Getting frustrated over the cost of healthy eating?

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.

I concur with whoever has said freezing. Freezing has come on leaps and bounds since the days of old since everything was pumped with water and tasted like cardboard. You can check packets and often will find no added water meat and fish in better produce- higher end stores tend to have these (in the UK thinking Waitress, Marks & Spencer, but I get mine from a delivery service often)- which is still cheaper than the fresh stuff. 'Flash' frozen foods often taste just as good and last forever, especially vegetables like edamame, mangetout etc.

You say you go out with a strict rule as to what you buy to eat- but have you considered your regimen may be too strict? If I go out to buy all the ingredients for a chilli (5% abeerdeen angus mince, onions, peppers, etc, half my wallet gone) and see something else on offer but equally as available to 'fit' in my calorie/carbohydrate allowance, then I'll go for something cheaper and chop and change to suit. I often have a list of meals that I make through the month and will spend a little extra time in the supermarket considering what I might want to buy to reduce cost and utilising offers.

Where I live beef is the most expensive meat right now so my family doesn't eat much beef.
Budget friendly foods where I live- dry beans and lentils, rice, pasta, potatoes, onions, carrots, oatmeal canned tuna, eggs, oatmeal, whole chicken or chicken thighs, frozen vegetables and fruits, peanut butter, cabbage, popcorn
Buy fresh fruits and vegetables in season. http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/seasonal-calendar/all
Meal planning. Make a list and stick to it if you aren't already.
Use what you buy.
Cut spending on drinks if you are putting any money there.
I don't think you are doing too badly if your family is eating meals and snacks all prepared at home and you eat more because you are more active. The people you are comparing to may be eating less or buying a lot more food outside of their reported grocery spending like lunches at restaurants or snacks from vending machines.

I agree. Yesterday I bought two fresh red bell peppers and it cost me $7 (CDN). What the?? My husband and I spend between $700-900 a month on groceries and we mostly eat fresh food. Mind you, the grocery store we shop at has fewer deals than other places, so I am going to start looking for deals across the city by signing up for a "grocery smarts" weekly newsletter that tells you where all the deals are. Of course, it's not any better to drive around to five different places to save a few bucks, but we may just look for one place where the most deals are and try that out. Maybe you can do the same in your city?

Every once in a while lettuce will pop up to $4.98 a head. We don't have salads that week. The weeks that limes are $19.98 AUD a kg, yeah Lime chicken is no longer on the menu.

My phone and Pinterest have been a huge help in this. Even though I have a list I can change recipes on the fly if ingredients are too $$$ that week

I have prob saved money since eating better because I prepare food to take to work rather than buying pre packed stuff! Also not buying any of the chocolate/ crisps etc