STOP saying healthy food is more expensive

But hamburger helper is so cheap, hahahahahahah

Right? Because cooking that pound of hamburger into patties and serving it with a head of steamed fresh broccoli! You could add rice (cooked with chicken stock saved from the previous night when you boiled chicken for a dinner) and a few herbs or even noodles. It would STILL be less to feed a family of 4 with fresh ingredients than that box of hamburger helper. The only thing you are buying is a box of additives, often times disregarding the need for fresh nutrient-dense vegetables.

This one is easy, because I just bought some broccoli actually.

Ground Beef: $3 a pound
Hamburger helper: $1


Ground Beef: $3 a pound
Broccoli:1.79, on sale
Well. So much for the noodles/rice.


I live in Hawaii. My produce is shipped from across the ocean. There is nothing *cheap* A grapefruit sets me back 2 dollars for ONE. One. A singular grapefruit. It will never be less expensive to buy fresh produce here.

yes but nutritionally, the brocoli - even though more expensive is - 100% good for the body; the hamburger helper is 0% good for the body. Looking at what will be better for your body is the brocoli, more expensive cost-wise, but the hamburger helper is more expensive nutritionally.

Oh. I thought we were discussing cost, not nutrition. I coulda sworn this was a discussion on cost.

But I do thank you for admitting that the 'healthy' food would be expensive, which is all I've ever said.

But hamburger helper is so cheap, hahahahahahah

Right? Because cooking that pound of hamburger into patties and serving it with a head of steamed fresh broccoli! You could add rice (cooked with chicken stock saved from the previous night when you boiled chicken for a dinner) and a few herbs or even noodles. It would STILL be less to feed a family of 4 with fresh ingredients than that box of hamburger helper. The only thing you are buying is a box of additives, often times disregarding the need for fresh nutrient-dense vegetables.

This one is easy, because I just bought some broccoli actually.

Ground Beef: $3 a pound
Hamburger helper: $1


Ground Beef: $3 a pound
Broccoli:1.79, on sale
Well. So much for the noodles/rice.


I live in Hawaii. My produce is shipped from across the ocean. There is nothing *cheap* A grapefruit sets me back 2 dollars for ONE. One. A singular grapefruit. It will never be less expensive to buy fresh produce here.

yes but nutritionally, the brocoli - even though more expensive is - 100% good for the body; the hamburger helper is 0% good for the body. Looking at what will be better for your body is the brocoli, more expensive cost-wise, but the hamburger helper is more expensive nutritionally.

what you are missing from your equation is this- i serving of broccoli is 30 calories, whereas a serving of hamburger helper is (say for argument) 800.....one is a meal for $1, the other barely qualifies as a side dish.

I secretly feel like some of these people eat 300 calorie meals, when for me 300 calories is a snack or a side or a meal I'm real upset I paid for.

Living in Perth (Australia) The most expensive state in the country and 10th most expensive in the world...yes eating healthy IS expensive.

My weekly shopping cost about $70 and that is JUST lunches and snacks for 5 days.

It's doable ... buy in bulk meat and dairy in bulk; this save money for the fresh fruits and veggies. I buy yogurt from Whole Foods, because yogurt and kefir is good for WAY, WAY longer than the sell by date (not that it lasts that long ... no lie, I've eaten it a year after the date, and it tasted fine and I was fine ... seriously, I don't have a very strong stomach, so for me not to get sick is saying something) ... I buy my cottage cheese when it's half price, I clear the shelf and get a couple of rainchecks for the limit. My meat (usually chicken thighs and ground buffalo) comes from BJ's (a big box store, like Sam's) ..., I'm lucky that I only libe about 5-10 min (depending on traffic) from there, so I go often (but you can totally portion and freeze stuff)... I spend a bit more because I like have berries every day, a 3lb carton of strawberries is $5.49 (other berries are cheaper there too, so I buy all different types when the have them) ... a giant tub of organic arugala is only $4.99 ... I could go on and on ...

I get my veggies from a local farm market-type store ... granted, most of the produce needs to be eaten with in max 5 days of buying it, so I have to go twice a week, but that's not bad because, especially for the fruit, it's ripe and ready to eat (Don't get me started, I hate the fact that some stores sell (very) unripe avocados and green bananas, mangoes, and papayas ... When I buy something, that means I want to eat it NOW, lol) ... And if you're thinking "Oh, I can't go to the store twice a week for produce ... " Well, suck it up ... I'm legally blind (I have Stargardt's), thus cannot (no longer, used to be able to) drive, and I manage to get my butt there ....

EDIT: Sorry for the typos, the whole "Legally Blind" thing makes them kind of difficult to spot.

This one is easy, because I just bought some broccoli actually.

