Eating Healthy is Expensive

Published on May 16, 2005 By foreverserenity In Health & Medicine

I’ve come to realize something, eating healthy is expensive. Have you taken a look at prices in the supermarkets lately? Food prices have gone up. Shopping for a family of four, or in my case a family of five has gotten quite expensive, even at the Wal-Mart.

I know some people here have sworn off Wal-Mart; hey it’s a free world isn’t it? I haven’t, at least not yet. I shop at other places as well, Super Target, Albertson’s, Publix, Save Rite. I shop at each store for different reasons. Firstly, where the sales are, secondly, convenience. The Wal-Mart is the closet of all these stores and no matter how expensive food choices are becoming, it tends to be the least expensive place to shop. That’s reality folks, costs will tend to be the way most people and I shop.

I’ve noticed that when I shop and buy healthy (not that I buy a lot of junk food, when you have kids though, and a husband with a sweet tooth, so there will be some junk in your basket), food items my grocery bill is a lot higher. Fruits are not cheap, I don’t think they are. And even when you buy them on sale, buying enough for five people tends to add up. If you choose organic products over the regular grown ones or over those with preservatives, they’re more expensive.

What I don’t understand though is why do these food items have to be so expensive. Basic food items like milk and potatoes and sugar may be inexpensive to some, but they can be out of reach for others. Or a family might be able to just purchase the basic food items and is unable to buy fruits and/or vegetables at the same time. Given this fact, that she can’t buy everything her family needs all the time, how can a mom be sure that she is giving her family all they need to eat to be nutritious and healthy and not be deficient in any way? It might be pretty easy for some moms who don’t need any advice, but for others, having a little guidance helps a lot.

The new food pyramid (and of course your doctor) that is now out there should be of some help to people if they really need guidance when it comes to the types of food to buy to make sure their family eats nutritiously. Link

I’ve often wondered why the items that are more fattening and obviously not good for you to have everyday are cheaper than the healthier items. Snacks and sodas are cheaper than fruits. Juices that have only 10% juice in them are less expensive than those with 100% fruit juices. Even the laundry soap that is supposedly the best brand, like Tide is a lot more expensive than those that are considered inferior to it.

So if a family that shops at their favorite store on a weekly basis and on a budget wants to eat healthy, it won’t be easy doing that because by the time they get to the cash register, the cost of that grocery will be way over $100.

Then what can a family do to alleviate this? I say shop around. Look for the stores with the sales on products that you like or need and go there to buy those items. Some of these stores tend to compete with each other too, so sometimes you will get some really great buys. Although I like shopping at Wal-Mart, I prefer to buy my fruits at Target or Albertson’s. They tend to be fresher and the cost is better at either of the two. Plus, they always, always have fruits on sale and the variety is really good. Wal-Mart doesn’t have fruits on sale and they tend to just have apples, oranges and kiwis and sometimes grapes. If I had to have made a choice though, Target wins hands down.

Oh yes, and let me not forget shop with coupons. I wrote an article about this before. Link
Shopping with coupons does help a lot. Sometimes it is frustrating if the coupons you have are worthless. But looking for and clipping coupons for those items that you buy often are really worth it. I like it when my bill is really high and then gets lowered by the coupons I use. Now that’s priceless!

Comments

PlausibleDeniability

on May 16, 2005

Another tip-canned or frozen fruits and vegetables tend to be cheaper as well. They're not as good as
the fresh but they're alright, (especially frozen,) and have all the same nutrients. But you're right. I'm a
vegetarian, and while I think it tends to be cheaper in restaurants it can be as much or more expensive
in the store, especially is I get a protein substitue like seitan or fancy tofu.

