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Follow mePut your mouth where your money is: Does eating healthy cost more?
Written by EmilySam and I have recently started a new diet–a combination of Dr. Oz’s YOU diet, and Bob Greene’s Best Life Diet. Our focus is not so much on losing weight, but on making healthy eating and lifestyle changes. One thing that may have to change is our grocery budget. At least half of my grocery shopping is now done in the produce aisle–all the fresh fruits and veggies seem to add up. But am I really going to spend more in the long run? Some things I’m NOT buying lately: a lot of meat, cold cereal, huge bags of cheese, and white bread. Also, I’ve cut way back on eating out.
Carolyn O’Neil (a registered dietitian) asked her readers the same question. It seems that no matter how we choose to eat, we always pay a price–either in money or in poor health.
The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center offers some suggestions for eating healthy without breaking the bank.
I’d love to hear if healthy eating has changed your spending, and your tips and tricks for eating healthy on a budget.
Posted in Budget, Spending | 3 Comments »
July 11th, 2007 at 3:40 am
A few months ago, I switched to a diet in which I restrict meat intake and generally avoid meat by-products (eggs and dairy). I’ve also been consciously decreasing the amount of money I spent for food. No big religious or moral reasons; I just want to eat healthier and spend less money on it.
I spend between $20 and $30 each week on food.
My diet: Breakfasts are a glass of orange juice and a bowl of instant oatmeal with raisins mixed in. Dinners are usually pasts, beans and rice, or an equivalent, with some frozen vegetables. Half my lunches are leftovers; I eat out for the rest of them. I also make a lot of bread in my bread machine ($10 at the local Good Will store), and I keep fruit on hand for snacks.
July 11th, 2007 at 7:37 am
Doing a raw food diet. I did spend more at first. But the more nutrients you take in from the food (and if you’re eating fresh produce, you are taking in more nutrients), the more you’ll find yourself eating less.
Not at first, At first, you’re eating everything twice. Or at least I was. After awhile, it starts to taper off and you find yourself going longer, going stronger on less.
Hang in there. You’ll see a difference. Not only in grocery bills, but in medical and dental expenses as well.
October 25th, 2007 at 3:23 am
[…] Emily put an intriguing blog post on Put your mouth where your money is: Does eating healthy cost more?.Here’s a quick excerpt:Our focus is not so much on losing weight, but on making healthy eating and lifestyle changes. One thing that may have to change is our grocery budget. At least half of my grocery shopping is now done in the produce aisle–all the fresh … […]