared. Like Steel cut oats for example, I buy a huge box at costco that lasts like 4 months of breakfast for 2 - 5 days a week. The box is like $10. Thats pennies a serving. Even with fruit and milk my breakfast is probably under a $1 a serving. I think the trick to making healthy eating affordable is too prepare it at home, buy it on sale, and be sure there is little to no waste. For example if you buy a flat of tomatoes on sale and can't eat them all before they rot - cut them up and freeze them.

serenitygranted11

I agree and i'm in the US! 6 dollars for a salad and 3 for a big mac!

andrewjuu

The original poster mentioned junk food as costing less, not necessarily eating out junk food. You can't really compare the cost of eating at MCD's to the cost of a healthy meal you prepare at home. Canned veggies (junk food imo) cost less then fresh veggies. I think that is the salient point. The companies are keeping the cost of the canned, processed foods lower than the cost to buy fresh alternatives, by a lot. But imo that is going to be up to the individual to solve, via education & making wise choices. The alternative is getting our gov't & politicians involved & do we really want that? I sure don't!