More or less expensive to eat healthy
By suspenseful
@suspenseful (40193)
Canada
October 28, 2008 9:39am CST
At our local Superstore, we have a section of organic foods that are more expensive and since I may be borderline diabetic, I have to add a lot of pills gotten from the health food store to supplement and fight me becoming diabetic. Now my blood sugar is a little high and I am taking a prescription to lower it, but I was wondering giving that when one lives in the Prairies in Canada, with the produce being trucked in, and our growing seasons being so short that whether eating healthy is more costly and that is the reason we here have higher blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, and other life style related diseaes, not to mention inherited conditions.
Now my father had diabetes, and probably had it for years before the doctor's found out, but he lived in Vancouver, B.C. and because of the cheapness of vegetables and fruits there, and not having to rely on pork, sausages, and other cheap meat, was able to survive to his seventies. Yet here we see people dying younger. And I think it is because they have the weigh the cost of food against the cost of maintaining health.
And now I have been told I should eat chicken breasts, fish (cheapest here is canned salmon) and they are more expensive.
So depending where you are is it cheaper or more expensive to eat healthy?
7 people like this
21 responses
@Yestheypayme2dothis (7874)
• United States
28 Oct 08
It is really expensive to eat healthy here in the USA. The organic veggies are very expensive...and unfortunately, the organic produce has worms. I hate dealing with that. As for the meats, they are expensive, too. And I wonder if they really are healthier or are coming where they say they are. I think it is better to just give up meat and rely other proteins.
2 people like this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
29 Oct 08
It is the same here. We have an organic produce section and the food is way too expensive. One time we were able to get some organic vegetables that were cheap and that was a fluke. I think it was cucumbers and they grow like wild fire here around Winnipeg, but usually we have to pay. So I have to buy the regular vegetables and wash them thoroughly to get rid of the pesticides and also have a multivitamin.
I am cutting down on meats. Now if I only knew some creative ways to use tofu so it tasted like ground beef. 
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
30 Oct 08
I can do that. I have not tasted any of it, but it was recommended to me because of a diabetic information book. I am not a vegetarian nor a vegan, but maybe having it once in a while would help.
@Yestheypayme2dothis (7874)
• United States
29 Oct 08
Tofu in it's regular white block form will not taste like ground beef. How you can get soy meat and that does if you mix it in properly. You could do a discussion on tofu and soy.
1 person likes this
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
28 Oct 08
I try to eat pretty healthy. I'm right between a few major cities though, but far enough that we have a lot of fresh produce. I eat fruits and vegetables (fresh) all the time. I try to stay away from canned anything because it's usually got a lot of salt added. Frozen is usually better if you can't get fresh. Food is usually one of the places I don't worry about the costs too much - my health is worth it to me.
2 people like this
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
29 Oct 08
Make sure you're still getting some protien though. We're pretty lucky in the meat department... My husband goes deer hunting so it's cheap for us to have meat on a regular basis.
1 person likes this
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
29 Oct 08
There are different deer seasons down here. A friend of my husband got 2 or 3 deer a couple weeks ago during black powder season. He doesn't have a big freezer and wont eat all of it so he gave us at least 1 deer. My husband went and didn't get anything himself. Rifle season (I think that's what it's called) starts the weekend after Thanksgiving (late in November) and we hope to get a couple then. We keep all the cuts in the freezer and use it up during the year. I think we had 3 deer from last year, but they were almost gone by this fall. I do like it - and it's cheaper than beef!
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
29 Oct 08
We were shopping today and previous my husband complained that it cost too much and the bill was $130. But then he realized it was not the lettuce, onions, tomatoes, salad stuff, vegetables, fruit, or the juice nor the milk. It was the water filter and his protect heart pills. And last week it was those panty hose, and the non food items. So eating healthy is not that expensive. At least I am cutting down on meat, and the starchy stuff and that saves a lot.
And we know how to shop for bargains. I am stocking up on bread from the day old counter and storing it in the freezer. I do not like canned vegetables. I prefer either fresh or frozen.
1 person likes this
@desertdarlene (8910)
• United States
28 Oct 08
I agree with you. When I was having problems with sodium, it was really hard to find low-sodium foods that didn't cost me a fortune. The same goes for foods without High Fructose Corn Syrup, which I've found increases my hunger and cravings for sweets. I eat mostly whole foods and it does cost me more. Luckily, though, I feel more full when I eat them, so I don't need to eat as much.