Gideon MacLeish

on May 16, 2005

Eating healthy is only as expensive as you make it. Gardens can be grown in remarkably small spaces, which is why I advocate for an urban greening campaign. And part of it is HOW you eat; beef, for instance, is now a "luxury item" for us at upwards of $3.00 a pound for the cheap cuts. But bread can be made, reducing the cost, and many vegetables can be grown in most parts of the US

And I no longer rely on the government to tell me how to eat. There's a HUGE credibility gap there

dharmagrl

on May 16, 2005

And I no longer rely on the government to tell me how to eat. There's a HUGE credibility gap there

If it were the American Medical Association food guide, then I'd be more apt to listen. As it is, it's the U.S. Department of Agriculture that provides it.....make of that what you will.

Eating healthy IS more expensive. When we can afford it, I try and buy organic produce and dairy, but quite often I end up paying TWICE as much for the organic stuff as I do non-organic.

If the military would let me, I'd have a big vegetable garden and a couple of fruit trees. As it is, they don't like people digging up their gardens so I can grow my own. When D retires, though...we're looking at being as self-sufficient as we can be. We're wanting to have a veggie garden, an orchard, bees, chickens and a couple of goats - a homestead in other words.

MasonM

on May 16, 2005

I agree that junk is less expensive. I always try to eat reasonably healthy foods (ok I do have a weakness for chocolate cream oreos) and the healthier organic foods can be quite a bit higher.

As I suffer from IBS, I have to be careful about what I eat and the stuff that's "good for me" is also more expensive.

Gideon MacLeish

on May 16, 2005

dharma,

If I were you, I'd look into container gardening.

We've stopped worrying about "organic" produce and started simply washing our produce thoroughly. "Organic" is a marketing term, and you can often find produce of equal quality at a farmer's market that is much cheaper and NOT "organic" because they didn't pay the money to be "certified" as such.

When you either eliminate or cut down the meat in your diet, you quickly find that, for many of us, meat is the most expensive part of our grocery bill. As we've researched it, if you eliminate the meat, even with organic produce selections, you STILL come out saving money (a good roast can sometimes set you back $20). Pinto beans, on the other hand, cost as little as 50 cents a pound...or even less...when combined with rice, or other grains, you have complete proteins.

My point is, yes, most of us WANT the luxury items, but we don't HAVE to have them to eat properly. Variety is wonderful, but is not essential to survival.

If I were to tell you how little our family spends on food each month, you wouldn't believe it. But our children are healthy and happy, and best of all, I'm not working 2-3 jobs just to keep them fed.

foreverserenity

on May 16, 2005

Reply By: Sarah StoecklPosted: Monday, May 16, 2005Another tip-canned or frozen fruits and vegetables tend to be cheaper as well. They're not as good as the fresh but they're alright, (especially frozen,) and have all the same nutrients.

I agree Stacy, the frozen variety is just as good. The only time it isn't good for you is when it has all those sauces added to it, that consists of ingredients with a lot of calories and additives which isn't good for you. That's why I buy regular frozen vegetables that you steam or stir fry.

Reply By: Gideon MacLeishPosted: Monday, May 16, 2005Eating healthy is only as expensive as you make it. Gardens can be grown in remarkably small spaces, which is why I advocate for an urban greening campaign. And part of it is HOW you eat; beef, for instance, is now a "luxury item" for us at upwards of $3.00 a pound for the cheap cuts. But bread can be made, reducing the cost, and many vegetables can be grown in most parts of the USAnd I no longer rely on the government to tell me how to eat. There's a HUGE credibility gap there

Oh yes Gid, how expensive it is will depend on the buyer. And having the space and time to grow your own garden is certainly better. But not everyone have this. We mostly eat chicken and pork. Beef is eaten one or twice a month because it can be pricey. I do like to prepare lean ground beef as a meat sauce though with speghetti! So I guess in that case we eat beef more than once or twice a month!

Reply By: dharmagrlPosted: Monday, May 16, 2005And I no longer rely on the government to tell me how to eat. There's a HUGE credibility gap there If it were the American Medical Association food guide, then I'd be more apt to listen. As it is, it's the U.S. Department of Agriculture that provides it....

