Junk Food cheap and Healthy food expensive?
tasha12004
Posts: 232 Member
So I am convinced that the country wants us to be fat. You can by a high calorie/salt/sugar item for under $2.00 but trying to find whole, nutritious, food seems to cost a fortune. When I changed my lifestyle , I started spending an extra $100.00 every two weeks on groceries. I think that junk food would be less to try and prevent obesity.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/05/eating-healthy-vs-unhealthy_n_4383633.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/05/eating-healthy-vs-unhealthy_n_4383633.html
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Just off the top of my head: Lentils, frozen broccoli, oats, potatoes, squash, cabbage, black beans, canned tomatoes, rice, carrots, tofu, and apples are all super-affordable (at least where I live).
Do some people spend more when they change their diet? Absolutely -- there is a lot of tempting stuff out there.
But generally if you buy in season, pay attention to sales, avoid trendy foods, and build meals around staples, you can keep your budget under control.13 -
That's true. I guess I'm not used to spending so much because I am buying more fresh items then packaged. I actually hardly ever buy processed food anymore. I make everything i eat usually.0
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For those of us that are conscious of our intake and the value for calories it's pretty easy to eat reasonably cheap but for the average person shopping in a grocery store, I agree. Calorie for calorie the cheapest food is usually the more calorie dense, nutritionally sketchy items. If you don't know how to budget these foods into your diet so that you don't become obese; chances are very good you will do so.1
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tasha12004 wrote: »That's true. I guess I'm not used to spending so much because I am buying more fresh items then packaged. I actually hardly ever buy processed food anymore. I make everything i eat usually.
If you're in a part of the world where it's winter, buying mostly fresh stuff is going to be more expensive right now (unless you're focusing specifically on fresh things traditionally eaten in winter like cabbage, onions, squash, and potatoes). Many fresh foods are a luxury item in winter and the cost is going to reflect that. The abundance in the typical grocery store tends to disguise that fact, but it's something to consider.10 -
Definitely make sure you're not wasting money on buying organic everything -- the only real difference is that they cost more, have much more limited shelf life, and give you the illusion that you're eating healthier. It's a great way to eat healthier without spending too much.2
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To OP- what is it you are looking to purchase that costs significantly more than a non-healthy alternative?1
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Also buying frozen is a great option. I'm going to cook my vegetables anyway. I get a huge bag of grean beans and baby carrot mix from Costco for about 8$. The bag can easily last me a month. Things I buy fresh are romaine lettuce which is reasonably cheap and the occasional pint of berries if they're on sale. I splurge on grapefruit segments prepared in cups at Costco tho!2
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I have a produce market near me - they sell only produce and some dairy. Their prices are about half the grocery store. Its an extra trip, but I try to make it every couple of weeks, at least.
Also, I find that its the pre-cut convenience produce that kills my pocketbook. A single bag of ready-to-eat salad costs 3 times as much as a head of lettuce, and is about a quarter of the food. And I absolutely agree with avoiding organic produce. There is no health or environmental benefit to it at all. Its basically there to make money for a luxury food industry.1 -
I'm actually spending less in general since I am buying less meat and have cut that drastically.1
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Great points. Those foods are all very cheap where I am too. I could also add bananas, onions, frozen green beans, frozen peas, sunflower seeds, peanuts, and most kinds of dried beans and whole grains. A pound of frozen peas - if you wanted to eat that much - costs less than an adult sized fast food hamburger. YMMV of course.janejellyroll wrote: »Just off the top of my head: Lentils, frozen broccoli, oats, potatoes, squash, cabbage, black beans, canned tomatoes, rice, carrots, tofu, and apples are all super-affordable (at least where I live).
Do some people spend more when they change their diet? Absolutely -- there is a lot of tempting stuff out there.
But generally if you buy in season, pay attention to sales, avoid trendy foods, and build meals around staples, you can keep your budget under control.
Slightly off subject, but I think the HuffPo article misinterpreted the study that it's citing. The study compared healthier vs. less healthy versions of the same foods. For example, chips that met nutritional guidelines vs. chips that didn't, or fatty cuts of meat vs. leaner cuts. It didn't compare fast food burgers with soup cooked at home, or a chocolate bar vs. a banana.