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
30 Oct 08
I cannot eat much sodium either. I use no salt or Mrs. Dash, but I have a problem that some of the blends I do not like that much so I keep trying them out until I get the right one. I also use sea salt. I heard it is much better then the idiodized salt.
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
30 Oct 08
They should charge cheaper for organic. After all, they do not have to put any of those chemicals on them.
@blackbriar (9076)
• United States
28 Oct 08
With the price of food going up, it's a hard draw. Fresh fruit and veggies is the best for you with organic being tops and also more expensive which has always had me wondering why when I find it's cheaper to grow organically than it is to use chemicals. But, if you think about it, it's cheaper to eat healthy being your keeping your body's immune system healthy so you don't get sick very often, therefore, not having to buy meds to get better or to maintain health.
2 people like this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
29 Oct 08
We can get local here now, but soon it will be too cold. Right now lettuce is cheap, but the asparagus has gone up and it is near the end for green peppers. We have loads of cabbage and onions, but after that if I want to be really healthy, I will have to buy organic, and they are too expensive. If they are local, why are they not cheap?
I think lots of the organic food is trucked from great distances. I think that is why they are more expensive and maybe because they are not uniform, they are hand picked.
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
29 Oct 08
Look here you. I did not mention that I am eating healthy. That was not the question. Read it and then answer it.
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
30 Oct 08
I go to the bulk store and even the junk healthy food there is more expensive. I drink a lot of water, but our city water filter has not been fixed yet and our municipal taxes went up. I do a lot of exercises, mostly walking, and some weight training. I cannot run that fast and I do not like the treadmill. Want to get out and about. I usually buy the regular produce and wash them quite well.
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
30 Oct 08
Thats a hard one to answer. I think when you look at the bill it is more, but overall it isn't. When you eat healthy - lots of fruits and veggies, no sugar, tons of fiber - you a) feel better, b) east leas, and c) what you do eat stays on your system longer.
1 person likes this
@Polly1 (12645)
• United States
28 Oct 08
You have made a very good point. I also think it is more expensive to live and eat healthier. Potatoes, breads, pasta things like that are cheap, they also put the weight on you. They are high carbs and once you eat it, your body turns it into sugar. When you are on a tight budget the potatoes, bread, pasta, things like that help with the meal, specially when you have alot of mouths to feed. Fresh fruits and vegies are more expensive, same as with the frozen. Canned stuff is the least expensive but that is going up too. Good luck with keeping your blood sugar down.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
29 Oct 08
I usually buy a lot of salad stuff and vegetables, but at the evening I need some pasta or bread. Right now the produce is quite cheap, but when it gets near winter, it becomes a bit too much. I have taken to buying the whole grain pasta, but my husband likes regular pasta so I have to use two pans. But when I make curried rice, I can use brown rice and he does not know the difference.
I know what you mean about tight budgets. Grew up on casseroles.
@annettenasser (2992)
• Kuwait
28 Oct 08
Its less expnssive especially if you grow them in your own garden.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
29 Oct 08
My husband does not want me to have a garden. I have a berry patch and he even complains at that. He thinks that I should be out all day weeding a vegetable patch if I had one. That would not leave any time for anything except to clean the house and to cook. No mylotting, no working on my novel.
@kcbabez14 (967)
• United States
30 Oct 08
I live in northern Indiana and have found that trying to eat more healthy is actually more expensive. I don't really know why, because to me it seems that it would take more time and effort to try and can something rather than just pulling from the farma nd sticking it on the shelf...
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
2 Nov 08
I would think that healthy food should be cheaper. AFter all, you do not have to put all those chemicals on them or put them in cans or do all that processing.
@danishcanadian (28953)
• Canada
29 Oct 08
I think it depends on where you are, and how you do it. If you can grow your own food, it doesn't cost anything at all. If you can buy locally that's inexpensive too, but if you have to have food imported from somewhere else, that can get very pricy. On the other hand, eating at home is cheaper than eating fast food every day, in which case eating better is much less expensive.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
30 Oct 08
We do not have a garden. My husband said no. I think it is because I spent too much time on the computer, but I had to make a little money. So he put the back yard all in grass. I do have a raspberry and strawberry patch but that needs building up. And I did not get my Old Age Security until this year so have no money to get a box made or a container garden so I can grow some lettuce and salad stuff. We do not eat fast food. The only time we go to the restaurant is on birthdays and special occasions and I usually fill up on salads.
