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Hi Everyone,
We are a family of four (me, my husband, and two small children)
and I've been trying to buy healthier food for my family, however, I
just can't afford to do it all the time. My husband works out and
eats large quantities of food. I also cook dinner at home every
night and make lunches for everyone every day. Our average
grocery bill is $150-$200 per week. Sometimes even more. We
recently had a market called Whole Foods open near our house
and I try and buy sale items there, but it's just too expensive to do
all of my shopping there. Does anyone have any
recommendations on how to eat healthy and still be able to afford
it?!
Thanks in advance for any recommendations.
In Reply to: Trying to eat healthier, but can't afford it! posted by AMA on September 15, 2003 at 14:11:35:
Do you have a yard with an area you can garden? How about a window area that you can put a potted tomato plant and herbs?
Buying in bulk with some items helps...
Also, remember the old Victory Gardens? How about you and a few other people get together and garden...
ANother option is to really look at who "eat's alot" and really WHAT are they eating... if you do lunches, what are you packing? Maybe revise what you do...
I don't know how large your family is, but $200 seems about right for a family of four.
We are meat eaters, and we purchase organic meat from a local farmer...which is actually inexpensive compared to shopping out. Also, many food stores carry organic produce...and I don't know that it's any less quality than the pricey specialty shoppes.
In Reply to: Trying to eat healthier, but can't afford it! posted by AMA on September 15, 2003 at 14:11:35:
Don't buy all of your food there. Decide what you can let slide. You are not dead in spite of eathing not-so-healthy for some time now.
Also you might want to eliminate the things you KNOW aren't good for you right up front. This in turn may require a foodstyle change in order to eat healthier and/or buy more goods from Whole Foods.
Things that you might want to consider eliminating: breads (except gluten free), "deli" meats and cold cuts, anything containing sugar (with the exception of fruits), anything that comes in a box, especially cereal, anything that comes in a can.
Whatever you decide, don't make an abrupt transition. Gradually change what you eat to items healthier. Your family members and your stomach will thank you for it.
In Reply to: Trying to eat healthier, but can't afford it! posted by AMA on September 15, 2003 at 14:11:35:
Gregory made some good points, I would just add that if you have any access to a farmer's market, produce there is MUCH cheaper than at Whole Foods. I have also found Belle Evans chicken at the Farmers market for 1/3 less, and that really adds up.
In Reply to: Re: Trying to eat healthier, but can't afford it! posted by ~Gregory~ on September 15, 2003 at 14:20:40:
Thanks, Gregory, for your reply. I've started getting certain things
at Whole Foods. Especially things that my kids love - chips,
cookies, hot dogs, etc. and I already feel much better that now they
are eating good stuff that they love - not the stuff I used to get made
with partially hydrogenated oils, tons of sugar, etc. I've also started
trying to make my own stuff at home like cookies or desserts - but
this can be time consuming and I'm limited on how many things I
can bake in a week. Also, things like cold cuts, bread, cereals are
almost impossible to eliminate since they are easiest to pack in a
lunch or eat in the morning. I do, however, make sure I get all
natural breads and cereals. Cold cuts are just too expensive at
Whole Foods so I'm still getting that from my local Safeway.
We're on our way. I figure if i can eliminate the most obvious "bad
stuff" we're one step closer to a eating healthier.
In Reply to: Re: Trying to eat healthier, but can't afford it! posted by Michele on September 15, 2003 at 14:19:49:
Hi Michele,
Having a garden area is a great idea, and i've been looking into
doing this lately.
I wish I could purchase meat from a local farmer.. we live near San
Francisco and that's just not an option. I've also been unable to
buy organic produce since all the stores that carry organic are
always more expensive.
Thanks for your suggestions.
In Reply to: Re: Trying to eat healthier, but can't afford it! posted by peterb on September 15, 2003 at 14:45:52:
Thanks, PeterB. I think there is a Farmer's Market that comes once
a week not too far from us. I'm going to look into it and see what I
find.
