Why is eating healthier so darned expensive??
Chelle_D
Posts: 33
So I went grocery shopping yesterday and was SO proud of myself for selecting good choices. No comfort foods, no snacky sins, just what was on the list (a miracle in and of itself) and yogurt, fruits, and vegetables. Feeling pretty good about myself, I sauntered into the checkout line, and once the tally was calculated, I about had a coronary. What in the world???
Has anyone else come into contact with this dilemma? And if so, how have you combated eating healthy vs. the economic price crunch??
Has anyone else come into contact with this dilemma? And if so, how have you combated eating healthy vs. the economic price crunch??
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I find eating healthy cheaper. fresh chicken is cheaper than pre packaged crap, fresh veggies that are in season can cost next to nothing. Try buying in season and/or on sale food instead. I find eating healthy actually costs slightly less, as you are not paying for all the packaging or the marketing of the products.
Even if it costs slightly more, you will save thousands on future doctor bills and prescriptions. Pay a little more today, to save a bunch tomorrow.0 -
Do you have a Trader Joe's and/or Aldi close by? I spend a little extra gas/time every week to shop at Trader Joe's because their prices CANNOT be beat!0
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I figure we're going to pay that same money one way or another. Either we pay it up front for healthy living, or we pay it later in medical costs for health related problems that come with bad eating habits. I figure I'd rather pay it up front and have a good life.
Aside from that, my hubby and I watch for what's on sale, and stock up on the good stuff at reduced rates when we can.0 -
Try going to local farmers markets and buying produce from them. It's always cheaper for me!0
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I try to make as much for myself rather than buy convenience anything.
Salad - I buy the lettuce heads, wash, dry cut myself
Carrots - I buy whole ones and peel them myself
I don't by pre-packaged anything in produce.
I use dried beans to make beans - super cheap and good for you!
I buy the large containers of yogurt instead of those individual cups.
Bulk I guess is the way to go
I also look at it as a long term investment in my health.0 -
It may seem like more of an upfront cost but I have actually saved money by eating healthier..here's how:
-only drinking water so not buying juice, pop etc.
-not buying junkfood
-rarely eating out (gets sooo pricey)
I just tell myself that even if it seems more expensive to live a healthier lifestyle that it is sooo worth it.0 -
yes and i think it's absurd. I started using coupons to save some. it helps. my last trip to Kroger I could not believe how expensive fresh fruit and veggies are. And I wasn't in the organic section. $1 for a green bell pepper? please.
but everyone before me is correct, it's worth it in the end.0 -
No doubt! Some of the staples are nice and cheap though, like brocolli and baby carrots!
Also, I'm eating (no joke) HALF what I was before. So the food lasts much longer. So, even though it's more expensive, it balances out due to the decreased quantity. AKA: I'm no longer shoveling food into my face hole.
haha
It's all worth it, anyway, right? 0 -
YES!!!! Eating healthy, buying fresh produce, etc...is more expensive! Here are a few tips I've come up with. First, tell yourself it's worth the extra $ to be healthy! Second, I've become one of those crazy coupon people! I get the Sunday paper every week and cut coupons. I've even started exchanging ones I don't use with coworkers. If you're not into coupon clipping, you can also usually find printable coupons for the more expensive items by looking online. There are a million blogs that track online coupons. I save an average of $60 each time I go to the grocery store (twice/month). Obviously there aren't coupons for every item, but, for example, I never buy yogurt without a coupon because there are ALWAYS coupons for some kind of yogurt. Hopefully others will have additional ideas, but this is how I've combatted the sticker shock!0
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There IS ways around this. Buy yourself a good digital scale, and some snack baggies. I always buy a big bags of stuff and then portion out EVERYTHING. I do a lot of pretzels, nuts, strawberry shredded wheat, chicken breasts, etc etc... If you buy in bulk and then package stuff yourself its a LOT better and cheaper. You can also write the calories and fats on the food you eat too. This way, I know EXACTLY what im eating, and can log it much better. Also, if you go to farmers markets and stuff in the summer, you save a TON of money on fresh stuff!0
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yes and i think it's absurd. I started using coupons to save some. it helps. my last trip to Kroger I could not believe how expensive fresh fruit and veggies are. And I wasn't in the organic section. $1 for a green bell pepper? please.