I wonder why the AMA isn't the organization that prepares this. You would think they are the one more suited to do so, right?

I'd have a big vegetable garden and a couple of fruit trees. As it is, they don't like people digging up their gardens so I can grow my own.

We can't do that where we live too, in an apartment complex. But you can grow the potted kind and I just don't find the time to do so.

We're wanting to have a veggie garden, an orchard, bees, chickens and a couple of goats - a homestead in other words.

This does sounds wonderful Dharma. A really good plan! Maybe Gideon can give some lessons!

foreverserenity

on May 16, 2005

Reply By: MasonMPosted: Monday, May 16, 2005I agree that junk is less expensive. I always try to eat reasonably healthy foods (ok I do have a weakness for chocolate cream oreos) and the healthier organic foods can be quite a bit higher.

Yummy Oreos, and that is the more expensive kind of cookies, if you call $3.84 for a bag of cookies expensive! Yep, eating organic is expensive.

As I suffer from IBS, I have to be careful about what I eat and the stuff that's "good for me" is also more expensive.

This must be difficult Mason? I have a friend who has a stomach problem as well. I'm not sure what his is called. But he had to have an operation to correct it and make his life a little better. It didn't solve his problems but it made eating for him a little better. He does have flair ups from time to time though so I can understand what you go through.

We've stopped worrying about "organic" produce and started simply washing our produce thoroughly. "Organic" is a marketing term, and you can often find produce of equal quality at a farmer's market that is much cheaper and NOT "organic" because they didn't pay the money to be "certified" as such.

Organic is just not just about the name. It's about how the food is grown and the fact that there aren't any harmful pesticides used to help it grow. Or the method involved with growing the foods, it's grown naturally and not "forced" as is done a lot here in the US.

Pinto beans, on the other hand, cost as little as 50 cents a pound...or even less...when combined with rice, or other grains, you have complete proteins.

Beans are very good to have in the diet. I use them all the time too.

Gideon MacLeish

on May 16, 2005

What I am saying is that there is much "organic" quality food that can't be labelled "organic" because the farmer can't afford the certification process. The food I grow is in fact organic, but if I were to label it as such, I would be sued. And if I WERE to go through the certification process and sell my produce for less than other organic gardeners thought fair, I'd have a whole slew of angry organic gardeners at my door because I broke their unwritten code. Price fixing is epidemic in organic gardening circles, sadly.

So while "organic" may tell you something about how the food is grown, it's a marketing term like anything else, and it serves to raise the cost of the food unnecessarily high.

mick_k

on May 16, 2005

Alot of times fresh fruits and vegetables are not as nutritious as forzen or canned. For example:

According to research from Pennsylvania State University, a bag of spinach that has been stored at 39 degrees Fahrenheit for eight days has lost half of its folate and carotenoids, compounds known for their importance in preventing birth defects, fighting heart disease and preventing blindness and cancer.

And at higher temperatures, the breakdown was even faster. At 50 degrees it took only six days to reach about half of initial levels; at 68 degrees it took four.

The problem is you don't know how llong it took for the fruit or vegetable to get to the store and how long it sat there. Also chopped or crushed fruit and vegetables lose their nutrition quicker.

So get frozen or canned unless you know the fruit or vegetable comes from a local grower and ask the grocer when it arrived.

foreverserenity

on May 16, 2005

The food I grow is in fact organic, but if I were to label it as such, I would be sued. And if I WERE to go through the certification process and sell my produce for less than other organic gardeners thought fair, I'd have a whole slew of angry organic gardeners at my door because I broke their unwritten code. Price fixing is epidemic in organic gardening circles, sadly.

Isn't it ridiculous that you grow your own food and it can't be labeled as organic?! The hoops that a farmer have to go through is sometimes uncessary too. And other gardeners would be up in arms? Wow! I can see your point though. You're right, price fixing is an epidemic and it is not only price fixing but price gouging!