In Reply to: Re: Trying to eat healthier, but can't afford it! posted by AMA on September 15, 2003 at 14:55:38:
Terrible.
Nitrites, sugar, more sugar... and yes, partially hydrogenated oils aka trans fats.
The nickname for hot dogs is "America's Deadliest Missile".
Those are some of the worst foods you could be feeding anybody. I know kids love them, but you have to decide who is in charge at home - you or the kids!
Personally, I like stir-fry for packed lunches. Make up a whole bunch of stir fry on a Sunday. Use some brown rice, a little bit of meat, some lightly cooked vegetables like celery, carrots, squash, whatever, add some cashews, etc. Pack it into quart sized freezer bags, one meal per bag. Take the bag out of the freezer first thing in the morning. By lunchtime it should have defrosted enough that it only needs 60-90 seconds in the microwave. Eat right out of the bag. Toss the bag. VERY convenient, MUCH healthier. Cheaper than dirt.
In Reply to: Cold cuts, cookies, hot dogs, chips posted by Lincoln on September 15, 2003 at 15:17:38:
Are you not concerned about microwaving, Lincoln? I tossed mine 2yrs ago and there's no looking back.
While I am not a hot dog person myself, Whole Foods does sell nitrite- and nitrate-FREE hot dogs that are free of growth hormone and are minimially processed. So they aren't the toxic "bombs" you find at the regular grocery. I think she's on the right track.
In Reply to: Re: Cold cuts, cookies, hot dogs, chips posted by peterb on September 15, 2003 at 15:32:24:
I'm not overly concerned about microwaving, no. If you are, fine. Stick the bags in a pot of hot water and let them warm up.
There is almost no way you can make a hot dog healthy. At best, it's still a sausage. Sausage; that's lips and butts and animal fat. Then you surround it with bread made from processed white flour. Add catsup made with sugar... Really, why bother?
In Reply to: Re: Cold cuts, cookies, hot dogs, chips posted by Lincoln on September 15, 2003 at 15:54:28:
I get the sausage from Wild Oats, and it's good...no grain fillers, etc. and minimal processing...we are hunter gatherers at my house and have no problem with the fat. I think they're a good alternative for us. We don't eat them super often, but do rotate them regularly with our plain old meats. They have lamb, chicken, pork and turkey varieties with various spices. I have them for lunch sometimes with a salad. I don't eat bread or use prepared dressings. For me, that's a good treat!
~~~8>
In Reply to: Cold cuts, cookies, hot dogs, chips posted by Lincoln on September 15, 2003 at 15:17:38:
Hi Lincoln,
I think you misunderstood me... I was saying that I get hot dogs,
chips and cookies at Whole Foods... the hot dogs are 100% soy
and have no nitrites, sugar or anything else bad. The chips and
cookies are also 100% all natural and the kids love them. I USED
TO buy these things (except hot dogs) at the regular grocery store.
So the "obviously" bad stuff I'm now buying at Whole Foods where
it's not so bad, but the kids think they're getting the same thing.
Thanks for your advice with the stir fry. I'm going to try that.
In Reply to: Re: Cold cuts, cookies, hot dogs, chips posted by Lincoln on September 15, 2003 at 15:54:28:
Soy hot dogs have no meat and taste great. The ones at Whole
Foods are filled with protein also. You can use whole wheat buns
or do what we do - just eat them with no bread. Also, there's ways
to make homemade catsup without as much sugar or just a little
brown sugar. Or even homemade BBQ sauce for dipping. It's a
nice, quick, easy treat for the kids for lunch and a good way to get
them to eat their protein.
In Reply to: Re: Cold cuts, cookies, hot dogs, chips posted by AMA on September 15, 2003 at 16:22:58:
Fake hotdogs, the original "Franken-food"! In my opinion.
