Is it me or is this healthy eating lark expensive??
Maldivesbeachbodplease
Posts: 444
So I'm trying to budget this next month and I've realised just how expensive this eating healthy lark is!! Monday to Friday I work very long hours so I have a fresh salad on the way home - that costs me £4.95 minimum. I am going to try & take my own snacks, breakfast & lunch but still!!!
Any cheap suggestions pls? I'm in the uk. I generally cut out starchy carbs for dinner xxx
Any cheap suggestions pls? I'm in the uk. I generally cut out starchy carbs for dinner xxx
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Replies
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Where are you getting a salad that costs £4.95?
I'm in the UK, and I would usually buy
1 big bag spinach leaves (£1)
1 punnet cherry tomatoes (£1)
1/2 cucumber (50p)
1 red pepper (70p)
And that would form the basis of salads for a whole week, adding in something extra each day (a boiled egg, a slice of ham etc)0 -
It can be expensive - if you buy pre-packaged meals, "diet" foods, supplement, shakes etc. Lots of companies take advantage of people who are trying to lose weight and make you pay a premium for single serve, lower calorie meals. I'm pretty convinced that a lot of the space in these meals is taken up by cheap starchy fillers too, you aren't getting the full amount of real food.
But, it doesn't have to be - if you cook your own meals using fruit and veggies in season (or frozen), lean meat or seafood (buy what's on special this week), beans and rice purchased in bulk. This doestake a bit of time, but there are lots of things that you can cook in advance (make a big pot of soup on the weekend for example, or put something in the crockpot before you go to work) so you don't have to buy dinner each day.
I've seen lots of threads listing healthy meals on a budget - if you use the MFP search tool you'll find heaps of helpful info.0 -
If you're buying your salad per made, don't!! I've often had comments how 'expensive' it is to eat healthy. I do everything fresh from home and costs me a fraction of buying it. It's mainly being organised and pre planning. Good luck :-)0
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Yes, it's more expensive to eat healthy. Fresh fruits and vegetables cost a lot more to buy than fatty processed foods. There have been numerous studies showing that people living below the poverty line tend to obesity because they eat what they can afford. When a fast food burger is cheaper than a head of lettuce, well... for some people that difference in price means eating two meals instead of one.0
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cheaper for me, but then again i ate 95% of my meals from take out or delis. for me it's the difference between $600 a month to around $250 a month.
and yeah you should buy the ingredients to make your salad yourself. for about $10 i buy enough salad fixings that will get me about 5-6 servings0 -
Yes, it's more expensive to eat healthy. Fresh fruits and vegetables cost a lot more to buy than fatty processed foods. There have been numerous studies showing that people living below the poverty line tend to obesity because they eat what they can afford. When a fast food burger is cheaper than a head of lettuce, well... for some people that difference in price means eating two meals instead of one.
On the surface it may look like fruit and veg are more $$$$ but really they're not. If you worked out per kg a packet of potato chips are around $20 a kg, where something like a kg of bananas are at the moment around $2-3 ( I'm in Australia). I spend around $250 a week on food, my husbands boss spends $300+ a week. And her cupboards are full of lollies, chips, packaged processed snacks. Not to mention the take away they eat every week.
I understand how hard it can be, shopping around, meal planning and buying what's in season does help though. I could spend even less, but fortunate enough that I can spend that little bit extra, but totally get how hard some families are having it out there.0 -
Yeah it's definitely true about healthy food being more expensive. I'm going to be on a tight budget overseas and I will need to buy more canned vegetables than fresh, apparently they hold the same nutritional value.0
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plant a vegetable garden if you have the space! i feast on tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, carrots, and strawberries all summer long. all it takes is seeds, water, and sun
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I prepare 95% of my food from scratch, and my hubby had just been away for a couple of weeks, so I now know, categorically, that my breakfast, lunch and teas, for 7 days, costs me an average of £30. I plan out my meals/menus/recipes a week in advance, write a corresponding shopping list and stick to it. Only takes me 20 mins to shop, and maybe 20 minutes in the kitchen each evening to put together my tea and lunch.0
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talking in terms of US
A typical salad thats loaded with crap making it unhealthy (bacon, dressings etc) $5
A typical salad I make at home: $0.75
Its costing you alot because you're buying healthy foods from stores rather than cooking it yourself. In US a salad is considered to have the biggest profit margin than any other item on any restaurants menu. A salad that would cost them 75 cents get to be sold for $5 while a steak that costs them $15 is sold for $20.
