Getting frustrated over the cost of healthy eating?

What are you buying that costs you so much?

Since buying more whole foods and less processed our shopping bill has gone from £100 a week to £70. Where do you shop? We shop at Aldi as it's so much cheaper.

If you're losing weight, you could basically save money because you're eating less food. (But of course with a family to feed, your situation is different) Maybe you can take advantage of offers and sales? Some out of season items are gonna be very expensive fresh.

£350/month isn't that bad! We are a family of four and I have spent over £100/week for the last two weeks in Aldi and that doesn't cover everything we eat in a week.

sounds to me like you are shopping twice, once for the family and once for yourself, try to get the family in on some of the healthier food choices that you are eating, or even better, you eat what they are having, just watch your portions, that is more realistic anyway, you eventually have to learn to eat those same foods but in moderation unless you plan to eat separate meals your entire life

I get the Aldi everyday essentials dark chocolate. 30p for 100g bar. It lasts me all week as there are 20 squares.

clafairy1984 wrote: »

Tomw86 How are you managing this? i spend 70 - 100 for 2 adults and a child

By being very careful with what I buy, I tend to eat the same things most of the time as I'm a creature of habit and this knocks on to my shopping lists.

Before I switched to eating better and to eating the right size portions I was spending upwards of £35 a week on food shopping plus another £15 on takeaways.

And maybe the frozen food industry used to have a few tricks of the trade but I don't notice my chicken or fish shrinking any more than when I do use fresh.

Also my idea of processed food might be different to yours, for example canned tuna doesn't register as 'processed' to me but a ready meal does. £70 a week for two adults and a child is not bad either.

clafairy1984 wrote: »

It doesnt help that i have an active family, who are constantly hungry. My OH cycles 8 miles a day to and from work, and plays American football (so has a massive appettite) plus we hit the gym together 4 times a week. I walk up to 5 miles a day too. So we may be eating bigger portions compared to less active families. According to the papaer this morning 'healthy eating' costs up to 1/3 more than regular eating, whatever that is. I'm trying to put in perspective, to feel less depressed about it by thinking how much my bill comapares to take out of restuarant prices. Just frustrating knowing that other in my family are eating for £40-50. Fair enough there are lots of 'cheats' and not overly healthy, but it frees up money for activities and non food related treats. Atm it feels like my wages are just going on food and the gym.

I can totally appreciate the feeling of wages not going far enough, I often feel exactly the same way but put it into perspective. You have a roof over your head that's dry and heated, you eat good food and can afford to go to the gym. You have a loving family - what more do you actually need?

That's the mantra I run through in my head when I get that feeling of 'all my money goes on bills etc' and it reminds me that I am very lucky when compared to so much of the worlds population that I have all of those things.

My father in law had a very good perspective on the cost of food... He always said that you will eventually spend the $$ one way or the other, you can spend a little more every week on good healthy foods or you can spend a WHOLE lot going to the Dr. later on when you get sick because you didn't eat well.

clafairy1984 wrote: »

i dont like to buy frozen meat and fish, as often pumped full of water, meaning you actually get less for your money. My Dad used to work in a eat proccessing factory, and was a fisherman for a while, and he's told me so many stories of what they do to the meat/fish before it's frozen.

If I had that kind of first hand knowledge of the industry, I would not eat frozen meat or fish either.
Do you have access to fresh fish once in a while? I rarely buy it but I know that others like it. When I was a kid we raised our own beef (one or two cows at a time), chickens, and hogs on a tiny
family farm. Now I live in the semi-tropics where I can get local fresh shrimp that I trust for hubby once in a while.

I eat beef in a good restaurant once every four or five months and hubby buys cooked chicken sometimes for himself, but mostly we eat lots of black beans, lentils, chick peas, eggs, rice, sweet potatoes, butternut squash. . . .

-> Frozen fruits and veggies have more nutrition than fresh because they are packed close to the farms.
Hubby buys huge bags of rice from an ethnic market. . .
. . . Also he buys certain veggies that are cheaper there than in our supper markets.
With my guidance, lately one of his dishes for the two of us is stir fried (very little oil) tofu and veggies with garlic or onion.

Smoothies by the way are often expensive.
Consider adding beans to the smoothies for protein, carbs, and fiber.
https://fullplateliving.org/blog/secret-ingredient-making-one-minute-high-fiber-and-protein-rich-breakfast-treat

W

Kyrenora wrote: »

This is something that's easy for me because I live in a rural/farming community, but I've found that buying meat from a local butcher is often much cheaper than buying it from a grocery store.

Definitely, and if you have a freezer, even better, I buy local fresh produce (in season) and freeze it myself. (especially if your area has a U-pick season) Then I Buy bulk meats, instead of 4.99lb for pork chops, buy a tenderloin for 1.69 and have the butcher cut it. Instead of nearly $14/LB for boneless rib eye, I buy the whole rib eye for $6.50lb.. If you don't have a local butcher you can usually do the same at Sams club or GFS market. If they won't cut it for you, go get an electric knife for $20 and cut it yourself. Buying in bulk saves a ton of $$ but again you kind of have to have a freezer.

Are your friends eating out a lot more than your family? I spend a lot of money on food quality food and shop twice a week My friend who eats out all the time- said she hadn't been to the store since before Christmas
I eat a lot of salads and protein but I cook in bulk. Made the family package of chicken breasts and seasoned them 2 ways. I will use all week.