So is it actually more expensive to eat healthy? The question is relative of course and the answer will vary greatly depending on who you ask. There are definitely some things we can all cut back on as consumers in order to be able to spend a little more on the food that nourishes our bodies. Step one? Easy example. Eliminate soft drink!
This week I set about finding out exactly what $20 buys here in Brisbane in the way of fresh produce.
The local supermarket saw me leave with three bags of delicious fruit and vegies - $19.86. And with an incredible deal at the local fruit and vegie shop - “fill a box with anything you want for only $20” I was able to discover astonishingly how much actually fits into a box - I left with a HUGE array of colourful local produce. This included a wonderful variety of seasonal fresh delights, even eggs.
Compare both of these with the two $20 versions I’ve snipped. I couldnt bring myself to actually buy those products. However, given that these examples were all cut from the specials catalogue, you possibly appear to be getting a lot of ‘processed’ bang for your buck!
The photos speak for themselves though - honestly, which would you rather YOUR body feast on?
Do you live to eat or eat to live? The way you view food plays a huge role in what you consume. Then the way YOU view the COST of that food determines whether you feel that healthy food is too expensive or not. If you consume food and think of it as amazing fuel for your body, then you’re probably okay no matter what the cost.
If you live to eat chances are that you aren’t eating healthy. You may be eating when you aren’t hungry, overeating or simply eating food that doesn’t nourish your body adequately. Quite possibly all of that.
I think it’s pretty reasonable to say that most would pay at least $30/$40 on a meal for a family of four at a takeaway? I personally don’t think that is ‘cheap’ compared to purchasing raw ingredients and preparing at home.
However, the true cost of unhealthy foods doesn’t lie in the actual food prices, but the aftermath of eating them. If you’re consuming a diet high in sugar, salt, fat and calories on a regular basis, that can result in a multitude of health problems including diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer. And being overweight can lead to a generally difficult, painful way of life. The more health problems that ail you, the more doctor visits. Those doctor visits, cost - if not you directly, the public health system. Then you require medication to control or help lower things like blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes - that generally, doesn’t come cheap. So you could easily end up spending $100+ per month just on pills. See how quickly those extra costs add up?
Is it really a good idea to sacrifice your health by consuming foods filled with sugar and chemicals just because they appear cheap?
Think long term. Our hedonistic impulses may incline us toward cheap, fried or highly processed foods but you need to consider what you are really paying for in the long term.
I shouldn’t need to convince you that a fresh salad alongside a protein source costs less than a hospital trip and a life of doctors and medications. Healthy eating doesn’t have to be expensive at all, but unhealthy eating can cost you your life. Look at nutritionally dense food as an investment. In? YOU!
You don’t have to eat clean one hundred percent of the time (though you would sure feel fine if you did!) Events crop up that take us outside that norm occasionally. But do try your best to eat healthy MOST of the time. Don’t buy cakes, chips, chocolate, ice cream, soft drink, etc on a regular basis. I’ll be honest and say that if I buy those things, even I am tempted by their presence. Well, especially ice cream!!! The best way to NOT eat them is to simply not buy them in the first place. Guess what? It works!
Fill your bench tops, cupboards and refrigerators with the most nutritional food your income will allow, knowing, it’s the best decision you can ever make for you AND your family.
Cheers to a healthy you, Ann
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