I cook most of my items at home, I'm a single guy and am not chef level cook but I can cook enough to eat healthy and have some variety. Most meals cost me less than a buck, I spend about $100 - $150 on groceries per month, which includes me eating out 3-4 times a month btw. Eating healthy isnt, buying "healthy items" from stores is0 -
It's actually quite true, a lot of the things you see on 'special offer' in supermarkets are usually processed, carb filled crap which isn't really helpful if you're looking to lose weight or become more healthy.
(I'm a student btw).0 -
Where are you getting a salad that costs £4.95?
I'm in the UK, and I would usually buy
1 big bag spinach leaves (£1)
1 punnet cherry tomatoes (£1)
1/2 cucumber (50p)
1 red pepper (70p)
And that would form the basis of salads for a whole week, adding in something extra each day (a boiled egg, a slice of ham etc)
^^^^ This - I do not live in the UK, but I buy all my salad ingredients fresh, and then assemble my own salad each day......I also keep some of my steamed vegetables (made from raw broccoli, cauliflower, green beans) and add that to my salads......
I buy most of my greens at the local farmers market on a Saturday - and then top up as I need to during the week, so it is not all that expensive in the end of the day (definitely much cheaper than buying pre- made stuff) - and healthier too as I can control the ingredients0 -
Where do you live in the UK? I'm in East London and there's a market around the corner where you can buy big bowls of vegetables for £1. There are also Turkish, Bengladeshi and Chinese supermarkets where you can get interesting healthy foods for cheap. The only downside is that you do have to plan and prepare it yourself.
On the other hand, I don't know what your income is like but if you can afford that £5 salad, don't feel guilty about it! People seem to feel they have to pay the absolute bare minimum for food, but if it makes your life easier and it's something you look forward to, a fiver a day is justifiable.0 -
Yes, it's more expensive to eat healthy. Fresh fruits and vegetables cost a lot more to buy than fatty processed foods. There have been numerous studies showing that people living below the poverty line tend to obesity because they eat what they can afford. When a fast food burger is cheaper than a head of lettuce, well... for some people that difference in price means eating two meals instead of one.
I'm sorry but the conclusions of such "studies" are misguided at best. Rice and beans are cheap and filling. So are lentils and collard greens. Poor people have been doing a lot with cheap cuts of meats forever and it's all pretty healthy. It's true it isn't easy to get a great variety of fresh foods in the inner city. But there's no chicken and egg mystery to it. It's driven by a very troubled culture.
I think many people make illogical comparisons like a burger to a head of lettuce and get confused. What you'll end up spending on the day or the week is far more important than a specific meal or snack or food item. Healthy meals are usually much more filling and stick to your ribs longer.
Still a McDonalds meal is what like $8 or 9? (haven't been in a while.) I don't live in the inner city and can easily do a fine cut of of veal, pork, beef, chicken breast or a great cut of fish and sauteed veggies or small salad for half that. Order off the dollar menu instead? Fine. You'll be hungry in a hour and end up buying an extra meal or two's worth of junk. The burger is cheaper? Only if you can't add.
If you cook like grandma or great grandma did you'll do very well on a budget. If you buy pre-packaged or cooked foods understand you are paying a premium for that convenience. Crap food isn't nearly as cheap as some people claim.0 -
I think it's definitely more expensive in terms of cooking for one and trying to buy fresh produce that has a short shelf life. To try and eat 5-8 fruit and veg portions a day means constantly having to visit the supermarket. A massive bag of spinach is about £1.20, and would last about two weeks if it didn't go slimey after 3 days, but it does so I have to throw out 2/3rds of the bag and go and get more. Same with bananas, huge bunch of about 10 for £1.40, but after 3/4 days they're turning black and you're left with 6 bananas to throw away. The list is endless with this sort of stuff! As i'm only cooking for myself, and I stick to strict portion sizes, I find that I'm constantly running out of good, fresh food because I've had to throw most of it away.
My food budget per week is about £20 (I'm a student) and it does help to buy frozen veg, and have a good look for offers, then buy those that can be portioned and frozen. Doing this though means i'm pretty much eating the same thing every day. I don't have the freezer or fridge space to prepare loads of meals to freeze so that's not an option. I'm also out of the house for at least twelve hours a day and don't have a fridge facility at college, so any food i take to be eaten needs to be able to be held in a bag, along with books and pens and not melt or go off or soggy, which discounts most of the healthy salads and sandwiches right away!0 -
Elle408, if you're wasting food you're not planning well. Just keep it simple. Stick to simple meals like seared meats, sauteed veggies, salads, etc. I'm a bachelor vegetarian who doesn't have much time for cooking or veg prep with a normal sized fridge and I almost never use frozen veggies and never waste fresh food unless I'm sick or have unexpected travel. I also don't go to the market more than twice a week. Take another look at your strategy.0
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It can be expensive if you buy lots of lean meats, fresh veg and branded foods. I rarely buy meat and pad it out with extra veg to make it go further. Most of my veg is frozen and I get the value versions of most foods. I'm also wary about "healthy" or "lighter" foods and always check they actually are healthier than the generic brand. For example, Asda's Smart Price cottage cheese is low fat so you don't need to spend loads more on the Be Good to Yourself version.
