Wish fresh veggies weren't so expensive
Replies
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Packerjohn wrote: »Do that many people really have access to farmer's markets? I live in a smaller metro area (around 200k pop) in the middle of farm country and there are a couple a week in my community.
I can't see the logistics of a farmer's market near the downtown area of a large city. The fact the farmer has to drive 40-50 miles (in traffic) to get there plus the set-up logistics would seem to make it a curiosity/novelty at best as opposed to a sustainable source of food. The farmer sure isn't going to set up in the questionable areas of the community.
I live in the middle of the desert. The farmers' market is significantly more expensive than the grocery store.
It was great when I lived in an agricultural area. The produce was so cheap. I miss that.0 -
Packerjohn wrote: »Do that many people really have access to farmer's markets? I live in a smaller metro area (around 200k pop) in the middle of farm country and there are a couple a week in my community.
I can't see the logistics of a farmer's market near the downtown area of a large city. The fact the farmer has to drive 40-50 miles (in traffic) to get there plus the set-up logistics would seem to make it a curiosity/novelty at best as opposed to a sustainable source of food. The farmer sure isn't going to set up in the questionable areas of the community.
I live in Brooklyn. I can hit up a couple farmers markets per week pretty easily if I wanted to. It'd be harder for some of the communities in very south Brooklyn/Queens/Bronx I bet.0 -
crzycatlady1 wrote: »crzycatlady1 wrote: »I kept thinking of this thread as I got groceries today and when I got home I had to take a quick picture of my trip. For a little under $127 I filled 2 carts at Meijer and then a basket at Family Fare (Spartan). My grocery budget is $100 so I went a bit over, but Meijer was running their 11/$10 deal, so I got a few extra things. Next week I'll probably spend around $50, so it all evens out
I made my menu plan/grocery list based off of what I already had in the house.
Produce wise I got-
3lbs yellow onions
1 bag of fresh spinach
2 bags of shredded lettuce (I'm weird about lettuce and this is the only way I'll eat it
)
2.5lbs bananas
1 cantaloupe
1 pkg mushrooms
1 red and 1 orange bell pepper
12lbs apples (mostly for baking)
1 bag baby carrots
2 cans of peaches
2lbs tomatoes
2 bags frozen corn
2 bags frozen winter blend veggies
2 small broccoli crowns
It was a fun, but exhausting trip (3 kids/2 grocery carts at Meijer does not equal relaxing!)
eta: you can't see from the picture but behind the cat ltter bags (which I normally don't put on my counter lol), there's several boxes of cookie mix, boxed potatoes and yes, a box of Hamburger Helper (and I'm not even sorry
).
This is interesting to me because when it comes to vegetables, I would eat one of the peppers per day. I eat a bag of lettuce each day, a whole tomato, a whole cucumber. I can eat a half bag of broccoli per day too. If I eat zucchini or squash I eat about 400 grams which turns out to be about two large. I don't eat fruit but still, the way I go through vegetables...it gets pricey.
I also had some frozen veggies, raw sweet potatoes and onions, and fresh fruit still in the house before I made my shopping trip. Back in the day I used to run a pretty popular frugal living blog and one thing I always pushed was to shop your own kitchen before you make your menu plan and grocery list Between what I already had and what I bought, it's enough for me to do 800g of veg/fruit a day for the weekdays and then enough for my kids to graze as they want. My husband does not eat vegetables at all and will only eat a few pieces of apple, so he's not factored into what I buy for produce
ohhhh you seem to eat a pretty high volume of vegetables too. I love it. Would gladly pay for them.
I actually didn't used to but a couple weeks ago, after the new revised recommendation to eat 800g a day of veg/fruit came out, I decided to challenge myself (there's a group of us here doing it), and I'm hooked! I now aim for a minimum of 600g a day, with a goal to hit around 800g. Eating supper right now and I'm over 600g, with a banana still coming up (mixed with vanilla pudding and a freshly made crushed snickerdoodle cookie
). That will get me over 700g for today! 0 -
Packerjohn wrote: »Do that many people really have access to farmer's markets? I live in a smaller metro area (around 200k pop) in the middle of farm country and there are a couple a week in my community.
