Is healthy food really more expensive?

ClumsyArtist
ClumsyArtist Posts: 40 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I keep hearing online and in conversation with friends and coworkers that it's so much harder to eat healthy because healthy foods are more expensive. I am torn on the subject because I know produce can be expensive and can depend on your area. But I also know that when you eat healthy, you buy less junk foods and maybe even less food overall. I'm curious, what are your thoughts? It is a cop out or it is eating healthy really cost prohibitive?
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Replies

  • Carnivor0us
    Carnivor0us Posts: 1,752 Member
    It's not cost prohibitive if you plan it right.

    It also depends on what you consider 'healthy'. Some folks won't eat any produce that's not fresh, and that can add up. I eat a lot of frozen veggies, with the exception of a big bag of spinach I buy once a week.

    Eggs are cheap, and so is chicken and fish.

    If you're not an organic, free-range-grass-fed only type of person, good food can be really cheap.
  • abbylg1983
    abbylg1983 Posts: 177 Member
    I think it's pretty expensive to eat healthy. You could buy chips, crackers, helper meal foods, etc. at the dollar store. Meat and fresh produce gets really expensive, especially if you eat a lot of it. My grocery bill has more than doubled since I've been on a mission to make dinners and eat more vegetables (although, on the flip side, I do spend less on eating out). But I'd not argue that eating well will cost more money.
  • ced1389
    ced1389 Posts: 96 Member
    I think it's a copout. Yes, fresh food goes bad more quickly, but that's why it's good for you! I completely agree that if you're buying healthy food, you're consuming less and it will even out.

    To be totally honest, when I was buying pizza rolls and poptarts and doritos (whatever it was), I was also going through it a lot faster. So just because I was spending less per shopping trip, I was running out of food and would end up having to go back. Now I buy all my fresh stuff and do all of my shopping once a week. We never run out inbetween and I'm actually spending LESS on groceries than I did before.

    I think another culprit to this crazy idea that eating healthy is "so expensive" is all that lean cuisine, healthy frozen meals stuff. Not saying they're a bad choice, but you spend 3 bucks a pop when you could make the same thing yourself for less AND ACTUALLY BE FULL AFTER! Crazy, I know.

    Food for thought.
  • dym123
    dym123 Posts: 1,670 Member
    For me it kind of evened out, yes I'm spending more for healthier foods, but I eat out less and instead of hitting the stores after work, I go straight home to workout.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,876 Member
    I spend about the same...
  • LAW_714
    LAW_714 Posts: 258
    I think there are a lot of factors involved.

    If you live in an urban food desert, fresh fruits and veggies may not be as available to you. And it's probably never going to be cheaper than McDonald's value meal dollar menu.

    From my personal experience (which of course is context based), I tend to find produce in the grocery store to be one of the cheaper things relative to many processed foods, certainly cheaper than packaged cereal or chips or Stouffers meals, etc.

    But, again, it's going to be based on availability and what exactly you're buying (and where.)
  • redhead1910
    redhead1910 Posts: 304 Member
    I spend about $80 a week on organic groceries, but that's for me AND my boyfriend. It is totally possible to eat healthy on a budget. The only thing that even makes my bill more then $60 is the vast amount of protein supplements and vitamins I have to buy lol.
  • GRUNO
    GRUNO Posts: 98
    For me it kind of evened out, yes I'm spending more for healthier foods, but I eat out less and instead of hitting the stores after work, I go straight home to workout.

    I find this is true for me as well.

    I also think people tend to make false comparisons. They'll say things like I can get five dollar menu burgers for the price of a pound of apples. But what they don't do is compare apples to apples. A jar of unsweetened applesauce is around $2.00. Or you can get a 5 pound bag of dry rice for the price of one or two of those hamburger helper/rice-a-roni meals. So, if you are buying whole foods to cook at home and skipping on the processed, ready made food you are likely going to spend less. It will certainly take more time to prepare food but it shouldn't really cost more.
  • magerum
    magerum Posts: 12,589 Member
    No.
  • kganc001
    kganc001 Posts: 317
    Personally, I don't go out to eat nearly as much and I make a lot of my meals at the beginning of the week. While the initial cost may be a little high ($60-$70 trip every 2 weeks), the cost per meal is significantly cheaper than before I changed my eating habits.

    I don't think it's a cop out, I think it's more of a lack of knowledge or understanding about the most cost effective products to buy for your goals.
  • GRUNO
    GRUNO Posts: 98

    If you live in an urban food desert, fresh fruits and veggies may not be as available to you. And it's probably never going to be cheaper than McDonald's value meal dollar menu.

    I don't disagree with you that for many people fresh fruit is going to be pricey. But I don't consider fast food burgers a valid comparison--canned and frozen fruits and veggies can be a very good option and the price per serving is likely going to be less than that burger.