$1 for a pepper less than what I pay. I find that cheep, that is about the price of a chocolate bar and it goes a lot further.0 -
Well the reason is that the healthy stuff doesn't "sell" as well as the "not-as-healthy" food. If more people bought the healthy food, would be cheaper. Also, the price of fuel is going up so that is increasing the costs. One of the big factors of that is produce as the stores have to pay to have it shipped to their distrubution centers then pay to have it shipped to the stores and due to the low shelf life of produce it is something that they can't order and have stockpiles of it. So if you notice, produce prices are going up.0
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Do you have a Trader Joe's and/or Aldi close by? I spend a little extra gas/time every week to shop at Trader Joe's because their prices CANNOT be beat!
Aldi and Trader Joe's are great. We have an Aldi and it saves us a lot of money on the staples. Wish we had a trader Joe's. We are hoping one will come soon.0 -
Mmmmmm NO! Why do people keep saying this? I only spend $100-$150 a month on groceries for 2 people, $30 is diet pepsi (hubby's vice not mine) so that's a "junk" food or non essential food of sorts. Unless you are buying organic buying healthy is CHEAP!!
I can even give you a list of everything I buy in a month if you need proof. A person on here asked about a month ago how I spent so little so I kept that info in a document since it took a little bit of time to figure out.0 -
I actually had the opposite happen. Now that I eat fresh meat and produce, I spend much less money than I did with the prepackaged and processed foods. Here are some ideas: Try bananas, apples, yogurt, string cheese. All those make cheap and healthy snacks. Brown rice and whole grain pastas make for inexpensive side dishes combined with fresh, frozen, or canned veggies. Always try out store brands, you'd be surprised how much they taste like the more expensive. And for meat, watch for sales and specials.0
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Personally I find healthy eating for myself far less costly. I imagine it depends on what you buy. I don't purchase much in pkgs as that gets costly. I'm starting to make my own Greek yogurt which is very very low cost and far tastier. mmmSo I went grocery shopping yesterday and was SO proud of myself for selecting good choices. No comfort foods, no snacky sins, just what was on the list (a miracle in and of itself) and yogurt, fruits, and vegetables. Feeling pretty good about myself, I sauntered into the checkout line, and once the tally was calculated, I about had a coronary. What in the world???
Has anyone else come into contact with this dilemma? And if so, how have you combated eating healthy vs. the economic price crunch??
I purchase fruits only in season, same with veggies, I purchase legumes but buy them in bulk, and soak and cook them up myself, same with any other dry products that have that potential (split peas, brown rice, any type of legumes etc.). If you've not tried purchasing by bulk it can make a world of difference.
Eating healthy food shouldn't cost more than over processed snack food like Cheeto's, boxes mac & cheese, cookies, candies etc. None of that will keep us satisfied so it may seem cheap when we buy it but it won't sustain us so I never see boxed macaroni as cheap. I know some on here feel it's cheap so they purchase it but it's processed and doesn't keep a child or an adult full or healthy.
I don't know all the food items you purchased but sometimes easing into new purchases can help in adapting your meals. Less meat, more legumes (wonderful protein!), meat on sale or butchers special etc.
Planning meals out ahead of time before shopping makes a world of difference for myself I've found! Cooking up foods, portioning and then freezing into individual servings works well.
Hope you find tricks that work for you as time goes on!:flowerforyou:0 -
yes and i think it's absurd. I started using coupons to save some. it helps. my last trip to Kroger I could not believe how expensive fresh fruit and veggies are. And I wasn't in the organic section. $1 for a green bell pepper? please.
$1 for a pepper less than what I pay. I find that cheep, that is about the price of a chocolate bar and it goes a lot further.