I categorically distrust any food that's a fake version of some other food. I'd rather just switch to some other food entirely, rather than eat a 'fake' version and perpetuate the habit of conditioning my palette to enjoy the taste of 'bad' foods. Hence, I don't drink diet sodas, I don't eat veggie-burgers, I don't use 'fat-free' mayonnaise, I don't use 'light' oils, I don't eat "krab meat", I don't use margarine, etc. In most cases I think the cure is worse than the disease and we are all being used as one big lab experiment for these 'fake foods'.
And I'm very distrustful of highly processed soy.
In Reply to: soy hotdogs posted by Lincoln on September 15, 2003 at 18:17:44:
IM WITH YOU ALL THE WAY ON THAT ONE.
In Reply to: Trying to eat healthier, but can't afford it! posted by AMA on September 15, 2003 at 14:11:35:
I am in agreement with Lincoln regarding not eating the fake versions of foods. Eat the "bad" REAL food, and then flush it out of your system as best you can.
It hasn't been mentioned yet, but a worthy addition to your foodstyle would be a good water filter. This opens up the can of worm as to which filter to get and so on, but the important thing about the filter is not which one, but to use it frequently.
Drinking lots of water will mitigate the effects of eating "harmful" or bad foods more than deciding which food is bad this week and micromanaging the family diet accordingly.
Your body will flush out what is harmful and you can breathe easier. Once it get to be a habit, it will be less important what you do eat, and conversely you will find yourself eating less as time goes by. Your kids need more food for growing, yet they should drink plenty of water to compensate for all the junk food they are sure to eat when they are not at home (as in your sight).
In Reply to: Re: Cold cuts, cookies, hot dogs, chips posted by AMA on September 15, 2003 at 16:17:59:
I hate to say it, but the so called healthy hot dogs you are buying are probably not that much better that the supermarket hot dogs. The soy in the hot dogs has most likely been processed to death causing a number of toxins to be produced. Soy in its natural state also has some problems with it such as anti-nutrients and enodcrine and thyroid disruption.
As for the cookies, I'm sure they contain some sort of concentrated sweetner such as rice syrup or honey which if eaten in excess will cause insulin spikes and a host of other problems. Then there is the whole issue surrounding how the grains in the cookies have been prepared....
The bottom line is most pre-packaged foods whether bought from a health food store or a supermarket are not ideal for human consumption. I would recommend saving your money and buying whole grains and vegetables (organic if possible) and animal products dervied from properly raised stock. Organic food either in its natural state or altered via tradtional methods (sprouting, fermentation) is the ideal source of energy and body building nutrients for the human body.
Whole grains, calorie for calorie, are way cheaper than any processed food. Cooking up large quantities of rice and other grains and then keeping them in the fridge is an easy way to avoid eating processed foods. They are especially suited for lunch. Make a huge salad, add some rice, meat, and olive oil and vinegar and you got your self a very tasty and filling lunch. Oatmeal and yogurt (from whole milk and no sugar added) make a good breakfast. It should be noted that a great many indiginous cultures soaked their grains in an acidic solution or predigested them in some way to make them more absorbable and easier on the digestive tract. You may want to consider using one of these methods. The cookbook entitled Nourishing Traditions can help you in this respect.
Try and find some sprouted, soured, or freshly ground bread at your local farmers market. They will be much cheaper than at the health food store and make great breakfasts, lunches and snacks.
Depending on where you live free range chickens and eggs, grassfed beef, and raw milk may be available at your farmers market. These will be more expensive than the stuff at supermarket, but are worth it. Even if you can't afford these products, it is important to include animal products in your diet.
Sprouts are inexspenive (especially if you grow your own) and are extremely nutritious. They are great for people on a budget. Homemade fermented vegetables are another affordable source of nutrition.
I hope this information helps you in some way, shape, or form. Feel free to post any questions you may have.
