I appreciate the comment that it is cheaper to eat well because it saves a lot in medical bills!

I am not a domestic goddess! I do not like to cook! I really do not like to step foot in my kitchen!....but, I want to eat well and I want to be able to save as much as possible.

If it comes in a box, we don't eat it....The only processed food that we eat is corn tortillas and unsweetened almond milk. I make my own yogurt (I got the easy recipe here on SparkPeople) and my own salad dressings. Since I weigh and measure all of my protein, the chicken, fish, and occasional beef goes a long way.

My vegetables are either roasted, steamed, or raw.

My family is happy with our 'good eats'!

I vary the dressings all the time because I only make enough for that one meal....I use combos of: olive oil, sesame paste, vinegar, Braggs amino acids, yogurt, lemon juice, lime juice, and different spices.

Life is good...at least in my kitchen! - 8/12/2012   11:10:04 PM

We were just talking about this the other day. Water is much more expensive than a can of soda. You can buy a dollar meal saturated with fats and cholesterol, but you will not be able to buy anything healthy for a dollar. This is the reason why diabetes, heart problems are our number one problem. For people who have very limited resources, cost of healthcare is the very last thing on their mind, just having something to relieve that hunger will be a priority. I think the gov't needs to step in, produce and products that was harvested from here should not cost that much. Stop capitalizing and gaining from people who wants to live and eat healthy. IJS. - 8/12/2012   1:08:11 PM

I really tried reading the study, but I just couldn't keep reading it. Never saw a clear price comparison data, just charts. IE only interpreted data. I would love to know how one does not think eating healthier is more expensive. I mean I can buy a box of macaroni and cheese for less than $.50 a box, but can't buy almost any produce for $.50. (Let's see, I can get a banana or a carrot for that price, I imagine.) Apples, I don't tend to buy bagged, as I always see some in the bag that have bad spots. So I do pay more for apples, at usually $1.50 a pound and the apples I buy tend to be large, even if that isn't my preference, so I tend to pay $.75 per apple. Yes, candy bars can often times be found for $.49 a bar. (Walgreens I think has that advertised this week and CVS often times has that as a sale too.) Even frozen veggies are getting hard to find for $1 a pound anymore. The cheapest regular price is $1.30 ish at my local grocery now. Now, I am not saying it isn't worth it to eat healthier and pay that higher price, but why deny that eating healthier is more expensive? Produce with the short shelf life, is always going to be more expensive. Frozen veggies are more expensive. IE if I tried to fill up on a pound of frozen veggies alone for dinner, that $1.30 probably isn't going to cut it. But boxed macaroni and cheese with a tiny bit of butter and milk, would fill me. I can't help it, produce is expensive for how filling it is for me. An apple may fill me for awhile, but not long. - 8/12/2012   12:55:49 PM

I absolutely agree it is way more expensive to eat healthy... BUT... consider this, when you are healthy, you spend less money at the drs office and less money on medication. - 8/11/2012   1:19:45 PM

I was not aware that ground beef was a junk food. I buy extra lean ground beef and thought it was quite healthy, especially once I drain off any fat left and run hot water over it and drain again. Anyway, it is next to impossible for those on a low income to purchase enough nutritious food, especially as many of them have limited means of transportion. My opinion, anyway. People just do the best they can. - 8/11/2012   12:40:22 PM

Even living in a very rural area with lots of farmer's markets I find healthier items are much more expensive than non-healthy items. At the closest grocery store to where I live, for example, 1 single apple now costs about $1 versus 3 "full-sized" candy bars costing the same $1. This does not mean we're buying the candy bars...but it really does show a huge problem when it comes to food prices. Another thing a neighbor recently noticed, and complained about, is the area food bank...they have stopped giving out produce all together due to cost, BUT this past month her bag was full of candy, soda and cookies to compensate for the lack of produce for a single mother and 3 kids. Fortunately, my family always has a big garden and we raise our own meat...so we are able to not only eat healthier ourselves, but also help out our neighbor. Most people are not this fortunate. - 8/2/2012   2:00:10 PM

