Costing a lot more money to eat healthier! :(

Michael190lbs wrote: »

I LOVE ALDI and a store we have called Marks shop the same way and cut my food bill in half..

This year 20x30 garden and learning how to store for the winter

Aldi is seriously amazing! My local one has also gone crazy with their new organic/'healthy' line and the prices on those items are really great as well! I'm not into the whole 'organic is best' thing, but I admit I'll buy it over the regular option when it's similar price lol. It cracked me up though because my daughter picked out a box of macaroni and cheese from there yesterday and it was organic-seriously, who do they think they're kidding

In my area, Price-rite is pretty good for getting the most out of your money, without being too small and limited in what they have (like some of the other smaller discount grocery stores). They also have an aisle of latin food ingredients that is missing from Aldi's or Save-a-lot.

The stuff about food deserts is accurate. This can mean that within say, your zip code, there is absolutely no place you can go to buy fruits and vegetables. There have also been plenty of instances where the prices are higher in low-income neighborhoods. People who don't have cars or who are dependent on public transportation have fewer choices and have to pay the higher prices.

Now I don't live in a food desert (although I work in a pretty arid environment) and I have a car. I am finding that after having adjusted portion sizes and gone through a readjustment in how/what I cook, I'm not spending more than what I was before. In some cases, I spend less.

Think about it though. In my grocery store, to buy a bag of potato chips, it would probably cost me $3.99. I could buy 5 oranges for that. Or a pork tenderloin. Or a head of cauliflower and a head of broccoli.

If you have access to ethnic grocery stores, you can often buy spices much more cheaply. I also find bulk departments useful for that.

Try to buy seasonal produce. If you have access to a good farmers' market, you can save more too.

I notice a lot of people buy produce that's been washed and cut up. Sometimes I'm willing to do that because it's such a pain to prep the food myself (cauliflower rice and butternut squash, I'm looking at you), but it's almost always substantially cheaper to buy it and do the prep yourself. With chicken, if you buy the kind with the skin on and the bone in, it's almost always cheaper than skinless, boneless and it's the work of minutes to remove the skin and bones if you absolutely feel compelled to do so.

crzycatlady1 wrote: »

Skyblueyellow wrote: »

Where is this that fresh fruits and vegetables cost less than processed foods? A lb of apples is 2.95/lb. The same lb of boxed mac n' cheese is $1. A bag of mandarin oranges are $6.99. Even iceberg lettuce is well over $1/lb! Zucchini? That costs $2/lb this time of year. I live in a highly agricultural area as well. Cucumbers (.68/lb) and broccoli are super affordable right now so we eat a lot of that. Five lbs of potatoes is $4.99.

In the winter in a cold climate I rely on frozen vegetables. We shop sales for our protein and plan meals around those sales. For my family of 4 (my boys are 6 and 7) I spend about $130-140 a week, and that doesn't include things like dog food, tissues, shampoo, etc. To be totally transparent I could spend less if I wanted to but I enjoy eating and, well, I like what I like!

I think that this is highly regional. If you can't afford it, use canned/frozen veg to bulk up meals. No need to buy separate foods. Yes, there are some foods that are bought that only I eat, some that only the kids eat, and some that only hubby eats just because of snack preferences. For example, I do LCHF and enjoy salami and provolone roll-ups for a quick snack at night and no one else touches salami.

It will depend on location and available stores but I only buy fresh produce when it's on sale and then I supplement with frozen. I also make my menu plan around what's on sale and walk into the store with cash and a plan of action lol.

This week at Aldi and Meijer I got (fresh and on sale)-
-5lbs clementines $4.88
-5lb russet potatoes $1.29 *
-3 containers of raspberries $3.75
-pint blueberries $1.59
-2 containers of blackberries $2.58
-2lbs red seedless grapes $2.78
-bag mini sweet peppers $2.50
-bag of spinach $1.49
-3lbs apples $2.99

-and then I bought several bags of frozen Californial Blend vegetables for $1 each

I don't buy it unless it's cheap

*kicking myself for not getting a couple more bags since potatoes store well, so I'm going to try and get back to the store yet this week and buy more!