In Reply to: Trying to eat healthier, but can't afford it! posted by AMA on September 15, 2003 at 14:11:35:
Hi AMA,
I put some money into appliances, so now I buy lots of bulk and raw foods and make much of my own stuff. The appliances make it convenient and fast.
Examples: I have a freezer, so I buy meat on sale and freeze it. I recently bought a food dehydrator, now I make my own beef jerky and bagel chips. I use a food steamer for cooking breakfast cereals (I don't even have to watch it, it shuts itself off), reheating foods, and rice, etc. With my crockpot, I use a timer so it turns off automatically when the food is done. So easy.
I make large batches of soups and stews, etc., and freeze dinners for those busy days when there is not enough time to cook.
Hope this helps.
Best wishes,
Happygal
In Reply to: Re: Cold cuts, cookies, hot dogs, chips posted by AMA on September 15, 2003 at 16:17:59:
GG said what I was going to, but since I've already typed it, here it is.
You know, there's some evidence that soy isn't as good as some people have been led to believe (at least, in the form most people in the USA, including you, consume it). Traditionally soy has been consumed in relatively small amounts, and it was fermented. Soy in protein products or meat replacement foods isn't fermented. If all you've seen so far is soy vendor promotions, then peruse http://www.westonaprice.org/soy/soy_alert.html to develop a possibly more complete view.
The chips and cookies are also 100% all natural and the kids love them.
The word "natural" is misleading. Refined sugar and many deadly poisons are natural. I haven't seen chips or cookies that are good for health. Some are better than others, but none I've seen are healthful. And if your goal is for your family to eat more healthfully and stretch your finances as much as possible, then consider cutting these foods from the diet. These foods are probably fried or baked in or with oils that are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are known to be unstable and produce free radicals when heated beyond certain temperature. Sometimes (if not often) these oils are rancid by the time they are used for making these foods. So, you think these chips and cookies are healthful because you buy them at the Whole Foods Market, but it might be that the biggest difference is the price.
I am not sure it is wise to pay high prices for organic foods but continue eating basically bad foods.
Here are a couple of lunch suggestions I used to enjoy when I studied in school: sandwich with an omelet (just fried eggs), or cheese. You can also make your own "luncheon" meats that are very tasty, healthful, much cheaper than commercial ones, and are easily cuttable. Just learn good recipes. If more food is desired for lunch, then adding some veggies may be a good idea. A soup might be a workable option too.
In Reply to: Re: Cold cuts, cookies, hot dogs, chips posted by AMA on September 15, 2003 at 16:22:58:
I doubt brown sugar is significantly better than white one.
In Reply to: Re: Cold cuts, cookies, hot dogs, chips posted by R. on September 15, 2003 at 22:34:06:
And then there's that whole thing where white sugar wants brown sugar to sit at the back of the shelf...
In Reply to: Re: Cold cuts, cookies, hot dogs, chips posted by Lincoln on September 15, 2003 at 15:54:28:
Sausage; that's lips and butts and animal fat. Then you surround it with bread made from processed white flour.
The only bad thing in what you mentioned is the bread made from processed white flour. Nothing wrong with animal fat or any other animal based foods.
In Reply to: Re: Cold cuts, cookies, hot dogs, chips posted by Lincoln on September 15, 2003 at 15:54:28:
The health food store brands tend to use protein for the casing and not flour. As for lips and butts, the form of protein doesn't matter to your body in my view, it's just the idea of it.
In Reply to: Re: Cold cuts, cookies, hot dogs, chips posted by peterb on September 15, 2003 at 22:39:04:
He was probably talking about the bread into which hotdogs are usually put.
the form of protein doesn't matter to your body in my view
Different protein sources are known to have different biological values.
In Reply to: Another recommendation posted by ~Gregory~ on September 15, 2003 at 18:49:42:
Your body will flush out what is harmful...
Does it happen with (harmful) fatty acids that are incorporated into cells?