I used to think that people who said healthy food was more expensive than junk food were just whiners who didn't know how to be creative with their shopping or were simply using that as an excuse not to give up the less healthy foods. However, I had an opportunity to live in Charlotte, NC for a year (2009) and BOY was that ever an eye opener! Produce and meat prices were literally 25-50% higher than where I lived before (Chicago metro area). On the other hand, pre-packaged foods (mac 'n cheese, hamburger helper, etc) were dirt cheap. I mean REALLY cheap -- like better than the best-sale-price-ever cheap. Both of my sons (20 and 24) lived with me that summer and I REALLY struggled to keep my weekly grocery bill under $250/week (compared to the approximately $150/week I spent for the 3 of us in back in Chicago). And even with that, we didn't eat nearly as much fruits/vegetables and lean meats as we usually ate. We ate a whole lot more cheap/junk food that summer, simply because even with trying to do the bulk of my shopping at Walmart instead of the regular grocery store in our neighborhood, trying to buy things only when they were on sale, using coupons every chance I could, the lowest I could get it to was $250/week.

Frankly, I was surprised that fruits/vegetables in particular were so expensive there, too. We lived 2-3 hours from the Georgia state line, yet peaches cost more in Charlotte than they did in Chicago. With the longer growing season, you would have expected many vegetables to be "in season" and available from local producers much longer than they are in the North, yet prices remained high year around.

I now live in Cincinnati and am absolutely blessed to have Kroger as the major grocery store chain in our area. Food prices, in general, here are lower than I've ever experienced living in any other part of the country (Minneapolis, Iowa, Detroit and Chicago). The prices for fruits and vegetables makes it easy (from a cost perspective) to eat healthy. Fresh lean meats are more expensive than their fatty and/or processed alternatives, but I've found that cutting out the "junk" I used to buy more than makes up for the difference. Oh - and coupons for fresh fruits and vegetables? Yep, Kroger provides them to people who have a Kroger loyalty card on a fairly regular basis.

For those of you who live in parts of the country where it really is less expensive to buy a Snickers than it is to buy an apple, I'd encourage you to consider that the higher price you experience in buying healthy groceries as an investment in a healthier future for you and your family. Figure out how much more per month it's going to cost in groceries -- then look at the family's total expenditures for the month to see where you might be able to cut out some other things that aren't as important. For example, if you pick up a Starbucks coffee on the way to work every day, depending on where you live and what type/size of drink you buy, that could add up to $50-$100/month, which could potentially be put towards your higher grocery bill. How often do you each out each month? Triming one of those ventures out of the budget and eating at home instead could help. Or maybe you look at non-food places to cut corners. One of the best things we did when my kids were small was set up a "co-op" arrangement with another couple to swap babysitting services once a month instead of hiring a baby sitting. One month they took care of our kids for one Saturday night outing, then next month we took care of theirs. My husband and I were still able to have our "date night", with the money we saved in babysitting costs being used to help stretch our budgets a bit.

For those of you, who like me now, are blessed to live in a part of the country where fruits/vegetables aren't off-the-wall expensive, be gentle with our sisters (and brothers) who aren't as lucky . While none of us should use the cost of heatlhy foods as an excuse not to adopt heatlhy eating habits, we need to recognize doing so requires a substantially a greater financial sacrifice in some parts of the country. - 8/1/2012   2:48:59 PM

I have to agree with those who found this article misleading. Lean cuts often cost more than fattier cuts. There are no coupons for fresh produce, beans, brown rice and other whole grains. Sugar and starch are the cheapest food ingredients to be had and there are studies that suggest that it was during the depression, when cheap high carb foods were increasing on the market, that American obesity began appearing in lower income populations. It is no accident that obesity is more prevalent in low income Americans than in the more affluent members of society. Starches and sweets are cheaper than "healthy food" even if highly processed "junk foods" are often pricey. - 7/23/2012   9:22:03 AM

I'm tired of seeing the advice to "download coupons" in order to save $$ on healthy foods. I don't know about elsewhere on the continent but I can't remember the last time I saw a coupon for the types of foods we normally consume - fresh, unprocessed "whole" foods. Most of the coupons I see are for processed foods, at the very least, and usually not particularly sounds options even among processed foods. I think the advice is rather facile and unrealistic. - 7/22/2012   4:37:29 PM