I can spend as little as £15 a week this way.0 -
I think it's definitely more expensive in terms of cooking for one and trying to buy fresh produce that has a short shelf life. To try and eat 5-8 fruit and veg portions a day means constantly having to visit the supermarket. A massive bag of spinach is about £1.20, and would last about two weeks if it didn't go slimey after 3 days, but it does so I have to throw out 2/3rds of the bag and go and get more. Same with bananas, huge bunch of about 10 for £1.40, but after 3/4 days they're turning black and you're left with 6 bananas to throw away. The list is endless with this sort of stuff! As i'm only cooking for myself, and I stick to strict portion sizes, I find that I'm constantly running out of good, fresh food because I've had to throw most of it away.
My food budget per week is about £20 (I'm a student) and it does help to buy frozen veg, and have a good look for offers, then buy those that can be portioned and frozen. Doing this though means i'm pretty much eating the same thing every day. I don't have the freezer or fridge space to prepare loads of meals to freeze so that's not an option. I'm also out of the house for at least twelve hours a day and don't have a fridge facility at college, so any food i take to be eaten needs to be able to be held in a bag, along with books and pens and not melt or go off or soggy, which discounts most of the healthy salads and sandwiches right away!
Since I got one here on a shelf in the local grocery store I am thinking you can find one there or buy it online. I got a frozen lunch box for less then 10 dollars US money. It has the frozen gel packs built into the bottom, top and sides. Every night I just wipe it out and put it in the freezer and it is ready to keep my food cold all day long. I bought the really cheap disposable gladware to pack my meals in. That helps a lot bcuz like you both I dont have a place to keep my food cold. It is pretty roomy and I can pack a whole days worth of food and it keeps it just the right temperature. Hope that helps. Also. Here you dont have to buy a whole bunch of bananas. Sometimes I just buy one. Also with the lettuce and greens. If you take the spinach out of the bag, rinse it and put it in a large plastic bowl with a lid or square tub, with layers of paper towel in between. You put a layer about an inch or so and then a moist paper towel then another layer and so on and take it out of the bag it will stay fresh and crisp for more then a week. I also buy ALOT of frozen veggies for when the fresh veggies run out. We never throw rotten produce away. If a banana goes to ripe which is rare in my house but sometimes it happens my daughter just puts it in the freezer. When we collect a few like 4 or 5 she lets them defrost on the counter in a bowl and we make banana/zucchini bread. She says freezing the bananas breaks the cell walls and they are mushier and have a stronger banana taste and I think she is right
let me know if you have any more questions or need more ideas. 0 -
So I'm trying to budget this next month and I've realised just how expensive this eating healthy lark is!! Monday to Friday I work very long hours so I have a fresh salad on the way home - that costs me £4.95 minimum. I am going to try & take my own snacks, breakfast & lunch but still!!!
Any cheap suggestions pls? I'm in the uk. I generally cut out starchy carbs for dinner xxx
It costs me a lot of money too. as I like a lot of different things on my salad. and I have to go in to town twice a week to buy fresh foods as the shelf life isn't that good.0 -
I'm also out of the house for at least twelve hours a day and don't have a fridge facility at college, so any food i take to be eaten needs to be able to be held in a bag, along with books and pens and not melt or go off or soggy, which discounts most of the healthy salads and sandwiches right away!
I work full time, 20 miles from home, and am of the out of the house for 10-12 hours a day. Chuck in four dogs to exercise and a fairly active social life.....and I can still plan and shop for £30 a week, three meals a day 0 -
When I have a salad, it's this...
Satsuma, 30 g 8 3 0 0
Cucumber - With peel, raw, 0.25 cucumber 11 3 0 0
Fresh Produce - Cherry Tomato, 150 grams 24 9 0 2
Generic - Lettuce, chopped (half) 10 1 0 1
Onions - Raw, 1 small 29 7 0 1
Black Olives - Black Olives (Medium), 15 olives 54 3 5 0
Generic - Kiwi Fruit , 30 g 18 4 0 0
Carrots - Raw, 50 g 21 5 0 0
Peppers - Sweet, red, raw, 60 g 16 4 0 1
Ham - Sliced, extra lean, 200 g 220 5 6 35
Fresh Produce - White Mushrooms (Raw), 50 g 11 2 0 2
Grapes - Raw, 100 g 67 17 0 1
I buy the ingredients, and eat some of each each day.