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Also buying frozen is a great option. I'm going to cook my vegetables anyway. I get a huge bag of grean beans and baby carrot mix from Costco for about 8$. The bag can easily last me a month. Things I buy fresh are romaine lettuce which is reasonably cheap and the occasional pint of berries if they're on sale. I splurge on grapefruit segments prepared in cups at Costco tho!
LOVE those grapefruit cups!!!2 -
Oddly enough, I sometimes find that organic versions of the same produce are cheaper. There are also a few vegetables and fruits I buy organic because I like the taste better (celery, baby carrots, and strawberries). Not sure why they taste better, but they do.sheermomentum wrote: »And I absolutely agree with avoiding organic produce. There is no health or environmental benefit to it at all. Its basically there to make money for a luxury food industry.
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In season veggies, eggs, pulses, oats, dairy. I don't find any of this expensive.
Which items are you finding pricey?4 -
ButterballBookworm wrote: »Also buying frozen is a great option. I'm going to cook my vegetables anyway. I get a huge bag of grean beans and baby carrot mix from Costco for about 8$. The bag can easily last me a month. Things I buy fresh are romaine lettuce which is reasonably cheap and the occasional pint of berries if they're on sale. I splurge on grapefruit segments prepared in cups at Costco tho!
LOVE those grapefruit cups!!!
do you know the drain for 1/2 the calorie trick?! they're my guilty pleasure because I love grapefruit but even though I bought that special spoon I butcher the whole fruit version every time lol0 -
I eat on $120 per month and I eat very well including steak, shrimp, lots of fresh vegetables and fruits. This topic comes up five times a week, there are plenty of solutions if you look for them1
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cmriverside wrote: »I eat on $120 per month and I eat very well including steak, shrimp, lots of fresh vegetables and fruits. This topic comes up five times a week, there are plenty of solutions if you look for them
wow, HOW?! I spend that weekly, minimum. I need to get my kitten together lol0 -
sheermomentum wrote: »And I absolutely agree with avoiding organic produce. There is no health or environmental benefit to it at all. Its basically there to make money for a luxury food industry.
FWIW- it might not be a difference in health for you, eating it. But it does make a difference in the health of the people growing it and there is evidence that it makes an environmental impact as well (organically prepared soils tend to be more fertile, etc).
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/food/is-organic-agriculture-really-better-for-the-environment/2016/05/14/e9996dce-17be-11e6-924d-838753295f9a_story.html?utm_term=.61e6b683a40e
But really when we're talking organic vs non-organic we're really at the top of a sort of food specific Maslovian hierarchy
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cmriverside wrote: »I eat on $120 per month and I eat very well including steak, shrimp, lots of fresh vegetables and fruits. This topic comes up five times a week, there are plenty of solutions if you look for them
wow, HOW?! I spend that weekly, minimum. I need to get my kitten together lol
Depends on your part of the country or world for that matter.2 -
Packaged convenience foods are where the price difference is the biggest. If you stick to whole grains, beans, produce (I try to buy what's on sale) and simple basics you'll do okay. It helps if you have a good discount grocery in your area. We have Aldi, and it's awesome!3
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cmriverside wrote: »I eat on $120 per month and I eat very well including steak, shrimp, lots of fresh vegetables and fruits. This topic comes up five times a week, there are plenty of solutions if you look for them
wow, HOW?! I spend that weekly, minimum. I need to get my kitten together lol
Nope. I've typed out that long reply more times than I should have,
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Oddly enough, I sometimes find that organic versions of the same produce are cheaper. There are also a few vegetables and fruits I buy organic because I like the taste better (celery, baby carrots, and strawberries). Not sure why they taste better, but they do.sheermomentum wrote: »And I absolutely agree with avoiding organic produce. There is no health or environmental benefit to it at all. Its basically there to make money for a luxury food industry.
y'know, I have found that a few times, myself. Not often, but I have seen it.1 -
cmriverside wrote: »cmriverside wrote: »I eat on $120 per month and I eat very well including steak, shrimp, lots of fresh vegetables and fruits. This topic comes up five times a week, there are plenty of solutions if you look for them
wow, HOW?! I spend that weekly, minimum. I need to get my kitten together lol
Nope. I've typed out that long reply more times than I should have,
Like a previous poster mentioned I'm sure this varies by where you live. I live in Toronto and I'd have to eat ramen all month to live on that. I'm fairly certain you are an outlier.