Ther goes another excuse down the drain! Woo Hoo! - 7/22/2012   2:15:14 PM

As a general rule we eat the meat that is on sale (or go meatless with beans, pasta or egg dishes). The produce is also what is on sale and in season. I am not buying apples now. This is berry, watermelon and peach season! So when the watermelons are on sale I buy one and eat some everyday until it's gone. When the peaches are from the east coast (where I live) I buy some. I also have a small garden so we eat what ever is ready each night for our vegetables for about 4 - 5 months per year (summer is not long in VT). I also grow several herbs (so we can feel rich eating pesto). All of this is way more delicious, fun and cheaper than medicine for high blood pressure and diabetes. - 7/21/2012   8:08:41 AM

Yes, it is less expensive to eat "junk" food. Here on the West Coast (US) I can buy 3 candy bars for 1.50$ and a 3 nectarines is about 3.00$. In the long-run though, it's more beneficial to me to buy the nectarine. How much does it cost to have heart disease, diabetes, osteoarthiritis, or any other disease associated with bad health? I think that's the real question. - 7/20/2012   9:44:15 AM

I'm in envy of some of the produce prices I'm seeing here!

My experience since I went vegetarian earlier this year and stopped eating out as much is that I have more money to spend on buying quality food. I think those two changes have definitely reduced the amount of money I spend on food overall. Honestly, cooking at home instead of relying upon meals out has made a HUGE difference in my food budget! - 7/20/2012   9:07:52 AM

It seems to be a lot of people compare purchasing a bag of apple or bananas or even a lb of apples to purchasing a chocolate bar. But shouldn't we be comparing one apple, banana, orange, whatever it is you like to eat to the cost of one chocolate bar? I live in Canada and I don't know if our chocolate prices or junk food prices are more expensive but they can cost up to 1.50$ per bar. Now if I can buy a lb of apples which may be 2-4 apples, for the same price then in actuality its cheaper to purchase the apples because I am getting anywhere from 2-4 snacks out of that rather then the one chocolate bar. Also since fruit, veggies, and healthy food are more filling in the long run you'll probably eat less then if you ate junk food. And purchase items when they are on sale, I love chicken but when it costs me about 12-13$ for 2 breasts that is a bit much. But when its on sale I can buy 5-6 for the same price so I will stock up on it and make sure I have it in the freezer for when I want it! Also spices and such you can always purchase in bulk at places like Bulk Barn and its way cheaper then if you purchase it at the grocery store. - 7/20/2012   8:15:52 AM

Ok, I have to chime in here...

My husband and I used to "complain" that it was so expensive to eat healthy.

That was our excuse.

My hubby and I (and our 2 kids) have completely changed our eating habits, and shopping habits, in the past 6-8 weeks. Once we joined SP, we cut out soda completely, and stopped getting fast food. We had a few rough days in the beginning where I realized how much sodium was in prepackaged and processed foods - especially the low-fat, low-calorie versions.

And then we changed the way we COOK!

Of course you can't compare a pack of hot dogs to a package of boneless, skinless chicken breasts! But, if you really look at how much CRAP is in a hot dog (chemicals, nitrates, SALT, etc), you can buy Split breasts (chicken breasts with the bones still attached - usually on sale for about $1/lb here, much cheaper than boneless, skinless) and clean them yourself! It's not hard at all! We are just used to having all of the work already done FOR US!

The same applies to prepackaged salads, pre-cut veggies, etc. You are paying for the convenience, not for the item alone!

Since cutting out fast food (we ate out 1 weekend every 2 weeks, usually 2 lunches and 2 dinners), cutting out soda and "juice" drinks (we only buy 1 bottle of 100% Apple Juice and water it down for the kids, other than that they get milk), and changing our cooking habits - stepping out of our comfort zone and experimenting - we have had more money left in the bank at the end of the week than ever before!

It is not easy, but it is possible!