In Reply to: Re: Another recommendation posted by R. on September 15, 2003 at 22:48:23:
Not all the time.
In Reply to: Re: Cold cuts, cookies, hot dogs, chips posted by Malcolm X on September 15, 2003 at 22:38:47:
That's so yesterday!
Get modern, and get with the times, sugar.
In Reply to: Trying to eat healthier, but can't afford it! posted by AMA on September 15, 2003 at 14:11:35:
Thanks, AMA, for opening up this discussion.
The last time statistics were done, the estimate was that for every 1 cent saved on eating refined and crappy food, it eventually cost the person more than a dollar in lost wages, shortened life and medical expenses. Of course the personal experience of ill health is the real cost which cannot be calculated.
Since the cost of medical care has advanced much faster than the average cost of living, for the past 40 years, who knows what the ratio is now?
Comments?
Walt
In Reply to: Trying to eat healthier, but can't afford it! posted by AMA on September 15, 2003 at 14:11:35:
I want to second the farmer's market and more food preparation ideas. I also have lots of appliances that help my food preparation such as a crockpot that can be left on all day or all night. I have a big freezer and I buy meat when it is on sale. I make extra for meals and freeze the remainder for lunches and evenings when I don't feel like cooking/don't have time. It takes a while to get this all set up, but one thing at a time and it will happen.
Also, in the midwest and maybe more areas we have buying clubs from Blooming Prairie. It is a way to buy bulk foods at whole sale prices. People agree to be the host and they pick up the food and the club members pick it up at the host's house. Sometimes if more than one club member wants the same thing then you can go in on something. With four family members this might work great for you. blooming-prairie.org. You can give them your name and address and they will send you a list of all the hosts in your area.
Also, buy direct from the farmer and buy in larger quantities. My sister raises grass-fed beef and free-range chickens and I buy from her in larger quanties and keep the meat in my freezer. She sells to a number of people like me. This is how most of her business is done. There are farmers all over the country who do this. the meat isn't that much more expensive than supermarket prices and it is GOOD. It takes a little bit of legwork to figure out who sells in your area, but it is worth it. It is not that much more work because you don't have to buy it that often. It also can be a fun Saturday going out to visit the farm. I really enjoy visiting my sister's farm.
Hope this helps. I too realized had to start getting creative in order to eat this way. It is well worth it!!
In Reply to: Re: Cold cuts, cookies, hot dogs, chips posted by GG on September 15, 2003 at 19:35:18:
Thanks for the ideas, GG!
In Reply to: Re: Trying to eat healthier, but can't afford it! posted by Happygal on September 15, 2003 at 21:20:12:
Thanks, HappyGal, this helps a lot!
In Reply to: Another recommendation posted by ~Gregory~ on September 15, 2003 at 18:49:42:
Thanks, Gregory. We definitely all do need to drink more water.
You mentioned a water filter, but I've heard they don't get out all
the harmful stuff. I can't remember exactly, but I thought
chloramine was one chemical it can't filter. What about bottled
water? My mom swears by reverse osmosis water. Any thoughts
on this? I usually buy the 2.5 gallons of Calistoga or Arrowhead
spring water for right now, but have no idea if this is okay.
In Reply to: Blooming Prairie, farmer's market, more food preparation, buy direct from farmer posted by berji on September 16, 2003 at 09:05:29:
Thanks, Berji.
Walt
In Reply to: Trying to eat healthier, but can't afford it! posted by AMA on September 15, 2003 at 14:11:35:
HI AMA - did anyone mention egg salad?? makes a great sandwich morning, noon or night....My dear mother lived to be almost 92 and ate it a lot. Quite economical if you look at it. Good luck!
In Reply to: Re: Trying to eat healthier, but can't afford it! posted by Jayne on September 17, 2003 at 17:48:16:
Thanks, Jayne. Yes, we do sometimes eat it.. but you're right, it's very economical.
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