I'm incredibly jealous lol. Where do you live (roughly)? A bag of spinach here is nearly $6, grapes are $4.99/lb and a pint of blueberries is $5. Unless I pick them in the summer, then they're free! I tend to buy a lot of frozen veggies (Presidents Choice has FANTASTIC frozen veggies), and then I buy whatever fruits and veggies tend to be on sale. Sometimes, they seem more expensive than junk food, but really they do more than one meal, so they turn out to be the same cost or cheaper.

crzycatlady1 wrote: »

addicted2cola wrote: »

crzycatlady1 wrote: »

Skyblueyellow wrote: »

Where is this that fresh fruits and vegetables cost less than processed foods? A lb of apples is 2.95/lb. The same lb of boxed mac n' cheese is $1. A bag of mandarin oranges are $6.99. Even iceberg lettuce is well over $1/lb! Zucchini? That costs $2/lb this time of year. I live in a highly agricultural area as well. Cucumbers (.68/lb) and broccoli are super affordable right now so we eat a lot of that. Five lbs of potatoes is $4.99.

In the winter in a cold climate I rely on frozen vegetables. We shop sales for our protein and plan meals around those sales. For my family of 4 (my boys are 6 and 7) I spend about $130-140 a week, and that doesn't include things like dog food, tissues, shampoo, etc. To be totally transparent I could spend less if I wanted to but I enjoy eating and, well, I like what I like!

I think that this is highly regional. If you can't afford it, use canned/frozen veg to bulk up meals. No need to buy separate foods. Yes, there are some foods that are bought that only I eat, some that only the kids eat, and some that only hubby eats just because of snack preferences. For example, I do LCHF and enjoy salami and provolone roll-ups for a quick snack at night and no one else touches salami.

It will depend on location and available stores but I only buy fresh produce when it's on sale and then I supplement with frozen. I also make my menu plan around what's on sale and walk into the store with cash and a plan of action lol.

This week at Aldi and Meijer I got (fresh and on sale)-
-5lbs clementines $4.88
-5lb russet potatoes $1.29 *
-3 containers of raspberries $3.75
-pint blueberries $1.59
-2 containers of blackberries $2.58
-2lbs red seedless grapes $2.78
-bag mini sweet peppers $2.50
-bag of spinach $1.49
-3lbs apples $2.99

-and then I bought several bags of frozen Californial Blend vegetables for $1 each

I don't buy it unless it's cheap

*kicking myself for not getting a couple more bags since potatoes store well, so I'm going to try and get back to the store yet this week and buy more!

I'm incredibly jealous lol. Where do you live (roughly)? A bag of spinach here is nearly $6, grapes are $4.99/lb and a pint of blueberries is $5. Unless I pick them in the summer, then they're free! I tend to buy a lot of frozen veggies (Presidents Choice has FANTASTIC frozen veggies), and then I buy whatever fruits and veggies tend to be on sale. Sometimes, they seem more expensive than junk food, but really they do more than one meal, so they turn out to be the same cost or cheaper.

I'm in Michigan

Even when I convert your prices to Canadian, It's still less! Pfft, I need to move somewhere further south... You know, for the food prices, not the sun/warmth or anything...

I get alot of staples at the dollar tree, I get brown rice, beans, some frozen veg and fruit, oatmeal, spices. It's really a goldmine for basics.

Eating healthier CAN get costly, but doesn't have to be. I personally find that I save more money by eating healthier, because I'm buying less processed foods, but those that I do buy, I buy less of and make them stretch. Fat-free, sugar-free and low-calorie labels may sound good, but tend to cause your grocery bill to go up, if you're buying a lot of those items - that's where they get you, because the items sound like they'll be good for you, but they tend to be pretty pricey.

Skyblueyellow wrote: »

Sounds like I should move to Michigan to get cheap produce!!!

Sometimes I luck out and find fresh produce that is ugly and the store is selling it at a nice discount, but that selection goes pretty fast. Bananas are always affordable here. Right now raspberries are about $5 a pint. Bummer. Chicken (boneless/skinless breasts) is usually $1.99/lb now. It used to be almost $3/lb but local stores lowered their prices last year (yay!). Avocados are on sale this week (3 for $5).

In the summer, when farmer's markets have more produce to sell, I can get things for less money. So from May-September you can scoop up some nice deals. Some things freeze well (like berries and fresh corn) and you can stock up and freeze, especially if you are using them for smoothies.

I'm jealous of some of the prices you guys have for food. I live immediately outside of a city, so perhaps that is why food here is more spendy. I just looked and we actually spent $165 this week on groceries, and that was with coupons, shopping sales, and buying things in season. I don't think that is awful when you consider that is feeding 4 people at 3 meals a day (ends up at $2.29 per meal and per person when accounting for eating one dinner out).