- 7/20/2012   1:57:12 AM

This drought is surely going to raise veggie and fruit prices - 7/19/2012   5:41:51 PM

In AK fruits and veg are outrageous! I can get cheap meat only because my husband is a hunter and fisherman. Thanks be to God that water is free! - 7/19/2012   1:27:59 PM

I have been making my own for six months now. A special trial of my own design; if I can make it myself, I have been. The first couple of months were awful as we overspent the budget by 75%. The last four months I had to overspend the budget by 15% to keep things healthy. Spices and seasonings cost a lot. I learned to make my own sauces and oils, (hot pepper oil, sesame oil, and dressing oils; and I can make my own gravy now (lump free) and this does save money. However, that was only a small part of my budget. Where I once spent 10% of my budget on produce, I now spend 30%. The cost of produce in the Mid-West is ridiculous. Delicious and granny smith apples are 1.79 per pound here. (That’s two or three apples or one family serving) I spent a 1.48 for one large white onion. Green bell peppers are .79 each; 1.79 each for the red, yellow, or orange bell peppers. Carrots were .64 per pound and celery was 1.38 per package (about the same as carrots). These prices are not cheaper than prepackaged foods. I can pay .79 per pound for fresh green beans or .44 per pound for frozen or .39 for canned. I find that “in season” means very little in the Mid-West: if it’s in demand, the prices go up regardless of the harvest season. I don’t trust “Farmer’s” Markets as they are unregulated: No one checks on what the “farmer” is using on the produce to control pest and disease. A personal garden would be best, but nothing grows easily in clay.
The bottom line is that where I live, vegetables and fruit are not cheap in any form. Beef and chicken are reasonably priced here, but I need more than meat for a meal. (At 2.49 per loaf of whole grain bread, making a meat sandwich is even expensive.)
- 7/19/2012   1:25:08 PM

Around here it is much more expensive to get healthy foods. (I could never find apples for $.67/lb like the person earlier found. On special sale they are $.99, but normally around $1.79/lb) Buying in season often doesn't help because the prices are higher then for some reason. It costs way less to get a dollar burger from Wendy's than to get the ingredients to make something at home. I also have the problem of food spoiling before I can get to it. Organic or natural foods, either one, are twice the price of those with all the preservatives like BHA. Still, I do make most of my own and try to get healthy food. - 7/19/2012   11:18:45 AM

I think it's a common misconception that healthy food is more expensive. Whether healthy or unhealthy, it depends on what you're buying. Fruits and veggies that are pre-washed and cut, or out of season, are expensive. For example, there's a big difference in cost between buying a large head of lettuce (about $2) vs. a bag of pre-washed salad mix ($3.99). I can buy a head of lettuce, wash and prep it all in one go, and have enough for a daily salad for lunch for a week (and once it's prepped, it takes no more time to throw together than prewashed salad mix). A bag or carton of spring mix lasts me two days. So if you're spending more on healthy food - what exactly are you buying?

It all comes down to this: pay for it now, or pay for it later. It isn't necessarily more expensive for me to buy healthy food if I also invest my time and energy into preparing it and making sure it gets used up before it spoils - and yes, time is valuable too. But if I were to buy, for example, frozen entrees or lunchmeat as a substitute for my salads, I'd save lots of time, but I guarantee, those things are MUCH more expensive up front - and what would be the cost later on, of the excessive sodium and other nasty additives?

I think people use the "common knowledge" that healthy food is "more expensive" as an excuse. I'm sorry, but where there's a will there's a way. It takes practice, it takes more legwork and thought, but it can be done.

And let's think like an economist here. Processing food is fundamentally a value-added proposition. Take a cruise down the snackfood aisle next time you're in the grocery store. Check out the prices on a bag of chips. At my grocery store, they're usually about $4. Now calculate the cost of the number of potatoes contained in that bag, the salt it contains, the oil used. Does that add up to $4? No, not even at supermarket prices (which, to be sure, are higher than the chip manufacturer paid for their ingredients). The added cost is labor, equipment, machinery, overhead, packaging, shipping. The more processed the food, the more value added, the higher the cost.