I can't see the logistics of a farmer's market near the downtown area of a large city. The fact the farmer has to drive 40-50 miles (in traffic) to get there plus the set-up logistics would seem to make it a curiosity/novelty at best as opposed to a sustainable source of food. The farmer sure isn't going to set up in the questionable areas of the community.
We live outside one of the largest cities in our state and there's a huge farmers market smack dab in the middle of down town in the summer. You seriously have to park blocks away and walk in. Many of the outlying towns also have their own, and if you head to the lakeshore (West MI here), there's a massive one that can be an all day outing. Plus there's numerous hobby gardener stands all over the place.
My daughter is going to be working with the lady who runs our local one for the first time this summer, (it takes place in the parking lot of one of the area colleges), and I'm hoping leftover/ripe produce will get sent home with her this summer 1 -
lemurcat12 wrote: »It is disheartening when you are trying to eat healthy and it's so much more expensive. Fruit and veggies cost more and spoil faster lol. Have any of you found that farmers markets are cheaper?
Alas, I think it'll be a while before we see fresh produce at Farmer's Markets around here again...
Also, so glad it's a gym day and not a running day.
Heh, I'm supposed to do 7 miles, and bummed because 5 is about my limit on the treadmill (I get bored) and I want to run home, oh well.
(The sidewalks were covered with snow this morning, and it is snowing quite hard at the moment. This has been a weird year for us, as we had none in Jan and Feb, but some in Nov (and of course Dec) and now finally more in mid March.)
Much annoyance at having pulled into the gym parking lot and finding it CLOSED! (for a few silly inches of snow). At home, about to pull out the resistance bands and barbie weights and get something done.1 -
WOW!! I'm not even joking, this would be over $150 at the only grocery store within an hour of where I live. I went shopping this weekend and spent over $75 on grocery staples. I only buy the "manager's special" meat, this week I got a 1.5lbs chicken (30% off @ $6), 1.3lbs pork (30% off @ $5), and 1.5lbs London broil (50% off @ 4.50), 2 oranges ($1 each), 4 bananas (.79/lb), 6 yogurts ($8), 2lbs carrots ($5), 1 cantaloupe ($2.50), 4 russet potatoes (.99/lb), 1 yellow onion (99/lb), 2lb strawberries (on sale for 5.99), 12oz shrimp ($9.99 - I'm picky about seafood and only buy wild caught, so even though this is going into the freezer for quick meals later, I couldn't pass up the deal!), 1 cabbage (.39/lb), cookies ($5 for two Pepperidge Farm), cottage cheese ($3.5), multigrain bread ($4), English muffins ($3), tomatoes ($5), and a couple of other things that I can't remember right now. I shop at Safeway, and use the app and coupons, and nearly always buy only what's on sale that week. Food is just really expensive in some places, and I have to drive over 30 minutes to get to the ONE store that's not over an hour away.
Definitely cheaper for most things where I shop (a discount grocery chain rather than 1 of the main supermarket chains)(I'm w/in the city limits of a reasonably sized city though, so the stores have a lot of competition..I drive a few extra miles for my preferred store):
Produce: Carrots (2lb bag) 99¢, red cabbage 69¢/lb, zucchini/green squash $1.29/lb, turnips 59¢/lb, bananas 49¢/lb (same at Wegmans), beets (79¢/lb), red onions 89¢/lb, Empire apples 99¢/lb (other local varieties are $1.29/lb).
Dairy: store brand cottage cheese: $3
Frozen: bag of collard greens $1.19
(I also picked up chorizo, several cans of mushrooms, a few jars of jam, a large pack of chicken thighs, gallon of vinegar, dried beans, saltines, yogurt, nail polish remover).. Just under $40 (which is typical for me when shopping there).
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Packerjohn wrote: »Do that many people really have access to farmer's markets? I live in a smaller metro area (around 200k pop) in the middle of farm country and there are a couple a week in my community.