My total food bills (with all the household things like kitchen roll, washing liquid et al) come to an average of under £30 a week, and I have no meat that isn't free-range and mostly organic as well.
I don't know where you are shopping, but I suggest you try somewhere else.
Oh, and walk to your shops, several times a week, as that adds in exercise, and you can buy smaller amounts that won't go off before you've finished them!0 -
Eating the in the UK healthily can be dirt cheap if you do it right.
A packet of branded crisps bought in a multipack is 20p+ , you can get an apple, pear, plum etc for less than that. Shopping at aldi and buying only the fruit and veg that is on offer makes it really cheap. I have 5 guinea pigs and a rabbit so I buy way more veg than most people but I only spend £30 a week on food max for two adults and the animals including their hay.
Buying wholefood beans/grains etc in bulk is cheap and they are great. Quinoa is great high in protein, cheap and tasty when with a salad!
compared to 20 fish fingers for a quid yes healthy is expensive, but compared to eating out or good cuts of meat fruit and veg are cheap IMHO. :-)0 -
I agree it costs more to buy salad more often as I eat more of it. I also had to go wheat free so gluten free bread is £2-£3 for a small loaf with a few slices and you rarely get special offers on them like buy one get one free as they are 'specialty breads' in most supermarkets.
I try and get frozen veg where possible big bags can last me over a month and the supermarkets own brand is often cheaper and just as good when it comes to plain frozen vegetables. Then I can just have veg with meat or fish for dinner and save the salad stuff for lunches. Sometimes I replace bread with like soft corn tortila's to do salad wraps and sometimes they are on special offer and can get two packs for the price of one.
I stick with plain cereals like corn flakes or oats as luckily for me only wheat gluten is the problem so can get big multisave boxes that last a month or so.
I buy a big bag of apples and carrots with some hummus and babybel's that makes a nice light lunch of carrot sticks and apple slices with a babybel that way its easy to work out calories in the portion of cheese! I get 'light baked crisps' too as a treat and small bag is under 100cals and one carrot and apple are hardly any calories.
I always look on the shelves of special offers on things that are about to go out of date, but are often safe to last longer in tins or could be frozen.. tins of tuna or mackerel that can go with my lunch time salad. I try and save on big bags of rice as gluten free pasta is more expensive than regular and often only available in smaller packets.
If things like mini chicken breast fillets are on offer 3 for 2 and work out cheaper than a pack of chicken breasts, I get some and freeze them, you can put enough together to get same amount as in a small chicken breast or often mine are cut up to go in curries or salad wraps anyway!
I occasionally treat myself to something like a gluten free pizza (frozen) which is still way cheaper and much less calories than places like pizza hut etc... often less calories than regular frozen pizza's too.
I used to spend more on brandy & cokes than I do on healthy food now!0 -
Im in UK too and don't find it too expensive. One of my fellow "gym bunnies" recommended the "Diet Assistant" AP. It looks similar to MyFitnessPal but on a green background. It has loads of options to choose from ie high protien, gluten free, etc and plans your weeks worth of meals so you can buy in advance and prepare in advance.
Simples! LOL0 -
im in the uk and i feed myself and two small kids for about 50 to 60 pounds a week. its not expensive and i rarely throw anything away. if i buy a big bag of spinach for example i will boil it all down and eat the entire bag before it goes off. i also add a bit to everything i cook. yes it was more difficult when i worked crazy hours but i had to just make the effort to bring my own food every single day! i also dont feel im depriving myself of anything i eat lots of fish and lean meats. i do food shop about twice a week0
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We did our weeks menu plan and shopped this morning. Our shopping was about £25 less than normal!0
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I'm in Canada and I find it expensive. Our monthly grocery bill nearly doubled!
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I wash fresh fruits and veggies in a solution that is 1 part vinegar and 3 parts water, rinse well and run it through a salad spinner to dry well(line the basket with some paper towels if what you are spinning is delicate(berries). I keep mine in jars in the fridge with a piece of paper towel tucked in the top to absorb moisture. I was tired of throwing away produce also so did some research online about how to keep it fresh longer. I'm going to try the layers of paper towels for my lettuce!0
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Heavily tax junk and very unhealthy foods and use part of that to make healthier food more affordable. It's win/win!! IMO0
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You pay a little more in groceries (sometimes, I actually find healthy eating pretty reasonable, especially since I'm not eating dinner out or stopping for coffee or lunch), but you pay a LOT less in medical bills because you will in general be healthier.0
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