Yea, $1 is no big deal at all. 2 peppers, 2 chicken breasts and 2 cups of brown rice you have yourself a $6 dinner for 2. $3 meal with meat is a pretty good deal.0 -
this is right on and let me add a few things ever look at the price per lb of junk food? and tell me would you be fuller longer on a protion of chips or and apple Also if you need to save money buy larger package and repackage snack packs yourself those 100 cal pack are crazy expensive (look at Price pre lbs) buy fresh chicken and burger in bulk and freeze it.I find eating healthy cheaper. fresh chicken is cheaper than pre packaged crap, fresh veggies that are in season can cost next to nothing. Try buying in season and/or on sale food instead. I find eating healthy actually costs slightly less, as you are not paying for all the packaging or the marketing of the products.
Even if it costs slightly more, you will save thousands on future doctor bills and prescriptions. Pay a little more today, to save a bunch tomorrow.
remember its your health and your body and you're worth it0 -
Its spring garden time, get your seeds and plants in the ground. If you don't have the space or live in an apartment, consider participating in a community garden. A great place to start a community garden is in affiliation with a church or elementary school.0
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mmm...I think eating healthier is much cheaper! The only issue I had was that my produce was spoiling quickly which = a waste of money. So now 75% of the veggies I buy are frozen, but a big bag of frozen spinach/peppers/beans at trader joes is only $1.99 and they last forever. You dont HAVE to buy organic if you cant afford it...0
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Here are some tricks I do:
- Buy lean meat in bulk when on sale. Then bring home and freeze individually.
- Buy fruits and veggies when in season/on sale (again freeze when you can). For example, right now, I buy a lot of apples and clementines. I was surprised strawberries were on mega sale last week - so I stocked up and froze some. Frozen veggies are just as good for you as fresh - watch for sales and coupons and stock up!
- Yogurt - as mentioned above, buy in the big container, not the individual ones - better for the environment too that way
- Nuts, buy in bulk and then just package out
- Oatmeal - can't get much cheaper for a nutritious breakfast
- Love the farmer's market - but I live in the north so it's only open for a few months of the year. Nothing grows here until early April at the very, very, very earliest
- Plant a garden. Square foot gardening is a great resource if you have limited space
I guess that is about it for me. My grocery list isn't very varied. But, it gets the job done for me. I grew up on meat and potatoes so I don't need very much variety.0 -
My question would also be, are you sure you are eating more healthy? Or are you buying diet food. Diet foods in 99% of cases are not healthy (100 cal snack pacs, granola bars) Unhealthy food marketed to dieters. Low cal does not equal healthy.0
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I haven't took the time to figure it out, but I know I'm spending less. I don't hardly ever eat out anymore, bringing my own home cooked meals to work for lunch, has got to save 50$ a week or close to it. Last time I bought a whopper meal from Burger King it cost something like 8$ I can eat lunch all week if I bring it from home for that.0
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I completely agree with you. This is the reason poor people are more likely to be fat than the rich.
I can get 10 snickers for a dollar or I can buy just one navel orange. Oranges spoil and snickers don't.
Soda is cheaper than milk.
Organic fresh fruits are outrageously expensive.
Tuna in a can is healthy: low fat and loaded with protein but filled with mercury. Other meat choices are more expensive.
It's a whole other reason for being unhealthy -- it's definitely more expensive to purchase healthy food.
****But here is my solace...I keep telling myself that healthy food is cheaper than insulin and diabetes and that being thin feels better than eating fun food.****0 -
I don't think it's so expensive. It's actually cheaper for me. Try to hit some of the independent chain grocery stores instead of the Von's and Ralph's. We have a Ranch Market which is mostly Hispanic and their produce prices are super cheap.
I am also going to start gardening to grow some of my own veggies and fruits.
Try to always buy produce that's in season. If you don't, you will be paying way more.0 -
People here bicker and moan about it being sooooo expensive to eat healthy blah blah blah but I just don't buy it.
1kg of frozen fries is $3, 1kg of plain potatoes is about $1.80
a 150gm bag of potato chips is about $2, 1kg of applies is about $2
yes... milk is about $2.80 a litre, while coke is about $1.80 for a 1.5 litre, but WATER is free
The REAL problem is that people are just too lazy to prepare food - its easier to throw some fries in the oven than peel and chop potatos. its easier to open a bag of chips than wash and cut up an apple...
