The "eating healthy is expensive" myth

Why is this chart made using the cheapest "healthy" food and the most expensive "unhealthy" food?

because it isn't an honest chart. it's a graphic made with the intention of proving a point. one that, in the experience of many, is incorrect. so, in fact, the myth is a myth myth is a myth.

So much of it depends on where you live, what you were eating before and whether or not now that you are now choosing organic produce and meat vs just non-organic versions of the same. I don't usually buy the organic versions unless they are the same price as the regular.

I'm spending a lot less money now because of not buying doritos, bags of pizza rolls, fast food, and the like. I also don't buy much fruit, sometimes strawberries or bananas, but usually only if they are on sale. Prices for blueberries and other small berries really are expensive..haven't checked out the frozen versions though, I will! Chicken breasts I often get for 2.00 to 2.50 a lb (boneless skinless, on sale). I buy a lot when they are on sale. If they aren't on sale I buy thighs instead, and debone them myself and those are often between 1.50 and 2.00 a lb. I just bought three 2 lb bags of frozen broccoli for 1.98 a bag. I eat a lot of rice and beans, and use a lot of canned tomatoes. Lettuce, red or green peppers, cucumbers and onions are things I buy every 5 or 6 days and can't really wait for a sale on but they aren't too expensive usually. The most expensive things I regularly buy are greek yogurt (about 6 dollars for one of the 4 cup tubs) , one of the low calorie breads (usually about 4 to 4.5 dollars) and eggs. I only will buy cage free eggs, the regular eggs are usually cheap though. I live 20 miles away from the closest big grocery stores and find myself now planning my shopping in great detail, whereas before I didn't plan much at all. We do have a small grocery close to us but items are much more expensive there in general.

I'm spending more at the store now, but I'm able to make more meals out of what I buy than if I spent $20/day on restaurant meals. We were doing way too much eating out even if we were making the healthier choices from given menus. I shop the perimeter and have started buying more fresh fruit, especially on sale. I keep an eye out for coupons that will help with dairy prices and frozen fruits/veggies as well. I started coupon shopping last year and figured out how to stretch the grocery money a bit further. Now If I can just convince my self that water that I put through my Brita pitcher tastes as good as bottled water and start refilling my water bottles, we will be onto something.

It can be more expensive as my husband and daughter are obviously not dieting...lol! I get different butter, mayo, ect and get the stuff they like as well. It has only changed in the form of fast food, eating out, and quick stop marts. I don't go in for a Starbucks 3 days a week and take my lunch to work daily, including all snacks.

It WILL change and go up drastically if you make the change to veggie / vegan eating. Veggie food is super pricey!!!! Oh, and you are right, our produce here in the states can be a bit on the expensive side, so we just hit up the farmers market during the season and are starting our own garden as well!

I wouldnt call a lot of those "healthy" options healthy.

it's honestly about the same. i still buy a lot of "convenience foods" which can be expensive, but fresh and frozen aren't too bad. i generally only buy store brand too, i'm not that picky.

For me the expense has risen - I'm shopping more often and buying a new variety of things - some of which does amount to more than I'd get if i wasn't worrying about my weight.

O HAHA I guess I have been doin it all wrong.. cuz I find yea its a lil cheaper but I also tend to run out of my healthy foods faster Like for examples: Banana's gone in 1 wk, peanut butter gone in 11 days, bagged beans gone the day i make them or my have left overs for a few days thats it.. and alot of the healthy food it just goes soooooooo fast.. so yea, its cheaper but then its not. CUZ U IMMEDIATELY HAVE TO CONSTANTLY BE BUYING FOOD AGAIN

Honestly - I think it can be cheaper, or It can be more expensive. For me it is cheaper to eat healthy - because I can cook all my food from basic ingredients. I have transport to get me to the shops, I have gas and power and a well set up kitchen.

It really depends on your level of knowledge of healthy choices, your ability to meal plan, shop smart and cook well, and the availability of basic healthy ingredients in your area.

Unfortunately many people who don't have much money also don't always have all those skills and may not have transport to get to bulk buy places or farmers markets where you can get cheap healthy food.

for me the price seems higher now but I am noticing with potion control I still have a lot of some things left over and I'm half way thru the week. I am eating perishable first and I do buy canned instead of dried beans. but as I get a handle on this I expect it to go down. I am not shopping extra during week for cr@p. I am planning out my meals.