I can't see the logistics of a farmer's market near the downtown area of a large city. The fact the farmer has to drive 40-50 miles (in traffic) to get there plus the set-up logistics would seem to make it a curiosity/novelty at best as opposed to a sustainable source of food. The farmer sure isn't going to set up in the questionable areas of the community.
Cities often have some sort of parkway or Greenway space that can and does get utilized for Farmer's Markets. They do pretty good business, so it's probably worthwhile for the farmers to make the trip.1 -
Cereal might be kinda cheap but you'd be forgetting the milk.
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kenyonhaff wrote: »Yeah guys, this can be a real issue with families in poverty at least in the US. Or, even if not in abject poverty, there are "food deserts" where there is a store, but no access to a lot of fresh, affordable fruits and vegetables (think Family Dollar). It's easy to criticise, but if money is tight in the budget food that's expensive, perishable, and the kids whine about eating it anyway are often the first to get cut.
The problem is education and demand, stores can only stock what will sell. Between frozen and canned, you can readily get your veggies across the US, even in Family Dollar. FD will never look like whole foods, who must probably waste a lot of perishable themselves.
I went shopping with my mom about a month ago. She lives in a small town but drives over to the next to get her food. The "produce" section was ridiculous. Essentially everything was packaged and on shelves. It was a big-chain store too. I'd never seen so much plastic-wrapped food in my life.0 -
lemurcat12 wrote: »
Here too. Most of the things I'd like to grow can't go outside until June because our last frost date is so late.0 -
Packerjohn wrote: »Do that many people really have access to farmer's markets? I live in a smaller metro area (around 200k pop) in the middle of farm country and there are a couple a week in my community.
I can't see the logistics of a farmer's market near the downtown area of a large city. The fact the farmer has to drive 40-50 miles (in traffic) to get there plus the set-up logistics would seem to make it a curiosity/novelty at best as opposed to a sustainable source of food. The farmer sure isn't going to set up in the questionable areas of the community.
There are a huge number where I live (Chicago), during growing season (usually weekly but different ones are on different days, so you could hit them almost every day if willing to take public transportation -- they are early, of course). There's one on the South Side (so not far from some lower income areas, although also near Hyde Park) that is monthly during this time of year: https://experimentalstation.org/events/. I go to Hyde Park often on Saturdays (it's a nice bike ride, I have a book club that meets for lunch and discussion then), so keep meaning to check that one out, although where I am there are others.1 -
FreyasRebirth wrote: »lemurcat12 wrote: »
Here too. Most of the things I'd like to grow can't go outside until June because our last frost date is so late.
Ours is supposed to be Mother's Day, but I usually chance it a bit earlier.0 -
Packerjohn wrote: »Do that many people really have access to farmer's markets? I live in a smaller metro area (around 200k pop) in the middle of farm country and there are a couple a week in my community.
I can't see the logistics of a farmer's market near the downtown area of a large city. The fact the farmer has to drive 40-50 miles (in traffic) to get there plus the set-up logistics would seem to make it a curiosity/novelty at best as opposed to a sustainable source of food. The farmer sure isn't going to set up in the questionable areas of the community.
In my city there are six farmers markets in town, or seven counting the downtown one that closes in the winter.
Most of them open on a Saturday or Sunday, except the downtown one which is open on Tuesdays.1 -
There's always a 10 for $10 on streamable bags of veggies at the supermarket. It's great for a quick fix, when you can't buy "fresh"1
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lemurcat12 wrote: »FreyasRebirth wrote: »lemurcat12 wrote: »
Here too. Most of the things I'd like to grow can't go outside until June because our last frost date is so late.
Ours is supposed to be Mother's Day, but I usually chance it a bit earlier.
