Comments on: Is it Really More Expensive to Eat Healthy Foods? http://beingfrugal.net/2010/04/26/is-it-really-more-expensive-to-eat-healthy-foods/?&owa_medium=feed&owa_sid= Save Money @ BeingFrugal.Net Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:52:59 -0800 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Heather E. Sedlock http://beingfrugal.net/2010/04/26/is-it-really-more-expensive-to-eat-healthy-foods/#comment-29140 Heather E. Sedlock Thu, 14 Jul 2011 07:16:06 +0000 http://beingfrugal.net/?p=3085#comment-29140 I believe this myth gained ground with the induction of eating "organic". One can still eat more healthy, less processed foods and skip the "organic" label. eating from scratch will always be cheaper, per person, per serving, than eating out, eating pre-prepared meals, and so on. For instance, one of my favorite meals is the Hungryman's boneless fried chicken. Comes with a breast of chicken, fake taters, corn and a small square of brownie. I paid $2.98 for it, each (and bought four). It takes 45 minutes in my oven. I made the same meal, from scratch, and in the same time. Difference? It cost me $1.18 per person, per serving. There are ways to make this type of eating even less expensive: buy fresh fruit and veggies that are in season. If you want a type of fruit or veggie that is not in season, buy it frozen or canned: it's still healthier. Buy the fruit packed in water. There are tons more ways of eating healthy on a budget. I was able to maintain a healthy eating lifestyle while receiving foodstamps, after my first husband passed away and I had no income at all. Also, you will end up eating more often when eating healthy because our bodies are made to digest this food and does it easily. There are healthy and cheap ways to snack too, and this website really does a great job of showing you how: <a href="http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes_menus/collections/quick_healthy_snack_recipes" rel="nofollow">Link to Quick and Healthy Snacks</a> I believe this myth gained ground with the induction of eating “organic”. One can still eat more healthy, less processed foods and skip the “organic” label. eating from scratch will always be cheaper, per person, per serving, than eating out, eating pre-prepared meals, and so on. For instance, one of my favorite meals is the Hungryman’s boneless fried chicken. Comes with a breast of chicken, fake taters, corn and a small square of brownie. I paid $2.98 for it, each (and bought four). It takes 45 minutes in my oven.

I made the same meal, from scratch, and in the same time. Difference? It cost me $1.18 per person, per serving.

There are ways to make this type of eating even less expensive: buy fresh fruit and veggies that are in season. If you want a type of fruit or veggie that is not in season, buy it frozen or canned: it’s still healthier. Buy the fruit packed in water.

There are tons more ways of eating healthy on a budget. I was able to maintain a healthy eating lifestyle while receiving foodstamps, after my first husband passed away and I had no income at all.

Also, you will end up eating more often when eating healthy because our bodies are made to digest this food and does it easily. There are healthy and cheap ways to snack too, and this website really does a great job of showing you how:

Link to Quick and Healthy Snacks

]]> By: Trying Hard http://beingfrugal.net/2010/04/26/is-it-really-more-expensive-to-eat-healthy-foods/#comment-28444 Trying Hard Wed, 30 Mar 2011 03:08:51 +0000 http://beingfrugal.net/?p=3085#comment-28444 We have been eating healthier for the past month. Our grocery bill has gone from $125/wk to $200/wk for my husband and me (and 3 cats). I am eating much healthier, have lost 10 pounds, have dropped my total cholesterol by 20 points, and feel better. But I am hungrier all the time, I eat every 2-3 hours, and the cost of food is killing our budget. The fat we used to eat would keep us fuller longer and was much cheaper. But it wasn't healthy for us, and we knew it. Now we need to find the balance so we don't go broke!! We grocery shop two to three times a week. We buy fresh fruits and vegetables for every meal. We avoid eating a lot of rice and pasta, which is cheaper, but we have had problems with portion control of carbs. We also only buy whole grains, which is more expensive than their white flour counterparts. We cook all of our meals and bring lunches to work. We buy whole foods that we break down, not pre-packaged fruit servings or vegetables. Farmer's markets are only in the summer (June, July, August, September) and are MUCH more expensive than the grocery store. FoodShare is cheaper, but you don't know what you'll get from the farmers every week. I don't know how much longer we will be able to keep up the added costs and where we will have to make compromises, but it is DEFINITELY more expensive to eat food that is good for you. We have been eating healthier for the past month. Our grocery bill has gone from $125/wk to $200/wk for my husband and me (and 3 cats).
I am eating much healthier, have lost 10 pounds, have dropped my total cholesterol by 20 points, and feel better. But I am hungrier all the time, I eat every 2-3 hours, and the cost of food is killing our budget. The fat we used to eat would keep us fuller longer and was much cheaper. But it wasn’t healthy for us, and we knew it. Now we need to find the balance so we don’t go broke!!
We grocery shop two to three times a week. We buy fresh fruits and vegetables for every meal. We avoid eating a lot of rice and pasta, which is cheaper, but we have had problems with portion control of carbs. We also only buy whole grains, which is more expensive than their white flour counterparts. We cook all of our meals and bring lunches to work. We buy whole foods that we break down, not pre-packaged fruit servings or vegetables.
Farmer’s markets are only in the summer (June, July, August, September) and are MUCH more expensive than the grocery store. FoodShare is cheaper, but you don’t know what you’ll get from the farmers every week.
I don’t know how much longer we will be able to keep up the added costs and where we will have to make compromises, but it is DEFINITELY more expensive to eat food that is good for you.