The initial cost of switching to a healthy diet may be higher until you adjust your shopping habits, but logically, it seems impossible to me that the true cost of healthy is higher than unhealthy. - 7/19/2012   10:12:32 AM

I don't believe the "it costs less to eat healthy" statement. I hear it all the time. Then I go to the grocery store and I look at what I can/need to buy to feed my family of six for dinner.
For me to buy a package of a dozen hot dogs (I can get chicken weiners for $1), a package of a dozen hot dog buns ($1.97) and a bag of frozen french fries ($3.29 for a large bag), I can feed my family for less than one package of boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about $10.29 for six breasts, and that's IF they're on sale). And I haven't even bought the veggies to make a salad to go with said chicken breasts yet.
A package of "regular" pasta is about $2 for a 900gr package (sorry, I'm Canadian, lol), and very often goes on sale for $1 for the same size bag. For a 500gr package of whole wheat pasta, I'm looking at at least $2.49.
My husband gets paid hourly, and sometimes, when is job "slows down", our finances dictate that we need to eat on a tighter budget than at other times. So I've checked into it VERY carefully on NUMEROUS occasions, and when money's tight, it's always cheaper to opt for the less healthy options.
I'm sorry, but unless you're comparing "eating out" to "making your own healthy dinner at home", eating healthy is NOT cheaper than eating unhealthy--I've done the math! - 7/19/2012   10:00:09 AM

I never feel I spend more on healthy foods my problem is Im by myself one week and with my 5yr old the next so I was buying too much at one time at first and then it would go bad because we weren't eating it fast enough. I now buy produce once a week and in smaller quanities so I always have fresh fruits and veggies and am not wasteing as much. Shopping in this fashion has reduced my grocery bill. - 7/19/2012   9:50:52 AM

Not sure about the advice of checking the circular inserts for healthy food coupons. I find that's where all the junk is hawked. - 7/19/2012   9:45:09 AM

My problem with healthy food is that most of it goes bad before I get to it. I'll eat nothing but produce & still not finish it all before it goes bad. So, then I have to buy less more often...which costs gas money, time, and increases the chance of impulse buying a bunch of other stuff at the store. I usually will go for frozen or canned veggies after I get a little fresh produce to help, but frozen/canned just isn't the same. I don't eat meat, so that's not an issue, but I wish healthier foods had a longer shelf life. - 7/19/2012   9:24:51 AM

So very few people shop by calories or nutritional value - they buy foods they like, get emotional satisfaction from and are accustomed to eating, especially those on a tight budget. If you want to talk statistics, take a look at the association between economic depression and obesity - those with the least money, have the highest rate of obesity. It just costs more to eat whole, healthy foods. Our grocery shelves are packed with huge cartons of nutritionally void products, and they are CHEAP. - 7/19/2012   7:57:17 AM

snicker bar costs on supper sale 49 cents --bag of apples far less per apple -healthy food takes time to prepare - can't eat a sweet potato out of a bag would be a good example - - 7/19/2012   5:59:47 AM

To be honest, I was spending more money on the crap food than on healthy food. I think it's easier and doesn't take as much thought to grab the pre packaged
stuff. I now skip most of the not so good for you food and buy the healthier food so I really do end up saving money. - 7/19/2012   2:12:15 AM

I buy healthy food for myself and some snacky not so great food for my very little children (they prefer chicken nuggets that I don't make). I purchase what is on sale. If 93% ground beef is this week then that's what I'll buy but I do it in 15 to 20 pounds worth. If it is chicken breast - same thing. No matter what you are spending your money on you need to be a centsable (get it) shopper. You price compare, buy in bulk, and get the best deal. I wouldn't walk into a car dealership and just plop down money without shopping competitors same holds true for how I grocery shop. - 7/18/2012   11:17:47 PM

For me it's much less expensive, especially since I'm eating less. - 7/18/2012   10:28:36 PM

GLITTERGIRL69, if you click the link near the beginning of the article "study published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture", it takes you to a page where you can download the study in it's entirety. Can't get much more information than that! - 7/18/2012   5:12:13 PM

I don't buy it. You can use statistics to prove whatever you want. Like Mark Twain said, "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics." My bank account says that healthy foods are more expensive, and that is all the proof I need. I just started sparking less than a month ago so I only need to look back over the past month or two to see the jump in how much I'm spending on food. Am I going to continue to choose the healthy foods? Of course. I just wish they didn't cost so much. - 7/18/2012   5:10:16 PM

Quality of food wins for me regardless of how much the food costs. In the end if you eat garabge you will pay for it in more ways than one, really!