@slickcut (8141)
• United States
28 Oct 08
Well i live in Texas ans it is easy to eat healthy for cheap...We get fruit at a reasonable rate & also veggies..I mostly eat chicken,turkey,Tuna,fish and salmon and also port you know is the other white meat so it is healthy as well..I am a healthy eater,and i have found it to be easy so far...We have a store if a person really needs cheaper prices that sell veggies for like a dollar each..You can buy oranges for a dollar a bag..There is lots of advantages here because we have a lot of poorer people here and it seems that Texas always looks out for them...We also have very wealthy as well but it has always been that Texas makes it easy on the poor or low income groups..
2 people like this
@mimico (3617)
• Philippines
29 Oct 08
It's more expensive to eat healthy here in the Philippines. We load up on carbs from bread and rice to get "full." We have some cheap fruits and veggies and fish too but they're not always that fresh. I've been to Vancouver and you're absolutely right, the food from the market is so yummy and so healthy!
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
30 Oct 08
It is fairly cheap here in the Canadian Prairies around harvest time, but more expensive the rest of the year as we have to truck in the produce. As for organic, it is way out of our price range.
@tahiti_rose (150)
•
29 Oct 08
HI, suspensful. Seems you have two problems. First is a predisposition to get diabetes, thru your dad, and then there is the food thing. So ok, you are dealing with the first medically by taking meds and that is GOOD. Secondly, do you monitor your own blood sugars? Its a good way of finding out how your body handles processed food, since a lot of processed food has additives like sugar or carb thickeners in them. By monitoring your own blood sugars you will find that you should be able to manage your diet with what food is available. Oh yes, and fat does't help either, so cut off what you can see and grill (broil?). Check out diabetes websites for more info. Cheers.
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
2 Nov 08
I avoid processed food. I love cooking from scratch. I also hate the little needles. I mean if I have to use them to test my blood sugar, pretty soon I will look like a pin cushion. I am reading up what rhe symptoms of low blood sugar and high blood sugar so I can avoid finding when I am low or high with drawing blood. If I find that I do not have diabetes, then it is fine. All I have to do is to make sure I do not get it, but if I do, I want to make sure that the condition lessons.
@xParanoiax (6987)
• United States
29 Oct 08
Well it never used to be cheap to eat healthy in rural Ohio unless you raised your own food. But because of this year's events, alot of stores are now buying locally from farmers and hunters and there's been a TON of roadside stands, food at flea markets, and farmer's markets that popped up this year.
So it depends on where you're willing to go for what bargains.
Now, the healthy stuff is the cheap stuff...and if anything my family's eating TOO well, despite our financial worries.
Sad thing for me is that whenever I crave something unhealthy, I can't usually afford it. I like to treat myself on occasion and it's becoming less and less possible. So instead I've been setting my sights on fruits. Just nothing very holiday-ee because anything that remotely goes with a holiday will automatically be more expensive, sadly.
Ohio's a big farm state, so I guess we're fortunate.
1 person likes this
@mssnow (9484)
• United States
29 Oct 08
well I cant buy 8 hot dogs for less than one buck, or a big thing of bologna for less than a buck that will make at leat tne sandwiches. cheap bread of about a buck. Or a pound of organic tomtaoes for about three dollars. which is cheaper. and which feeds more? I say healthy is expensive.
1 person likes this
@angemac23 (2003)
• Canada
29 Oct 08
I find it way more expensive to eat healthy and now it is getting worse because prices are steadily rising.
1 person likes this
@Barbietre (1438)
• United States
29 Oct 08
I eat a low carb diet and avoid processed foods and starches and sugars as much as possible. It is much more expensive to eat this way, but in the end, I feel the lack of medical expenses evens it out. I am doing it because I feel better and am in wonderful heatlh for my age (60 on Saturday). I also want to avoid Diabetes.
We have a friend who is diabetic and I eat less carbs than he does. However he also has developed some heart trouble because he eats poorly. I eat a variety of protein sources including red meats and chicken and fish. Did you kow lowering your carbs also lowers your triglycerides? I went from 225 to 85.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (166911)
• Boise, Idaho
29 Oct 08
It is more expensive. Everything is. Salmon, vegetables and fruit. Sort of pathetic when you think about it. No wonder there are so many fat people. They can't afford to eat right!
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