]]> By: vegetarian protein http://beingfrugal.net/2010/04/26/is-it-really-more-expensive-to-eat-healthy-foods/#comment-28148 vegetarian protein Thu, 27 Jan 2011 09:30:40 +0000 http://beingfrugal.net/?p=3085#comment-28148 Yes it will probably be more expensive, but is this really enough to stop you from doing all you can to preserve your family’s health? I urge you to rethink your habits, this often done best in a family meeting, and decide to live a healthy life. Well, aside from with so many distractions and obligations, maybe it will be more expensive to have a healthy food. Importantly to do is eat healthy foods for your own sake. All I can say which is important is live healthy without breaking your budget. Yes it will probably be more expensive, but is this really enough to stop you from doing all you can to preserve your family’s health? I urge you to rethink your habits, this often done best in a family meeting, and decide to live a healthy life. Well, aside from with so many distractions and obligations, maybe it will be more expensive to have a healthy food. Importantly to do is eat healthy foods for your own sake. All I can say which is important is live healthy without breaking your budget.

]]> By: bridesmaiddresses http://beingfrugal.net/2010/04/26/is-it-really-more-expensive-to-eat-healthy-foods/#comment-28147 bridesmaiddresses Thu, 27 Jan 2011 01:18:03 +0000 http://beingfrugal.net/?p=3085#comment-28147 You may allow the bridesmaid to dress up in different style depending on her figure. You may allow the bridesmaid to dress up in different style depending on her figure.

]]> By: P.E.P for Week of April 26-30, 2010 :: Prairie EcoThrifter.com http://beingfrugal.net/2010/04/26/is-it-really-more-expensive-to-eat-healthy-foods/#comment-25281 P.E.P for Week of April 26-30, 2010 :: Prairie EcoThrifter.com Tue, 06 Jul 2010 17:45:43 +0000 http://beingfrugal.net/?p=3085#comment-25281 [...] Picks for the Week of April 26-30, 2010 Wow, there was a ton of great reads this week! Is it More Expensive to Eat Healthy Foods?- a post on whether you can eat healthy on a budget.  (@beingfrugal) Are You Obsessed With [...]

[...] Picks for the Week of April 26-30, 2010 Wow, there was a ton of great reads this week! Is it More Expensive to Eat Healthy Foods?- a post on whether you can eat healthy on a budget.  (@beingfrugal) Are You Obsessed With [...]

]]> By: You Can Eat Healthy One Step At A Time http://beingfrugal.net/2010/04/26/is-it-really-more-expensive-to-eat-healthy-foods/#comment-24341 You Can Eat Healthy One Step At A Time Mon, 10 May 2010 11:17:47 +0000 http://beingfrugal.net/?p=3085#comment-24341 [...] [...]

[...] [...]