Ours is a week later but my mom has always used Memorial Day so that stuck with me. I'm also really short on space (we live in a mobile home) so I only grow things that are cost-effective enough. The one raised bed I did have has been taken over by strawberries but I don't mind too much. I'm hoping to make another small bed along the porch for peas but I'll use our planters if I have to. I had huge tomato plants in them last year so I think they're deep enough for good root growth.0 -
TheRambler wrote: »There's always a 10 for $10 on streamable bags of veggies at the supermarket. It's great for a quick fix, when you can't buy "fresh"
This has been my thought through this whole thread! Between sales on brand name frozen veggies, and reg prices of store brand frozen veggies, you can get a really good deal on price per serving. Add fresh produce that is in season locally - so cheaper and plentiful, plus bulk grains, canned beans, canned tuna, eggs, store brand raw chicken parts, plus cheaper convenience food and you're all set. Yes if you must have fresh strawberries and avocados in January or the two specific veggies you like regardless of season, it can get expensive. I'd guess if you are eating mostly produce it can get expensive as well since variety probably means you have to spring for some of the pricier stuff.
Right now in my area I can get a head of cabbage for $0.49, I bag of carrots for a dollar, a lb of apples for $1.99, a bunch of bananas for $1.50, store brand frozen broccoli for $1.50 for the big bag.
Granted I don't get 8-10 servings, but I usually get 5 a day, and I really only pay more than maybe $8 per person per week on produce if I'm in an avocado mood.
I finally have an apartment with a porch, so I'm going to try growing peppers, tomatoes, and chard in containers this year, fingers crossed 5 -
I spend about $50 on food for myself every 2 weeks and most of that is comprised of yogurt (i cant live without chobani, fage, and noosa) i regulary spend over $10 on chobani alone, and then I'm a pescatarian and usually buy a leasy 3 types of different seafood, calamari @ $5, shrimp @ $5, some type of fish $5 usually x2, silk coconut milk ~$4(sometimes and it hurts my heart!), maybe sweet potato fries @ $2.50, and the rest on veggies zucchini, mushrooms (huge portabellas @$3 & button mushrooms @ ~$1.25), and my most expensive veggie, brussel sprouts because i like them fresh can sometimes be ~$3, (which I hate but they are so good and im pretty sure this isn't their season, frozen @ $1.99) & frozen green beans $1, frozen broccoli $1, frozen broccoli cauliflower mix $1.50. I pretty much get everything from walmart but I can get this down cheaper if I stop buying so much yogurt at once! I really feel like veggies are cheaper and last me a good while, except the brussel sprouts because when I have them I pretty much eat them every day and 1 bag of fresh ones lasts me 4 meals! I also occassionally pick up aspargas spears from dollar tree @ $1. I live in south carolina and pretty much buy these veggies year round. I have a car now and no longer rely on my city'sfrustrating public transport and plan to start going to a food market or head over to the local growers on the island. Food deserts are real and the answer to the problem or the reason for it is not because of what you think at the surface level.
Also, I stopped eating cereal years ago around the same time I started on mfp when I realized the servings size of it and that it just made me hungrier.2 -
crzycatlady1 wrote: »I kept thinking of this thread as I got groceries today and when I got home I had to take a quick picture of my trip. For a little under $127 I filled 2 carts at Meijer and then a basket at Family Fare (Spartan). My grocery budget is $100 so I went a bit over, but Meijer was running their 11/$10 deal, so I got a few extra things. Next week I'll probably spend around $50, so it all evens out I made my menu plan/grocery list based off of what I already had in the house.
Produce wise I got-
3lbs yellow onions
1 bag of fresh spinach
2 bags of shredded lettuce (I'm weird about lettuce and this is the only way I'll eat it )
2.5lbs bananas
1 cantaloupe
1 pkg mushrooms
1 red and 1 orange bell pepper
12lbs apples (mostly for baking)
1 bag baby carrots
2 cans of peaches
2lbs tomatoes
2 bags frozen corn
2 bags frozen winter blend veggies
2 small broccoli crowns
It was a fun, but exhausting trip (3 kids/2 grocery carts at Meijer does not equal relaxing!)
eta: you can't see from the picture but behind the cat ltter bags (which I normally don't put on my counter lol), there's several boxes of cookie mix, boxed potatoes and yes, a box of Hamburger Helper (and I'm not even sorry ).