Ground Beef: $3 a pound
Hamburger helper: $1


Ground Beef: $3 a pound
Broccoli:1.79, on sale
Well. So much for the noodles/rice.


I live in Hawaii. My produce is shipped from across the ocean. There is nothing *cheap* A grapefruit sets me back 2 dollars for ONE. One. A singular grapefruit. It will never be less expensive to buy fresh produce here.

And, on that note, that ground beef and broccoli isn't enough for me or my husband. I'm putting down 1800 calories a day (to lose weight) and that comes to what...300? Add in a cup of rice and I've got 400 calories? I eat twice that at dinner. It adds up.

Yes, the cost of living in Hawaii is much more expensive. But I don't see why adding a box of Hamburger helper is more expensive than using more nutritionally dense ingredients. (Yesterday I just purchased a pound of 80/20 ground chuck for $2.49 and a pound of broccoli florets for $1.50, plenty of extra money for noodles and or rice).

Obviously I used the hamburger helper as a model. There are plenty of ways to shop this way and create interesting healthy meals 3 times a day, even at 1800 calories/day. How you expend those calories matters what you purchase matters. It's as simple as that.

Now back to Hawaii, I hope that you spend some of your grocery money supporting local sustainable farmers. Mono-culture farming has taken it's toll on your food costs.

I spend $100 dollars a week to feed two people with so called healthy food. I spent less when we didn't eat in that manner. It is really just that simple. It's cheaper. Is it better? No. Is it cheaper? Yes. I'm really unsure of how any argument can be made against this, without arguing for the sake of arguing. The just add milk junk is cheaper.

A serving (which is only 1 cup) of Beef Stroganoff Hamburger Helper (prepared) is 230 calories.

I wouldn't know, I don't eat it. Looks like crap.

Still it wasn't a reference to hamburger helper, but a reference to the mentality of "Vegetables are worth the extra cost because of nutrients!" When, frankly, I need some calories too.

Couple of thoughts--

When cutting out sugary'/carby foods and choosing good, clean food, lean meat, veggies, proteins, limiting my fruits, et cetera I found my appetite decreased. For myself, I can eat fairly inexpensively and make wise choices and cut out all the crap and not put myself too far behind financially.

HOWEVER-- in the real world where I live, with eight kids living at home, still in various stages of growth spurt (which equals amazing kid hunger) all at the same time, it is unbelievably expensive to focus on only healthy food. A bag of apples costs twice as much as a bag of chips... But goes just as quickly!

Having said that-- I am still trying, but I must take issue with the original poster. It is not as easy and pitter-pat as you'd lead others to believe. So you and your husband can get by at the ripe old age of 23?? Super.

Try having a couple of kids after you grow up and feeding a large family and get back to me when you do.

Until then, you may wish to descend from your high horse and consider that you just may not have all the answers.

Some thoughts, not only directed to you, but to people with these attitudes in general... why would you have so many kids if you can't afford to feed them proper healthy food? Someone who puts their money into their health is not on a high horse, they are probably someone who has made smart decisions. Like we're suppose to feel sorry for you because you went out and had too many kids?

My husband was making well into a 6 figure salary. And then the recession hit. Not only did he lose his job, but a week later we lost our house in a fire. House gone. After our savings was gone, so were our cars. And our food. Gas. Livelihoods.

My "poor decision maker" of a husband found someone who would let us use a shop behind their house and literally built us a one room apartment in it with his own two hands where we lived for 18 months while we replaced jobs, cars, and savings, and most importantly...credit scores! No insulation, a wall unit a/c (and I live in Texas!), no stove, oven, or dishwasher. A bed, a crib, a set of bunk beds, a couch, a fridge, toilet, a sink, and a workbench that doubled as a countertop, 2 adults, 3 kids, and a dog. In 600 wallless square feet built for horses (which thankfully never lived there.)

We weren't even living paycheck to paycheck. More like odd-job to hopefully-there's-another-odd-job. No help from the government until a case worker lied for us and subsequently lost his job. So, yeah, my kids and husband and I had a rough couple of years. I know what it's like to cry over an McDonald's ice cream sundae because it's been SO long since you've had any sort of luxury. I know what it's like to go without food so my kids can eat

And you know what? I pray that never happens to you. But it might give you a little empathy to experience the "other side." God knows I was an entitled, oblivious, arrogant child 5 years ago.

$30 for 2 people for a week?! Where do you live?! I spend around $50 on produce every week for my family of 4. $60 on protein, and then you have to add in the dairy and bread items. I buy only items that are on sale (except bananas - they never go on sale!) & use coupons when I can find them, and I still spend around $150/week for 2 adults and 2 small kids. Definitely would be cheaper to live on chicken patties & Kraft mac & cheese.