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The only thing we buy since changing our dietary habits that I find to be expensive is fish...we eat quite a bit of it...but that is also offset by the fact that we don't eat as much red meat (also expensive) as we used to. Other than that, whole oats, beans, lentils, potatoes, etc are pretty cheap. We buy most of our fresh produce at Costco (we buy most everything at Costco). We plan the meals we are going to eat on the weekend and shop accordingly.
Our food budget has actually gone down...we don't eat out as often as we used to, and because we're better at meal planning and following through so less food goes to waste than it previously did.2 -
It's actually cheaper in the long run to buy ingredients to make food than buy processed food, which can be pricey, or spend $8 on fast food several times a week which adds up. You just have to buy in season and watch prices.3
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I am kind of tron on this healthy is so expensive thing. I gave up buying combo meals and usually make a sandwich using leftovers for lunch. I eat regular oatmeal for breakfast which is cheap but I add fresh fruit & walnuts to it. Dinner is a piece of fish or meat and produce, not real cheap or expensive when bought at wholesale clubs. When I look at my employees drinking $2.00 energy drinks and $6 - $8 lunches I think it kind of balances out.1
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OP probably wasted all sorts of money on overpriced "organic" "superfoods".1
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I am kind of tron on this healthy is so expensive thing.
I agree. Buy a bag of pinto beans for $3 and you're good to go for a week. However, do you know what? I wouldn't respect Food Inc. (or any pusher/dealer) that didn't offer their junk for a pittance. It is just good business to get the junkies hooked. And they are hooked. Look at this site. The pivotal word is fitness, and even here people will fight to the death their right to have pizza and cheese fries. Well played, Food Inc.
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I am kind of tron on this healthy is so expensive thing.
I agree. Buy a bag of pinto beans for $3 and you're good to go for a week. However, do you know what? I wouldn't respect Food Inc. (or any pusher/dealer) that didn't offer their junk for a pittance. It is just good business to get the junkies hooked. And they are hooked. Look at this site. The pivotal word is fitness, and even here people will fight to the death their right to have pizza and cheese fries. Well played, Food Inc.
Pinto beans taste good to me. Pizza tastes good to me. Both help me meet my nutritional goals and I don't consider myself "hooked" on either one (except to the extent I require some type of food to continue living).2 -
I am kind of tron on this healthy is so expensive thing.
I agree. Buy a bag of pinto beans for $3 and you're good to go for a week. However, do you know what? I wouldn't respect Food Inc. (or any pusher/dealer) that didn't offer their junk for a pittance. It is just good business to get the junkies hooked. And they are hooked. Look at this site. The pivotal word is fitness, and even here people will fight to the death their right to have pizza and cheese fries. Well played, Food Inc.
I like pinto beans with some smoked turkey inside... and I am hooked. What does that mean?
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I must agree. I live in a part of Ohio where they only ways of fresh local produce is corn and maple syrup. For those of us that are on medically necessary specific diets, we tend to spend a lot more on groceries. For my household I spend almost 100 on meat alone for two weeks and thats for a family of 2 and a toddler and shopping at Aldi. In rural America eating healthy can and will break the bank. Most of the stores (at least around me) don't send out regular coupons and the ones that do still have unaffordable prices.
However, I do believe this country wants us overweight. If we are over weight we are subject to more doctors appointments, more tests, more prescriptions, and more time and money spent. All this money is funding big Pharma and the Insurance companies which play a major role in practically every aspect of our nations business and economic platforms (paling a multi billion dollar industry) so of course they want us overweight. The rich need to be richer, right?0
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