]]> By: Mason http://beingfrugal.net/2010/04/26/is-it-really-more-expensive-to-eat-healthy-foods/#comment-24295 Mason Wed, 05 May 2010 21:19:06 +0000 http://beingfrugal.net/?p=3085#comment-24295 We're personally making the switch to whole foods (not the store, the type of food). We've done a lot of reading and are finding out a lot about the value of this type of diet. At first glance, it does seem much more expensive but there are also many ways to reduce these expenses, which we'll be exploring as we move forward. The point I wanted to make was from a book I just finished called "In Defense of Food" by Michael Pollan. He claims that, in 1960 Americans spent 17.5 percent of their income on food and and 5.2 percent of the national income on health care but that we now spend 9.9 percent of our income on food and 16 percent of the national income is spent on health care. This seems to say that eating well will end up less expensive over the long term... and you may not have to be sick as much! We’re personally making the switch to whole foods (not the store, the type of food). We’ve done a lot of reading and are finding out a lot about the value of this type of diet. At first glance, it does seem much more expensive but there are also many ways to reduce these expenses, which we’ll be exploring as we move forward. The point I wanted to make was from a book I just finished called “In Defense of Food” by Michael Pollan. He claims that, in 1960 Americans spent 17.5 percent of their income on food and and 5.2 percent of the national income on health care but that we now spend 9.9 percent of our income on food and 16 percent of the national income is spent on health care. This seems to say that eating well will end up less expensive over the long term… and you may not have to be sick as much!

]]> By: Around The Internet Kitchen: Culmination! | Macheesmo http://beingfrugal.net/2010/04/26/is-it-really-more-expensive-to-eat-healthy-foods/#comment-24241 Around The Internet Kitchen: Culmination! | Macheesmo Fri, 30 Apr 2010 11:02:00 +0000 http://beingfrugal.net/?p=3085#comment-24241 [...] Is it Really More Expensive to Eat Healthy? A great post and good discussion about the costs of eating healthy.  My take on it is that even if it’s more expensive to eat healthy day-to-day, it’s worth it.  If you save money now by eating junk then you’re just passing on health costs to your future self.  I really do believe that you’ll pay more over your lifetime by eating poorly than if you just invest in healthy food on a daily basis.  But what do I know… (@ Being Frugal) [...]

[...] Is it Really More Expensive to Eat Healthy? A great post and good discussion about the costs of eating healthy.  My take on it is that even if it’s more expensive to eat healthy day-to-day, it’s worth it.  If you save money now by eating junk then you’re just passing on health costs to your future self.  I really do believe that you’ll pay more over your lifetime by eating poorly than if you just invest in healthy food on a daily basis.  But what do I know… (@ Being Frugal) [...]

]]> By: Good Reads: April Snow : Domestic Cents http://beingfrugal.net/2010/04/26/is-it-really-more-expensive-to-eat-healthy-foods/#comment-24240 Good Reads: April Snow : Domestic Cents Fri, 30 Apr 2010 10:36:48 +0000 http://beingfrugal.net/?p=3085#comment-24240 [...] Is It Really More Expensive To Eat Healthy Foods? | Being Frugal [...]

[...] Is It Really More Expensive To Eat Healthy Foods? | Being Frugal [...]

]]> By: Cindy http://beingfrugal.net/2010/04/26/is-it-really-more-expensive-to-eat-healthy-foods/#comment-24236 Cindy Thu, 29 Apr 2010 23:17:30 +0000 http://beingfrugal.net/?p=3085#comment-24236 I have found that health food specialty stores (ie. Whole Foods) have better than Wal-Mart prices on some things and over the top prices on others. You just have to know your price. I buy a lot of bulk grains, nuts and seeds from local stores specializing in emergency preparedness and storage (I live in Utah, it's almost a hobby for some people). Most bulk grains are less than a $1/lb so I soak and sprout a lot of these. Raw vegan author Ani Phyo has taught me a lot about the flexibility of soaked whole grains. The packaged foods in health stores have much simpler ingredients that you can experiment with at home. Contributing your own labor and creativity instead of paying someone else for it is always rewarding. I have found that health food specialty stores (ie. Whole Foods) have better than Wal-Mart prices on some things and over the top prices on others. You just have to know your price. I buy a lot of bulk grains, nuts and seeds from local stores specializing in emergency preparedness and storage (I live in Utah, it’s almost a hobby for some people). Most bulk grains are less than a $1/lb so I soak and sprout a lot of these. Raw vegan author Ani Phyo has taught me a lot about the flexibility of soaked whole grains. The packaged foods in health stores have much simpler ingredients that you can experiment with at home. Contributing your own labor and creativity instead of paying someone else for it is always rewarding.

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