Eating Healthy Costs $$$ !!!

I have to vent:

I try and do my main grocery once a week and supplemnet things like fruit and veggies ever three or four days. We don't waste food! I've even started going to Costco (we've had a membership there for years but there are only three of us) for bulk items such as fish, chicken, cereal and such. As I said, there are three of us in my household, 2 adults and a ten year old. All of us have changed our diet and are enjoying food now more than we ever have before. We eat two meals a day together, we cook and research new recipes together, even the kitchen is neater...LOL!

Anyway, yesterday I went to the store and spent $109.35 and didn't even get everything. I've been spending in average about $175 a week on food. We're still pretty conservative about what we buy, I don't mind buying generic or store name. However, the bottom line is that healthy eating costs a small fortune. I think I'll start pushing my car to work for extra cardio. At least then I won't have to worry about mounting gas prices on top of my grocery bill.

Are any of you running into this same problem? Also, do you have any suggestions on how to economize or maybe where to go to get the best deal?

Thanks!

I have actually found that since starting to eat healthier I've been spending less money. I'm not buying as many junk-y snacks and if you buy the produce that's in season it's quite inexpensive.

I used to spend about $150 a week-week and a half (it's just me and my husband) but now I only spend about $40 per week. Granted, it's for breakfast and dinner fixings only since we both usually buy our lunch out, but I have noticed we've been spending less!

The fresh, healthy food can be more expensive than boxed or prepackaged food, but I guess the difference is that I'm buying less junk. A box of Wheat-thins is $2.65 but a pound of inseason apples is $1.99, for example.

Sorry, I guess this wasn't very helpful, but just sharing my experience.  :) Hope some other people have some tips for you!

I know what you mean . We go to Costco as well. I also go to the market later in the afternoon  and barter with the venders sometimes you can get better deals if you buy large amounts from them .I then share with friends and family and freeze stuff for later. If you find friends and family to split on the cost it is amazing the money you will save.

I agree eating healthy is expensive.  For the past four or five years my partner and I have been buying organic meat and produce from our co-op.  We very rarely eat out, however, since we believe we can eat better at home!  What  helps me is to realize that buying organic food is an investment in myself and my future well being.

ummm... sorry, no tips, just sympathy!  I have a garden and like to can my own tomatoes and grow my own lettuce... maybe you can start a bartering system with like minded people?

    

Like Cara, I noticed I've been spending less. What I do is buy a giant
bag of frozen chicken breasts at Costco and that usually lasts me
awhile. I keep an eye out for sales on foods that will last awhile,
like cans of tuna, soup, canned corn, etc. and stock up on that. I'm
also queen of the store brand products. I've traded in my junk food
snacks for things like yogurt and pudding, which are almost always on
sale. Another trick my mom taught me is to  go to the 99 cent
store (or any dollar store that's by you) before going to the grocery
store. Some of them have fresh produce and a good selection of snacks.
I try to buy what I can there, and then go to the grocery store. Each
time I went grocery shopping, I spent about 60 bucks for a weeks worth
of food (it's only me), this last time that I went, I only spent about
30, and I got a lot more food this time around. 

I know what you mean....buying lean meat is so much more expensive than what I used to buy for my family.  And a box of 97 cent Kraft dinner goes much further than any healthy alternative.

HOWEVER, in the long run, I truly believe that it will pay off.  So for now, we eat healthy, but have no cable TV, no Satellite, no cell phone, no magazine subscriptions....the list goes on.  And you know what?  I am happy with the changes we have made.  They benefit everyone in my family as the kids are not only eating better, but getting more exercise (no TV does that!!), reading more and just being healthier.

I agree with some of the previous posters.  Stay away from convenience items - pre-packaged foods in particular.  I am trying to use the rule that if I can't readily imagine what an ingredient looks like then I will really re-consider whether I should buy it. 

I also limit buying beverages other than milk.  Other than that, we drink a lot of water with juice being a treat.  Cold cereal is very expensive.  I can buy oats for about 14 cents for a 100 grams and it is so much cheaper than cold cereal.  Also, you can cut down on the lean meat and add some beans.  They are usually much cheaper especially if you buy them dry.

Oh, and check with your produce manager.  Sometimes they will sell some produce cheaper if you buy more which works for some things that keep a long time (like apples, potatoes etc.).

Good luck

DJ

I don't know how long ago you made the switch to try to eat healthier, but keep in mind that if it is recent you may be restocking your pantry and changing what you might consider basics.  There are two of us (and two large dogs), and we spend around$200 month on at the grocerystore- but, I've been cooking "healthier" for a long time so my kitchen is already set up that way. And that is for ALL meals- we don't eat out much, and try to take our lunches.

  I always notice if I'm trying new recipies that I end up spending a little more because I have to buy new spices or condiments or flavorings.  Once I've made those purchases, though, it does go down a bit.   I would suggest you try farmers markets, co-ops, spices in bulk (makes a HUGE price difference!)- they are frequently cheaper.

