Why is eating healthy so darn expensive?

Maybe it seems more expensive because you started eating meat instead of white flour. Meat costs more than wheat. Eating healthily, eating comparable foods, is only more expensive if you aren't cooking.

Sometimes it is, some times it isn't. We purchase all of our meats from a local butcher and its much better for you (all grass fed) and its significantly cheaper. Not to mention I'm all for KEEPING IT LOCAL!

Have you thought about a garden? I know thats seasonal for fresh but we grow tomatoes, corn, green beans, bell peppers, jalapeño peppers, zucchini, squash and even raspberries, blueberries & strawberries. Sounds like a lot but its really easy just plant, water and watch it all grow. Then when it starts to roll in you freeze, can or make salsa/spaghetti sauce/stewed tomatoes and so on. Last year we harvested 90 ears of corn, I blanch them and freeze and we enjoy fresh corn on the cob all year long.

How about meal planning? Plan your weekly meals according to sales that offered in your stores. Sure you can coupon, and I use to be BIG time into it. However I won't waste my time with it now, maybe for paper products or diapers but the foods that coupons are offered for are HIGHLY processed and J U N K!!!

One last thing, remember a bundle of bananas is half of the price of a bag of chips. Typically a package of chicken or some filets of fish from the deli are cheaper than frozen entrees. Be mindful of what your putting into your body. "YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR"

GOOD LUCK!!

For veggies I'd see if there's a farmers market type setup nearby you since Spring is here. Generally it seems like I spend half as much on fresh veggies there compared to from the grocery store. Plus, most have a section for veggies that are almost ready to go bad that's even cheaper. Buy those up and freeze them yourself. During the winter months I go with frozen veggies from the grocery store, particularly Birds Eye brand which seem to be slightly better in my opinion.

As far as fish is concern, Wal-mart has super cheap frozen fish. WAY cheaper than buying fresh. My personal favorite is Swai. Big planks with low calories!

I rarely use coupons anymore since they don't make many for healthy products. I have found that if I go grocery shopping early in the morning I have a better chance of finding meats on sale. Also, I buy the bigger pkgs since they are cheaper by the lb and I break them up into smaller amts when I get home and freeze them. Try to competitor shop. It takes more time, but Walmart is not the only place that does it now. Shop places like Aldi and Save-A-Lot. Not all of their products are great, but a good bit of them are. Don't get discouraged. There are ways to get around the high prices, but you have to take the time to do so.

It is expensive/ Add in food allergies and its a paycheck! I spend over almost 1K at the market every month. Its the only way really!

Its not expensive. Proper portions and learning how to shop differently and buy the right things instead of the wrong things. stop buying name brands look for the sales pay attention to what you are buying. Plan meals out before you shop. Oh...and dont even bother trying to shop healthy for yourself and Not healthy for everyone else. Its a whole house solution.

There are certainly some added expense to eating healthy, but you should also be counting food costs to see what you're spending per meal. I have made tweaks to my budget and cut costs in eating out or other entertainment activities to afford the change in food costs. Understand that there is also an increase in food expenses SIMPLY because of the economy and gas prices etc.

Certainly things like Doritos on sale for $2.50 seems like a good deal, but for $3.00-4.00 you can buy apples for near the same price!! I can buy a bag of carrots for $2.50 per bag...and when veggies are on sale such as peppers etc, I'll cut them up and freeze them in bags to use in dishes later. So the reality is there are not "Dollars" worth of differences... where you start to see huge differences is in the Organic section, and processed organic foods. IF a food is processed I still attempt to avoid it period. processed is processed is processed... and sometimes, being organic doesn't necessarily make it the best.

With that said, there are things you can do, coupons and if you can't find any contact the Manufacturer!! I do, and I receive coupons religiously when I contact them and ask for them.

Since I have eliminated things like dairy, gluten, and a few other things in my diet, I no longer buy those items and therefore am saving money on those items regardless. If you can look for bulk stores, places that sell items in bulk that will help to defer the costs.

When purchasing meats, definitely wait on the deals if you can or look for items marked down. During college I worked for a deli and you'd be surprised at the misconception American's have about meats. If a meat is browning...it does NOT make it bad. Some fine restaurants age their meats for WEEKS!!! Then serve it. Browning of red meats is simply due to exposure to sun and air. Now with items such as chicken and pork certainly more concern has to be taken because of the illness that can come from bad meats. However, expiration dates were set by the federal government for removal from a shelf...it does not determine that the product has actually expired. Such things as eggs, actually when fridgerated can last a couple weeks past their expiration date. USE your nose and well common sense.

Additionally, buying frozen veggies can prove to be cheaper than fresh and if you can't afford fresh -- frozen is the next best thing...avoid things canned at all costs...they are NOT healthy!

Since I opt to try to really eat healthy I do look for things organic but only if they fall on the DIRTY DOZEN list.. (google it), it's a list of fruits and veggies that are receive the most heavy use of pesticides. I don't buy everything organic...but certainly these items.

Again, its about good planning, and keeping an eye on deals as they come along!

Ha.. switch to organic.. then lets talk...

But here is your answer in a nut shell..

Because healthy foods can spoil- means less income/less profit-
Because people will pay more for healhty foods- if totinos pizza is more then $1.00 do you buy them?? (I woudln't when I used to buy them!) But you sure will pay 1.69 a pound for tomatoes!
Because processed foods are addicting and not filling, which means you will purcahse more of them. (added sugar and salt is *really* what people like in those foods)

Wanna know why organic so expensive?

no hormones = less milk/eggs produced and less meat on the animals
no GMO = more spolied crops in the feilds
+ all of the above

Every have steak in Amish country? Totally different and so very good!

of course you will eat less of the raw whole healthy organic foods, once you teach yourself how to eat properly, so it should settle down a bit. Plus there are less expensive ways to get these foods. I joined a co-op and shop at farms themsevles.

hang in there! over time you'll learn when to buy ie certain stores do their fish specials on certain days. And don't forget to look at a bag of spinach for example and then divide how many servings will be in it and then you'll get an actual price per serving and you'll be happy with the results. When I buy salmon I do it and think hey that cost me a couple of quid for me and my daughter if I make a brown rice pasta with salmon in it. and don't forget those damn crap carbs got you to a place that didn't make you happy!
good luck- we are in this together.
Karime