    Then that gets me off on another issue--serving size--if people were eating proper servings of food they could get more meals out of less food.
  • toutmonpossible
    toutmonpossible Posts: 1,580 Member
    It is more expensive -- compare the price of milk that hasn't been made with cows treated with antibiotics with the regular kind. Good fresh produce and meat and seafood are expensive. Still, you should try to eat as healthily as possible. More broadly, follow political initiatives that challenge subsidies to companies that profit from producing unhealthy products, such as high fructose corn syrup, which gets added to many processed foods.

    If you belong to a food coop, that might net better prices. But that requires organization and commitment.
  • PandaCustard
    PandaCustard Posts: 204 Member
    My husband and I have totally different eating habits. I try to eat very healthily; he eats a lot of pizza rolls and junk food. We go half and half on our grocery bill, and I notice I spend significantly more on his groceries than mine for an equal amount (and I have celiac disease, which is effin' expensive). So no, in my opinion, I don't think eating healthy is more expensive; quite the opposite. I'm so glad he approached me this week asking me to help him eat healthier... saves on grocery bills and his health! :)

    EDIT: Honestly, I think it depends on the area. Fresh produce in my area is pretty cheap.
  • jessichri
    jessichri Posts: 81 Member
    If I don't have time off to go to the farmers market for veggies, yes its much more expensive (at least in my area). I can definitely attest to the fact that it is much cheaper to buy a frozen pizza than to make your own healthier version or to buy a boxed meal versus creating your own.
    That being said, if you plan it just right you could probably save some money if you don't need to buy too many ingredients for each meal. That's where it gets you. You think its cheaper to make your own spaghetti sauce until you realize the tomatoes are 2.99 a pound, and basil and oregano is 99 cents each, etc...
    But as others have said, it depends on your definition of healthy and how much processed/pre packaged food you intend to eliminate. I just buy healthy when I can and not worry about it if I have to eat pb&j and chef boyardee for a week when Im broke. :)
  • Meg_Shirley_86
    Meg_Shirley_86 Posts: 275 Member
    I kinda think it's either a copout, or that they really don't know their options and aren't willing to get a little creative to make their budget work. While you get more calories for your buck with junk, you get better nutrition if you avoid it.
    I feel like the food we eat and feed our families is just about the most important investment you can make.
    Since we began eating healthier, we've saved a ton, but it does mean that I make two trips to the farmer's market each week and prepare most of our food myself. Even if it did cost more to eat healthy, I'd cut back elsewhere (not that there's much to cut back on!).
  • jakesfitness
    jakesfitness Posts: 123 Member
    i think it kind of depends on you. some people buy all Organica lots of fancy ingredients, and top of the line name brand type stuff. But you can buy good fresh food and spend less money. It just like bying any kind of groceries, if you smart about what you buy then you dont spend as much.

    also agree with everyone saying its cheaper than going out... and you also know what your eating when you make it at home.
  • frugalafterfifty
    frugalafterfifty Posts: 240 Member
    I don't think so. I buy in-season and bulk of items and either freeze, can or dehydrate what I can. It all goes into how much effort you want to put into it. For example: I'm hooked on cauliflower and egg whites that I make into a crust. Everytime I see cauliflower on sale I'll pick some up and freeze it. I can get a case of banana's for less than $12. I'll freeze them and have them for smoothies, banana oat cookies and bread for months. Better than paying 58 cents or whatever for a pound.

    I used to spend a lot of money on chips, cookies, tastycakes, etc. Now that goes to healthy food.
  • mrsriisky
    mrsriisky Posts: 129 Member
    It just depends on how you eat. I find that I spend more on groceries when I'm eating healthy because I love to have fresh produce and more variety to keep me engaged, but I spend much less on eating out. So it balances out for me.
  • jaimrlx
    jaimrlx Posts: 426 Member
    It is more expensive, considering I used to spend $80 every month in groceries that was mainly junk food. Think: 12 pack ramen.

    Now I go to the store every week to buy veggies, meats, etc; it's about $30 every time I go. However, the money is spread out, so it's not bad for my personal budget, though everyone budgets differently.

    Veggies are just as cheap as a box of Mac & Cheese in my area, but lean meats? Holy cow. Good cheeses, organic food, etc.. all super high priced. If you have a Trader Joe's, go there. It's SO amazingly cheap (for healthy food) and awesome.

    Portion control is the main bit. Teach yourself that, and you'll be eating less of the healthy stuff and won't have to spend $200 in healthy foods every month. One box of Hamburger Helper, I can eat that in one sitting. An entire bag of veg takes me 3 days.
  • samlankford
    samlankford Posts: 334
    some things are more but you just have to know what to buy and where... get seasonal produce, or frozen veggies... sometimes I will get organic but rarely...

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