It's so EXPENSIVE to eat healthy. Mac n cheese - $0.99, blueberries - $5.99

I have a huge issue with this whole weight loss thing.  The prices to eat healthy!  Before my diet consisted of what the kids ate (pizza, turkey burgers, chicken and potatoes ,etc), now on my new way of life, I've ditched the pizza, chips and soda and replaced it all with blueberries, high fiber cereals, oranges, etc.

You know what, I thought my grocery bill was going to be cut in half on this diet as I wouldn't be buying Oreos and Lays chips, you know what happened, my grocery bill is triple in cost! 

I spent over $2.50 for 3 small oranges at the normal grocery store (not the Organic/Whole Foods place).  I spent $5.99 for a small package of raspberries (same for blueberries).  My organic whole grain bread was $5.99 (the loaf is half the size of say Wonder Bread).  My husband said I need to replace all my steaks and pork chops with seafood.... well shrimp, flounder, mahi mahi, etc. is very expensive.

I can now understand why the families who make less than $50,000 can not afford to feed their children healthy options and why there is major obesity.  It's a lot easier to pay for Mac and Cheese for a family of 4, than to make a healthy fruit salad loaded with watermelon, strawberries and pineapple. 

Anyway, wanted to complain about this.  Thoughts?

seems to me you are just making really bad consumer choices

check out flyers and what is in season

and shop at different stores

and FARMERS MARKETS!!

I stick with frozen produce except for in season fresh fruits and veggies found at our local 99¢ Store which is unbelievable in choice!

My take on this is:

Blueberries $5.99

McDonald's double cheeseburger $1

Triple bypass $50k+

Well visit to doctor with clean bill of health ...priceless.

Cooking meals at home in bulk and freezing portions should be less expensive even with healthy foods. You'll always run into an issue of seasonal items being more expensive at times. Catch them on sale and freeze them...or go to a u-pick farm if you can. We get blueberries and apples much cheaper that way and we freeze the blueberries and they last all winter. Also, we get foods from local Amish farms and small health food stores (not chains!!!!!!). They are local, hence much fresher and much cheaper. Remember, it costs for your chain food stores to have it shipped to you.

Also, organic is really not necessary. If you can great, but eating healthier even if not organic is still 100 times better than your old habits of pizza, burgers...

Also, we were government cheese kids growing up. My mom had 5 kids and stayed at home and my dad was a preacher. I remember home cooked meals, vegetables and playing outside all the time. We were 5 active, healthy weight children who grew into active, healthy weight adults. We now have children who are mimicking what we teach them. Society is obese because parents are teaching a life of laziness and not looking out for the health and welfare of their children. I was a recipient of WIC with both children. It's a supplement for average to lower income families to help with groceries and formulas to children age 5 and pregnant women. The checks are issued for fresh produce, milk, cheese, juice, bread... I don't believe excuses that being low income increases chances of obesity. I know first hand that is not true!

Sorry...rant over.

I have gradually started replacing some of the unhealthier versions of some foods with healthier versions, and my weekly grocery bill has gone up maybe $10.

For one thing, I never buy red meat. If I do get meat, I buy a 3-pound bag of frozen chicken breasts for around $5-6 and it usually gives me and my husband 6 meals, if we don't overdo it. I buy frozen fruits and veggies where I can, because it lasts much longer than fresh and is MUCH cheaper. Usually, the only fresh fruits I buy each week are bananas and apples. I completely stopped buying cereal. You can get a large container of plain oatmeal for a couple of bucks and then you can add whatever you want to it.

I started a small box garden in my backyard. My husband put together two 4'X4' bottomless boxes using 1"X8" boards. We filled the boxes with peat moss, then potting soil, and planted about 8 broccoli plants, romaine lettuce, and strawberries, and then used a hanging basket to plant cherry tomatoes. We're very lucky, too, because my grandmother raises chickens and is constantly giving us eggs, homemade sourdough bread, tomatoes, corn, peppers, onions and green beans. We also have a sort of communal garden at a friends house and we all pitched in on upkeep and starting the seedlings, which saves tons of money.

I also check the local sale bills for deals. Just be creative! Hope this helps.

I have found that now that I am only buying healthy natural foods what I am spending on food has went down quite a bit. A bag of brown rice is like 2 bucks, A bag of black beans another 2 bucks. I can have lunches for a month with that and so on....

There really are a lot of healthy or healthier choices that do not cost a lot. Tuna is one example, rice, beans (as stated above) are healthy--bran flakes, frozen fruit and veggies are not too costly if are careful where you shop. Also, when we eat in healthy portions we eat less and food goes farther. No pops.

Low income should not be a reason for obesity; it should, logically be an added reason not to be obese and be burdened with major illnesses that can be extremely costly--not to mention life threatening.