" Pick it yourself" produce (if you have any in the area) is usually inexpensive.  If you're stocking up on meat, it is the most expensive part for me usually, and I'll only buy meat once a month or two months, portion it into 1 lb packages and freeze most of it- the rest of the month that cost is less.  By the way, if you watch the store ads, you can usually get meat cheaper at the grocery than Costco- I always buy skinless boneless chicken breast, and I don't (in at least 3 years) pay more than $2 a lb. On the other hand, I'm specifically looking at eating inexpensive, so we don't have fish as much as I would like, and my husband can't eat red meat, so no beef. 

We also have a store here that is a farm market store, and the product is usually cheaper (for what is in season) than the regular store.  If you're trying to eat more organic, you're kind of stuck because it does cost more, but next year you could try planting a garden and see if it helps- I don't purchase tomatos  or squash (for example) at all during the summer because it comes out of my garden- which I don't use chemicals on so it is sort of organic-ish. 

If your costs are still through the roof, a nice healthy pasta dish can help, plus there are some websites that post healthier low cost dishes- I have those at home though, so if you can't find them let me know and I'll try and post some. 
Hope some of this helps!

I am also finding that buying healthy is expensive.  I also find that I don't eat out as much.  I just hope that the money I am saving from not eating out will compensate for the supermarket bill. 

I've noticed it costs a lot, too. I live in a college town, so I am sure the cost of living is a little high, but I am on my own and spend about $60-$75 for a week or week and a half.

Some of my tips would be to make a shopping list and not deviate. It's easy to throw a few things extra in the cart, even if they are healthy! I also have tried different stores, writing the costs of things on that list so I know what to buy where. I live alone, and a lot of recipes make a ton---too much to eat in a couple of days. this is actually good, though, because I just freeze extras. I have healthy meals in a jiffy and I don't waste. I came from a small family, so I learned this trick from my mom :)

In the long run I am sure we are saving money by living healthy. We hopefully won't have so many expensive medical bills later in life!

~cm

I do most of my shopping in the produce aisle, and out of season vegetables and fruits can be pricey.  This time of the year it's great because there are farmer's markets and roadside stands with wonderful stuff.  We're not that far from the Amish farms in Lancaster County, Pa. 

I've cut costs on things like cookies, chips and other snack foods, soft drinks and juice, baked goods, processed foods, frozen dinners and the like.  I've increased spending on extra lean meats, fish and whole grains.  Over all I'm spending more, but getting more nutrition for my buck. 

There are several things I buy that are usually cheap - carrots and cabbage, chicken (on sale), beans and brown rice.

I switched over last month to healthy foods and I swear to you I spent $1000 on groceries for our 5 person family.  I added it all up from our credit card bill because I couldnt believe it.  Hopefully since it was a switchover it was a one time thing.  I would really like to see my grocery bill back down to $400-$500.

Thanks for all of your great suggestions. We've pretty much perfected our grocery list in the last couple of months. I know we save money by rarely eating out anymore. We also don't purchase very much in the way of "short cut" foods with the exception of roasted chicken for lunch. We don't buy organic, it's just too expensive.

I think the thing that kills us is shopping for protein. I haven't been as proactive about looking for good deals. Although I was very proud of myself yesterday when I saw these family size packages of chicken breasts for sale and I took them home even though I didn't need than at the moment. I'm happy to report my freezer is chuck full of fish, chicken and lean pork chops so I shouldn't have to shop for that until next month. I just have to remember to date everything after I seperate and weigh it.

I'll tell you what, it's a good feeling knowing exactly what you have in your fridge and it's also made me a lot more organized in the kitchen. I seperate everything in 4-6 oz servings so I know exactly how much were eating and have the added advantage of just reaching int he freezer and having it already portioned. Hubby marvels at how fast I can get dinner on the table! I love being able to plan ahaed like that.

Christenwentboom - Great idea about the dollar store! Your lucky you can find produce where you are as our dollar stores dont have much in the way of food items (or not anything I would want to eat.....it's a lot of junk). However, you can stock up on hygene items such as soap, shampoo, lotions and hairstuff and even make-up which save you a lot of $$ at the grocery store.

Newdock - you're so right about beverages! We stopped buying bottled water from the grocery store altogether. We go to Costco and get one of those 3 gallon water pitcers and 24 packs of bottled water there. Soda is a thing of the past......I can't remember the last time I drank a soda??

hhillhouse - You bought up some excellent points, particularly about spices. We also like to try new things and are finding that we go through a lot of spices. My family loves middle-eastern and mediterranean style foods so you can imagine how many new spices we'e introduced. I live in an apartment and have a huge container garden on my patio that includes Greek oregano, rosemary, thyme, sweet marjoram, parsly and basil. I love using fresh spices. However, for other things such as corriander, paprika, cuman and curry we obviously have to buy. Fortunatly, I just found out about an Indian spice bazaar that is litteraly right across the street from where I work. You can buy bulk for next to nothing. They have some really exotic things I'm looking forward to trying. I'm hoping that by stocking up this will make a difference. OK, on a side note, you mentioned your dogs. I have two dogs as well and we couldn't leave them out of the fun. We recently changed their Eukanuba kibble to very balanced, chemical free, holistic food called Nutro Ultra. The difference is amazing. Their coats are are beautiful and they also don't eat as much. It does cost a small fortune but it's worth it. I have pictures of them on my profile if you want to see them!