This is interesting to me because when it comes to vegetables, I would eat one of the peppers per day. I eat a bag of lettuce each day, a whole tomato, a whole cucumber. I can eat a half bag of broccoli per day too. If I eat zucchini or squash I eat about 400 grams which turns out to be about two large. I don't eat fruit but still, the way I go through vegetables...it gets pricey.
Exactly I eat a whole head of broccoli at once a whole bag of lettuce for one salad 2 zucchini at once etc. I guess price is so subjective to each individuals eating style. Sure it's not that bad if you don't eat large portions of veg.... but I do like you a whole cucumber is part of one snack one day etc.0 -
My point is that food deserts are a well documented and studied problem in the US. Just because something's not an issue for you doesn't mean it doesn't exist.
Actually research has shown 'food deserts' are complete myth, and their is no such link to obesity. I started a thread in the debate subforum, if you care to try defend your opinion.1 -
Noreenmarie1234 wrote: »Noreenmarie1234 wrote: »For the calorie amount fresh fruit and veg ARE more expensive. I hate how people say they aren't. If I buy some junk food donuts 1.69 (for pack of 6 at 320 cal per doughnut) and box of cereal (1.69 with 12 servings) that would easily last me 2 weeks of 500-600 calorie breakfasts. HOWEVER, if I buy 4 fresh bell peppers (4.00), one lb broccoli (2 bucks), one large tomato (2), I could eat ALL of that in ONE day and it wouldn't even amount to the same calorie amount of "fuel". So YES eating fresh fruit and veg is more expensive than eating junk because you have to buy A LOT more to get the same calorie amount of fuel.
No way. A few vegetables, some protein and a starch and you can feed yourself for a few days cooking one meal. Even if you buy the cheapest junk food out there you will not get the same nutritional bang for your buck. I wish the myth of "it's cheap to get fat" would die. Some things are very expensive, but seasonal vegetables or frozen vegetables are cheap almost everywhere. Canned vegetables are also an option. All of these are cheaper than a pop tart or hot pocket. I think it's an excuse people use either because they don't know how to cook or they want to keep eating junk and don't want to just admit that.
All of these are not cheaper. A box of poptarts run 1.67 at my local store and that would last a WEEK. For that amount I could get ONE tomato or one head of broccoli, which would just be a small component of ONE meal. I think it depends on location. I am picky about my veg and I don't like canned vegetables or cheap starches such as rice/beans/potatoes so when I make a meal, it is all veg and protein. I buy lettuce which is 2.99 and it lasts me only two salads worth. To eat a salad every day for lunch is quite expensive. I have to buy the lettuce, tomato (2), onions (1), cucumber (99c), radishes (2), green pepper (1), etc it all adds up to about 5 per salad when I figured it out, which is 25 bucks per week. Alternately I could have a hot pocket each day for lunch for the same calories and it would only cost me 7.50 for the whole week.
Just an example, so I don't think you can say it IS just as cheap to eat healthy. It CAN be, but many people such as myself are picky and do not want to eat plain rice and canned vegetables. I also dislike the taste of frozen vegetables. They aren't the same as fresh. So unfortunately with my preferences it is more expensive, although that is my fault LOL. I don't use it as an excuse because my grocery bill is quite high. I do choose to eat mostly vegetables because it's what I enjoy, I just am not happy about it.
Certainly you can, and it is true. You can compose a cheap healthy diet easily enough. You can compose an expensive 'junk' diet easily as well.
What you may not be able to do is compose a cheap diet of any kind for someone who values their personal tastes above their checkbook. You have to be willing to selectively use what is cheaply available at the time and either get creative about preparing items that aren't your first preference or just accept that you're going to eat those things because it saves you money.
ETA: And that is fine. I buy expensive stuff just because I prefer the taste. But I'm not going to complain that I can't put together a healthy diet because I choose to buy smoked salmon that is many times more expensive than the canned pink salmon I could buy instead.8
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