Here's my hints:

Buy in season.
Buy on sale.
Buy in bulk, then freeze or can.

These are very good suggestions LW. I do everything but the canning part. I usually freeze left overs are anything that I know is reusable.

Rambling here, I know, but for instance, when we make a pot roast, we get several meals out of it.

Day 1: Pot Roast dinner. (with carrots or peas and mashed taters, of course)
Day 2: Open face "roast beef" sandwiches--(leftover roast slices with gravy.)
Day 3: French Onion soup (make the roast in a crockpot, save all the juices and the leftover gravy from the second day, sautee a large pan full of onions till carmelized, add any leftover bits of beef, juices and gravy, and a couple of low salt bullion cubes if needed, some worchestershire sauce, pepper, and let simmer. Serve with giant croutons made from stale bread, float them on top of the individual bowls, cover with a thin slice of hard low fat cheese like swiss (you bought in bulk) and slide under broiler till cheese bubbles.

Delicious, nutritious, and look how far you made that bit of meat go!

This is definately great to do too. On Saturday that's what I did, reused left overs that were in the fridge from the past weeks food. It was tasty too. Since my kids can be a bit fussy, (the younger ones) they also had the choice of frozen pizza which I had in stock! A mom has to use her head and get creative!

MasonM

on May 16, 2005

Sounds like he may have Crohn's disease which can be treated via surgery. The symptoms are nearly identical to IBS and the two can often only be distinguished by a colonoscopy.

dharmagrl

on May 16, 2005

If I were you, I'd look into container gardening.

I do. I have tomatoes and peppers on the go right now. I love being able to go pick a tomato right off the vine to have for lunch!

Yeah, that's what we do. That's what I meant by 'organic'; the produce at the farmer's market is sometimes healthier than the 'organic' stuff I get at the commissary.

When you either eliminate or cut down the meat in your diet, you quickly find that, for many of us, meat is the most expensive part of our grocery bill

We don't eat meat every day, and I'm the queen of leftovers in these parts! A sunday beef roast will become Monday's hot roast beef sandwhiches. A roast chicken will last 2 or sometimes 3 days...what doesn't get eaten on day one gets put in a casserole or curry on day 2, and the carcass gets used for chicken and veggie soup for day 3. Even cheaper things like chilli can get stretched....we'll have chilli and rice/crackers one night, and then we'll have chili dogs the night afterwards so we're maximizing the leftovers.

A lot of economizing can be done with grocery budgets just by utilizing your leftovers!

Shovelheat

on May 16, 2005

Why do people complain about the cost of fruit and veggies and milk and meat but never say a word about the high cost of cigarettes, booze, dope, lottery tickets, or junk like Link? Hmmm...

But don't get me wrong,foreverserenity, I'm not meaning to be sarcastic. I, too, am trying to eat healthy and I know where you're coming from. Good article!!!

foreverserenity

on May 16, 2005

spices. lots of them.

I always have lots of spices in my cupboard. We don't cook without em.

Sounds like he may have Crohn's disease which can be treated via surgery. The symptoms are nearly identical to IBS and the two can often only be distinguished by a colonoscopy.

Hmm, I'm not sure. He did have surgery like I said. He can't eat anything with flour or dairy products.

A lot of economizing can be done with grocery budgets just by utilizing your leftovers!

Oh most definately Dharma.

Why do people complain about the cost of fruit and veggies and milk and meat but never say a word about the high cost of cigarettes, booze, dope, lottery tickets,

Well Shovel, I don't smoke (although my husband does, I drink occasionally and don't go out to buy often, and I play the lotto with my office buddies occasinally when the prize is really large. So, those things are not basics, they're luxuries!

But don't get me wrong,foreverserenity, I'm not meaning to be sarcastic. I, too, am trying to eat healthy and I know where you're coming from. Good article!!!

Don't worry Shovel, I'm not offended! Eating more healthy is definately the way to go! And I still eat ice cream and chocolate occasionally too!

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