Sounds like you're doing good with what resources you have, costs can vary so much from one area to another!

addicted2cola wrote: »

crzycatlady1 wrote: »

Skyblueyellow wrote: »

Where is this that fresh fruits and vegetables cost less than processed foods? A lb of apples is 2.95/lb. The same lb of boxed mac n' cheese is $1. A bag of mandarin oranges are $6.99. Even iceberg lettuce is well over $1/lb! Zucchini? That costs $2/lb this time of year. I live in a highly agricultural area as well. Cucumbers (.68/lb) and broccoli are super affordable right now so we eat a lot of that. Five lbs of potatoes is $4.99.

In the winter in a cold climate I rely on frozen vegetables. We shop sales for our protein and plan meals around those sales. For my family of 4 (my boys are 6 and 7) I spend about $130-140 a week, and that doesn't include things like dog food, tissues, shampoo, etc. To be totally transparent I could spend less if I wanted to but I enjoy eating and, well, I like what I like!

I think that this is highly regional. If you can't afford it, use canned/frozen veg to bulk up meals. No need to buy separate foods. Yes, there are some foods that are bought that only I eat, some that only the kids eat, and some that only hubby eats just because of snack preferences. For example, I do LCHF and enjoy salami and provolone roll-ups for a quick snack at night and no one else touches salami.

It will depend on location and available stores but I only buy fresh produce when it's on sale and then I supplement with frozen. I also make my menu plan around what's on sale and walk into the store with cash and a plan of action lol.

This week at Aldi and Meijer I got (fresh and on sale)-
-5lbs clementines $4.88
-5lb russet potatoes $1.29 *
-3 containers of raspberries $3.75
-pint blueberries $1.59
-2 containers of blackberries $2.58
-2lbs red seedless grapes $2.78
-bag mini sweet peppers $2.50
-bag of spinach $1.49
-3lbs apples $2.99

-and then I bought several bags of frozen Californial Blend vegetables for $1 each

I don't buy it unless it's cheap

*kicking myself for not getting a couple more bags since potatoes store well, so I'm going to try and get back to the store yet this week and buy more!

I'm incredibly jealous lol. Where do you live (roughly)? A bag of spinach here is nearly $6, grapes are $4.99/lb and a pint of blueberries is $5. Unless I pick them in the summer, then they're free! I tend to buy a lot of frozen veggies (Presidents Choice has FANTASTIC frozen veggies), and then I buy whatever fruits and veggies tend to be on sale. Sometimes, they seem more expensive than junk food, but really they do more than one meal, so they turn out to be the same cost or cheaper.

@addicted2cola do you have a Giant Tiger nearby? Some GTs have produce. I bought a bag of fresh spinach for $1.50 this weekend.

jennybearlv wrote: »

You don't need low calorie and fat-free foods to lose weight. I've lost 42 pounds eating the same foods as my overweight non-dieting husband, just less of them. I have done cruel things like add more beans and vegetables to our dinners, but basically the same meals as we've always eaten.

Bwahaha.. I love this comment. This is exactly what I do when making a batch of 'rice and beans' (which my boyfriend got used to always having for lunch during the 7 years he lived in Puerto Rico).

look into which stores are less expensive for certain types of items. for instance, one store sells fresh fruits, veggies and bulk items for less, but the more expensive store may sell packaged itmes you enjoy for less.
Look up delicious recipes (Pinterest is good for this) that dont have as much junk in it that your whole family will love.
for my family, we've noticed a sma!ler grocery bill with more satisfaction.
Meal Prep would save time throughout the week as well.
All the best!

RuNaRoUnDaFiEld wrote: »

unsuspectingfish wrote: »

dutchandkiwi wrote: »

It is an absolute myth that healthy food = expensive.

That entirely depends on where you live, and there have been studies that prove it absolutely does cost more to eat healthy, particularly in food deserts. That being said, if someone has the time to prep and cook meals and doesn't live somewhere where healthy foods are out of reach, cost or distance-wise, then it is absolutely possible to eat healthy for less, particularly if you buy lots of things in bulk.

What does it matter where you live? You just eat what you have always eaten but eat less of it. That way you save money.

If your hungry buy seasonal local veg or ask at allotments, use this to bulk out your plate.

The closer you live to where things are produced, the cheaper they're going to be. Some people don't live close to any "seasonal local veg". Also, food deserts exist.

Hey you guys in Amerikee have Aldi too?! Awesome!! I recommend Lidl if you have one near you, too, and frozen veggies. Love me them frozen veggies.

Also worth reading blogs by Jack Monroe, she is a Brit who learned to cook on a budget of basically nothing and is very inspirational. Cooking on a Bootstrap!

here in the UK my weekly shop has almost double in cost from 3/4 years ago. buying the same sort of stuff.
its the meats and veggies that's rocketed up in price! no wonder many family's feed their children etc.. on microwave frozen meals that cost a fraction of the price.