plankcm - I'm going to try your idea about making extra. The only time I'm tempted to eat out is if we're on the run. Making extra and having ready made meals would eliminate that excuse. I agree about it being easy to throw extras in the cart and I suspect this is happening more often than I realize. I'm gonna go home and write down everything in my cupboard nd compare this to my grocery list. Bottom line, STICK TO THE LIST!!!

Thank you to everyone who suggested farmers markets. I'm actually driving up to Gettysburg next weekend (I live in Northern Virginia) and one of the things I'm looking most forward to are the market stands you pass on the way and the peaches!! Anyone who has ever been to Thurmont, Maryland knows about their peaches! Better then a Georgia peach anyday.

Thanks for all of your suggestions.........feel free to keep 'em coming! :~)

One more tip for you-  my freezer is always stocked FULL, and you can't see what is behind the front layer.  I bought a small dry erase board and put it on the side of my fridge so I can write down what I have- I usually divide my meats into 1 lb packages, so I just note how many packages I have in the freezer.  It works well for meals too- soup, lasagne, etc.

Your dogs are beautiful by the way- I've never heard of an Azawakh before- I'm guessing an Egyptian or African breed?  I've just added pictures of mine on my journal, if you want to check them out!

Great idea about the dry erase board. I think my daughter has a magnetic chalk board which would do the trick too.

The Azawakh is a North African Breed, bred by the Tuareg in the Sahel region of the Sahara desert. Interestingly enough, some do believe that they came there by way of Egypt. They are very closely related to the Afghan Hound, the Saluki and Sloughi. Like these dogs, they are a very ancient and fast breed that can run for miles. We never really intended on getting one when we did. However, when we met Zakara, we just fell in love!

Here's some more information if you're interested:

www.azawakhs.org/breedinformation.htm

that_elaine, the metro DC area is among the highest in the continental US for grocery prices, alas!

Where does your husband play? My fiance is a musician (composer and clarinestist, and on his way at this moment to a clarinet convention).

Why doesn't that surprise me!! This area seems to be expensive for everything.......you should have a look at housing prices! Are you from around here?? 

Hubby is the Music Director/Organist for a Lutheran church in Fairfax County. He also teaches, freelances and does some solo work with a couple of orchestras in the area. I started singing with one of his church choirs just so I could see him!

Clarinet convention......LOL! I once participated in the John Mack (former principle oboist of the Cleveland Orchestra) oboe camp when I was in college; 78 oboists, two to a room, needless to say it was a noisy event! Sadly, John Mack passed away in July from brain cancer.

The store where I shop has a great sale sheet that comes in the mail once a week. When you plan your meals, keep your grocery store's sales in the back of your head. Also, things like bananas, tomatoes, and even bell peppers can be frozen. There is nothing better than a frozen baked banana/skim milk shake!

Turning vegan has actually made grocery store costs go down. If you're having prob. abt. the protein, plant some pecan trees! A good fall crop can be frozen will take care of all the protein snacks for a year... not to mention the exercise gained from pecan picking.  

Found an article of interest.  I posted it elsewhere, but here it is

http://health.msn.com/dietfitness/articlepage .aspx?cp-documentid=100142373

If you believe that you can't put a price on your life, you can believe that you can't put a price on your health. I actually spent $110 at the grocery store (just for myself, I live alone) a couple of months ago when I cleaned all of the junk food out of my cabinets and decidede to stock it with healthy stuff instead. I damn near had a heart attack! I just started chanting to myself over and over on the way out to my car like Dorothy in the Wizard of OZ when she finally wanted to go home "I cant put a price on my health, I can't put a price on my health, I can't put a price on my health."

that_elaine, i totally understand how eating healthy is costly. i worked at a grocery store for nine years, and it was in a lower-income neighbourhood. i'd see people buying cart-loads of unhealthy food - deli meats, cheap bread, cheap cereal, poorer cuts of meat, or cheap meat... they'd easily spend $150.00 for a family of four or five, but there would be little to no produce - certainly nothing organic or things like tofu.

i do my shopping online - which if you have in your area, i suggest it - and because i do my shopping online, i am not tempted to go down the "bad food aisle".

my grocery bill (for one person), usually ends up being around $100.00 a week. this of course includes things like house cleaners and toilet paper - but as far as food goes - i find i don't get a lot for my money. produce tends to be expensive, especially if it is out of season (which in my area can be six months of cold wintery temperatures)...

anyway, i understand the high prices, but i agree with potteryhoney - you can't put a price on your health.