I have never written a negative comment here on this web site. However, I was so disappointed by this blog. This blog simply did not give enough information, and the quality of how it was written pales in comparison to other Sparkpeople’s blogs. I was very surprised by the lack of information in fact! I created a link for this blog for my team to read without reading this blog first. I am now going create a new post by replacing the information and link in order for my team can get not only more information but, adequate information about this subject. I will go to google to find what I need for my team. I receive WONDEFUL things to share with my team from the staff of this web site ALL the time, but today within this blog something went horribly wrong! Ahhh no wonder!!! I just looked to see who wrote this, and I totally understand now, lol. A few months ago, or more this web site started using other sources for their blogs, and the quality and integrality has suffered. The best most reliable information in the past has ALWAYS been from the Sparkpeople's staff. Hope this tend dies soon. I may have to get more and more of my information elsewhere that would be VERY sad. Business is business, I realize someone has to pay the bills, but the members of this site should not suffer by the quality in return. This "blog" seems to be an anchor to this web site, The Foodnetwork, and not really a blog at all. - 7/18/2012   4:47:27 PM

You have to give up something to get something. I gave up eating lunch out daily, & 2premium channels on cable so that we can have fresh fruits & veggies if I so choose to. Choice is up to each & everyone of us. - 7/18/2012   4:12:40 PM

a bag of apples cost more than a snicker but will last several servings - 7/18/2012   4:03:59 PM

I don't know where you're shopping that one apple costs way more than a snickers. I just bought apples for 65 cents a pound. One apple weighs about 6-8 ounces. So... 21-34 cents per apple. I think snickers are 3 for 1 dollar when on sale. Same price. And when you factor in the high blood pressure medication, insulin and other medical costs associated with being unhealthy from eating a diet of candy and fast food, the price of healthy food goes way down. That's why in many areas of the country EBT (food stamps) are being accepted at farmers' markets. - 7/18/2012   3:24:23 PM

Not exactly true. It is cheaper where I am to buy a 99 cent chocolate bar than a bag of bananas or apples.
That said, of course in the long run, eating healthier is worth the extra money.
- 7/18/2012   3:24:17 PM

I agree with the long term financial benefits of eating healthy foods. I've experienced it firsthand. I've been eating clean for many years, and even though I haven't lost an incredible amount of weight, my health is so much better. When I used to fill up on empty calorie foods, my immune system definitely suffered. Now, I rarely get sick even with a small cold. I know I am a making an investment in my future by taking care of my body. Even if it might cost me a little more to eat healthier foods, it is so worth it in the long run.

I've also found great deals on whole grains, fruits and veggies at Aldi, Walmart and Sam's Club. I am so thankful to these companies for carrying more of these healthier items. - 7/18/2012   3:17:50 PM

If I was comparing dollars to dollars, then yes, it is more expensive to eat healthy.

But.....

If I were to compare the cost of the trips to the Doctors office from reversing my heart disease, the smaller portions my family and I eat because we are full longer and the savings from not having to purchase coffee because I am always full of energy.......then eating healthier would clearly be cheaper!

Now that's a deal! - 7/18/2012   3:17:16 PM

I feel I did have to invest initially in more expensive foods; however, I realized that with portion control, I could continue to eat many of the same foods as my family. Yogurt, for example, costs more if it's Greek yogurt, but lately, many other reasonbly priced yogurt brands have developed Greek yogurts. Either way, I continue to look at the calories and nutrients, and I splurge when I can. It's just not always necessary. - 7/18/2012   3:01:26 PM

This is so far from the truth.............. an apple cost way more than a snicker - 7/18/2012   2:35:23 PM