Bananas often get red or blue taped, when they are getting too ripe, and are substantially cheaper then. I only eat organically grown bananas, which I don't see taped for clearance very often, but when I do, I buy them all, take them home, peel them, and freeze them in zip lock bags, to be made into shakes and smoothies later.

And you know what? I pray that never happens to you. But it might give you a little empathy to experience the "other side." God knows I was an entitled, oblivious, arrogant child 5 years ago.

I hear you there. A bit of humble pie is rough to digest... but a valuable learning experience typically. I wish no one had to make choices like "I've been blowing green **** out of my head for 3 weeks... do I not eat for a week and go to doctor or skip doctor and eat for a week?" Reality is, unless you've climbed to the point of having enough invested AND saved that you could live out the rest of your life without issue, you can still end up down at the bottom again (and stupid people can even with savings and investments.) I've been in the black and far into the red several times in my life, one of my greatest fears is falling to the point again where I couldn't afford to feed myself and family... now that I have kids its pure terror.

I honestly just bought $30 worth of fresh veggies, whole grain bread, meats, milk and cheese. I know it will last my hubby and I at least an entire week....


So, please stop with the excuses that eating healthy is too expensive. Grow a garden, pack some carrots, stay up an extra 10 mins to prepare a meal for the next day. Jeepers Creepers, quit complaining and research what groceries you have locally and what seasons good food comes in season/what freezes for winter when fruits and veggies go up in price.

$30 worth of food. Well then you didnt buy any watermelons. 1 Sheety azz watermelon where I live is 7 friggin dollars. 7 dollars for a piece of garbage (probably GMO) fruit thats white and pinkish (not a deep red) when you slice it open and tastes like feet.

All food is expensive, it just so happens that foods that are better quality do cost a bit more per unit. So when are you coming to my house to excavate and build planting boxes in my yard and begin installing a garden? Cause apparently you do that for free as with your suggestion it doesnt cost me a thing!!! Thanks so much for offering to do this for me and everyone on MFP. You are a lifesaver and your generosity is greatly appreciated!!

:flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou:

Some people are making some really great points about calorie content vs vitamin/nutrient content. Definitely something to consider.

I honestly just bought $30 worth of fresh veggies, whole grain bread, meats, milk and cheese. I know it will last my hubby and I at least an entire week....


So, please stop with the excuses that eating healthy is too expensive. Grow a garden, pack some carrots, stay up an extra 10 mins to prepare a meal for the next day. Jeepers Creepers, quit complaining and research what groceries you have locally and what seasons good food comes in season/what freezes for winter when fruits and veggies go up in price.

$30 worth of food. Well then you didnt buy any watermelons. 1 Sheety azz watermelon where I live is 7 friggin dollars. 7 dollars for a piece of garbage (probably GMO) fruit thats white and pinkish (not a deep red) when you slice it open and tastes like feet.

All food is expensive, it just so happens that foods that are better quality do cost a bit more per unit. So when are you coming to my house to excavate and build planting boxes in my yard and begin installing a garden? Cause apparently you do that for free as with your suggestion it doesnt cost me a thing!!! Thanks so much for offering to do this for me and everyone on MFP. You are a lifesaver and your generosity is greatly appreciated!!

:flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou:

Where on earth do you live that watermelon is so much? I love me some watermelon, so I can't afford to live there. lol

Where on earth do you live that watermelon is so much? I love me some watermelon, so I can't afford to live there. lol

Indianapolis.

Seriously. $7 here. And they are pure crap. I wouldnt pay $2-3 for them and they are one of my favorites too!

I find your post to be quite negative rather than positive like it could have been.

I honestly just bought $30 worth of fresh veggies, whole grain bread, meats, milk and cheese. I know it will last my hubby and I at least an entire week....

I calculated how much it would cost to get mac and cheese and chips and soda and crappy foods, I could get about the same amount of food, but a bag of chips goes so fast and it's not filling and makes you feel uber icky. I know that if I bought $30 of junk food, fast food, quick meals - I would not be able to sustain more than a few days between two people.


So, please stop with the excuses that eating healthy is too expensive. Grow a garden, pack some carrots, stay up an extra 10 mins to prepare a meal for the next day. Jeepers Creepers, quit complaining and research what groceries you have locally and what seasons good food comes in season/what freezes for winter when fruits and veggies go up in price.

As a broke college student, I can tell you that 30 dollars a week on healthy foods was just not doable for me. If I wanted to eat I had to really stretch my dollar into things that last for at least two weeks because I had a budget of 50 dollars a month for groceries.
So healthy food IS more expensive because you have to buy it more often. And it is pricier. There is no getting around it.

I like turtles.

YESSS!!!!