Is it really more expensive to eat healthy?

Question

Is it more expensive to eat healthy in America? I'm always hearing that it is.

WoIIie · Accepted Answer

No, it's not. People who say that are either making excuses or have made no effort to research cost efficient diet plans.

Per ounce, frozen vegetables(peas, mixed vegetables, spinach, broccoli) and frozen meats(chicken breasts, halibut, salmon) are much cheaper and more filling than any McDonalds burger. Canned beans are also quite cheap, they are about 80 cents per can and you can get 3 servings out of them.

I can make a well rounded dish (vegetables/carbs/proteins) and it would cost me no more than $1.50 USD. It would be healthy AND taste good. You'd be lucky to find a filling burger for $1.50.

The only costly food to get is fruit. Per ounce, fruit is the most expensive for some reason. Still, with the money you save on other foods there is still no excuse to feed your family Happy Meals.

martyfellow · Accepted Answer

No, cheap food doesn't give yu waht oyu need.  You'll still be hungry, you'll eat too much fat with it.  Ad you'll alwys be snacking to get the nutrients you need.  Snack food is expensive.  Basic healthy food isn't.   Even most organic food isn't that much more expensive these days.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

eating healthy is absolutely more expensive. I went on a diet and was doing lean proteins and fresh veggies/fruit ect. omg it broke the bank it was really difficult. 2 salmon steaks raked up 15 bucks and that was just for the meat. Forget fresh fruit omg a little tiny package of raspberries are 5 freakin bucks that's just crazy imo. the worse a food is for you the cheaper it is...thus why the less money a family has to spend on groceries the fatter they're gonna be because you can buy fattier cuts of meat for a lot less and canned veggies are like a $1 vs real greens can be as much as $5.

if money is no real object then yeah you're just lazy but if you're poor? A poor family fills up on carbs cause it's cheaper that's just how it is...

candlewax · Accepted Answer

Nope. Buying organic may be more expensive, but to eat healthy? No. People just see the price of whole foods and are like OMGZ MOAR THAN A BURGER AND CHIPS! If you think about how fast you can blow through junk food, especially since it's so full of empty calories and lots of fat, I wouldn't be surprised if it all came out about even in the long run.

I've gradually worked my food from junk to mostly whole foods. It's nice to keep them around because you can make up whatever since you have all the ingredients necessary. As far as expense goes, I really haven't noticed a difference. The only thing I HAVE noticed is that food stays in the house much longer since you don't blow through it as fast since a lot of junk is processed and ready made.

Anonymous · Answer

The actual cost and comparison depends on the value or worth of what you're getting per unit cost.

Fast food is definitely cheaper, and since the calorie density is generally higher than eating healthy, fast food is more efficient, in terms of energy.

Healthy, home cooked meals are more nutritious and if you're looking to compare the cost of nutrition density, eating healthy is more efficient.

OneLove404 · Answer

Yes it is , especially buying organic food that cost a lot but I kinda have my own garden but its not like massively more exspensive its like a couple dollars :)

martyfellow · Answer

No, it' scheaper to eat a grain based diet than any meat-heavy diet like most of us follow.

kheserthorpe · Answer

It either requires a lot more effort or more money.

jimmy217 · Answer

yea and it less convenient

InMyHeart · Answer

yup. it's really ironic, actually.

Is it really more expensive to eat healthy?

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If bulk buying and healthy food were cheaper, would you still eat fast food?

Is it really more expensive to eat healthy?

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If bulk buying and healthy food were cheaper, would you still eat fast food?

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