NOT saying YOU'RE lazy because I don't know you BUT are you purchasing foods as close to their natural state as possible? processing, packaging, marketing, all adds $$ to the cost.0 -
:flowerforyou: We buy at Aldis here & in bulk.
We are a family of four and I cook 99.5% of the meals myself. We rarely eat out or eat convenience/.pre-packaged type foods. I find we save a lot of $$ this way.
If you buy canned food, rinse them before putting in a dish or eating to help reduce the sodium.
When baking, substitute applesauce for oil to make it moist and healthier.
Buy eggs in bulk too and hard boil some for a quick, high protein snack. Nuts are also wonderful but more expensive.
Oatmeal is cheap (in the large container) and can be a great bfast, or snack or late night treat. It can also be added to ground beef for hamburger patties, meatloaf, and cookies.
Freeze whenever possible. It is a lifesaver.
USE those fruits and veggies in your crisper so they don't go bad. Bananas can be frozen and used for smoothies and for banana bread.
We all love using up the peppers in homemade chicken fajitas & quesadillas & chicken burritos and half of one makes me full and doesn't ruin your calorie intake.
Buy the raw veggies in the big bag ( like the cabbage head for cole slaw, the big lettuce head/bundle for salads and sandwiches, big bag of carrots for pot roasts & stews & soups & snacks). All you have to do is slice or shred them yourself. Makes them go a lot farther.
Get creative - cooking doesn't have to be dull or boring.
I cook things ahead and freeze meals, breads, meats, dairy etc...
Yes, we garden and buy food in season and on sale whenever possible too.
We only go to Aldis about every other month and we are a family of four and all good eaters.
Hope that helps some0 -
I'm kind on the fence with this one...I think it depends on what you buy and your locale; I'm in WY and we only have Super Walmart and Albertson's to choose from and neither of their produce sections are anything to squeal about...most of the time, it looks like we got whatever is left over after the truck delivered. But I did shockingly pay $1.44 for one green pepper the other day!!! I was a little miffed about that; who expects one freakin' pepper to be that much?
I tend to do a biweekly shop at Costco (1.5 hrs away). Milk is 1/2 the price ($3.44 for 2 gals, rather than $3.58 for 1 gal here) and their produce is much better.
I would also suggest checking out "Bountiful Baskets" to see if it's in your area. For $15 you get a TON of fresh produce. You don't get a choice of what you get, but you can "preview" that weeks offerings on their website to decide whether or not you want to place your order. It's also a good way to experiment with fruits/veggies you haven't tried before and if it's too much produce for you, see if you can get a friend to go halves with you
After seeing my dad's bill for a quad bypass 2 years ago, I consider it an investment in my health. I'm willing to forgo other things if necessary, in order to eat cleaner.0 -
I think it's true, healthier stuff is loads more expensive. Brown rice and whole wheat pasta is about 50p more a pack and is NEVER on offer. the white stuff is on offer all the time after being cheaper in the first place.
Basic veggies like carrots and onions are cheap but things like broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce etc are more expensive and you can't just eat a cauliflower on it's own you need to have something with it. A cauliflower is about £1.80 here i can buy a whole pasty for that much and not need to buy anything to have with it, but a pasty is junk.
I can buy a couple of processed chicken escalopes with bread crumbs and cheese in for just under £2 but 2 Chicken breast are about £3 and i'm talking the basic chicken not corn fed free range stuff.0 -
Well, the deal is it's me and my two little men that are bottomless pits. Perhaps it's just me, but I've actually found the processed foods to be much more cost effective than buying the ingredients and making it myself. Then again, perhaps it's just the items I have on my menu! I tend to be a nut when it comes to cooking and enjoy making elaborate dishes. Nevertheless, excellent tips everyone, and I'll start paying better attention. Perhaps it's just the store I went to at the time.
God bless! 0
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