Healthy food sure is expensive

[bigapple]

Jun 28, 2013 16:26:08 GMT -5 monkeybabe said:

Jun 28, 2013 16:23:44 GMT -5 bigapple said:

I went grocery shopping at a small town wal-mart recently and was shocked that a) there was almost nothing organic or not-mega-processed, and b) the prices for organics were on par with Manhattan, while everything else was 1/3 to 1/2 the price. I had to eat my (non-organic) words that it's not that difficult or expensive to eat well.

I wonder if the really high demand for and availability of those products around here decreases the price.

Organic isn't a huge amount more expensive here, but I think that has a lot to do with the fact that the vast majority of our produce comes from our state or, is we don't grow it, the neighboring states.

I just spent the morning at a farmers market in Portland, Maine, and the variety and prices were amazing. Everything looked so delicious and was so reasonably priced. I bought Carter organic WCM that had been milked the day before for less than his regular organic milk at home. There were mounds of greens everywhere, many in varieties of never heard of. Everyone looked so happy and healthy (and CRUNCHY!!!). I want to move there...Except for that whole winter thing that scared me out of Maine originally.

[bigapple]

Jun 29, 2013 12:48:57 GMT -5 eav2c said:

Jun 29, 2013 12:38:00 GMT -5 laurack said:

Farmers markets around here are not cheap at all! More expensive than the store

Does anyone have stands on the side of the road??? We have many farmers that have SPOTS randomly along the side of the road where they set the back of their truck up with fruits and veggies and they are cheap and some of the best tasting produce around!

We have fruit stands on most corners that sell really cheap produce, but it's the same produce you find in the grocery store. I buy a lot from them even though it's not organic because it's all at peak ripeness. Bananas are usually 5 for $1!

[sunshineluv]

Jun 29, 2013 8:54:04 GMT -5 vthokie said:

You guys have lots of farmers market options in charlotte. That's probably your best produce bet. My sister goes all the time around there

I do love the farmers markets here. They even have them uptown on some days, I can go during work! 

[laurack]

Jun 29, 2013 12:48:57 GMT -5 eav2c said:

Jun 29, 2013 12:38:00 GMT -5 laurack said:

Farmers markets around here are not cheap at all! More expensive than the store

Does anyone have stands on the side of the road??? We have many farmers that have SPOTS randomly along the side of the road where they set the back of their truck up with fruits and veggies and they are cheap and some of the best tasting produce around!

I don't think so... Don't recall seeing that. Sometimes I see people selling strawberries on the side of the road.

we signed up for an organic csa this year but so far it seems to be only leaves. Plus the amount you get isn't a ton, last week I used the whole thing in one dinner for four. It will probably get better later though. Plus each week we get to pick a pint of berries and can take herbs whenever we want.

[fusion]

We spend an atrocious amount of money on food. It's for sure our biggest expenditure aside from the mortgage.

[devotchka]

Jun 28, 2013 14:54:33 GMT -5 lauranicole91 said:

Just got back from grocery shopping. DH and I officially start the diet/exercise change on Monday but today was our normal shopping day.

I just dropped double the amount of what groceries normally cost us. Oy.

Maybe America wouldn't struggle with obesity so much if healthy food was cheaper than junk food?

I guess there is really no point to this post. Haha.

I totally agree. We spend way too much on food and H gets pissed at me for it but I feel like real, fresh and quality food is expensive! Esp organic... We've been eating a lot of my mom's veggies and fruit from her (organic!) garden this last month and I feel like we are saving a little there at least! She has peaches, lemons, some tomatoes, cucumbers, arugula and herbs so far. More tomatoes and other fruit coming soon hopefully... 

Although now that I think about it, this time of year fruit/veggies (organic/local/etc) are a lot cheaper at the farmers markets than usual... but still not exactly cheap.

[kkfeb04]

We live in the land of farms, Amish farms, and farm stands/farmers markets. I can get organic fruits/veggies shipped to my office for $15/week. It lasts us all week and then some. We also have an orchard with a farmer's market onsite at work. We definitely eat more salads now for dinner. Can you do that instead of snacky foods? DH isn't home for dinner half the week either but I still cook since the kids need to eat

[rjamz]

Jun 30, 2013 5:35:10 GMT -5 kkfeb04 said:

We live in the land of farms, Amish farms, and farm stands/farmers markets. I can get organic fruits/veggies shipped to my office for $15/week. It lasts us all week and then some. We also have an orchard with a farmer's market onsite at work. We definitely eat more salads now for dinner. Can you do that instead of snacky foods? DH isn't home for dinner half the week either but I still cook since the kids need to eat

That's unbelievably amazing. I'm moving in.

[kkfeb04]

Jun 30, 2013 6:56:31 GMT -5 rjamz said:

Jun 30, 2013 5:35:10 GMT -5 kkfeb04 said:

We live in the land of farms, Amish farms, and farm stands/farmers markets. I can get organic fruits/veggies shipped to my office for $15/week. It lasts us all week and then some. We also have an orchard with a farmer's market onsite at work. We definitely eat more salads now for dinner. Can you do that instead of snacky foods? DH isn't home for dinner half the week either but I still cook since the kids need to eat

That's unbelievably amazing. I'm moving in.

It's part of my employer's campaign. The orchard gets the boxes together and brings them to various locations. I'm ready for milk, meats and cheeses to be delivered. It makes life much easier just getting the produce and its a large peck of various food.

[christidee]

It is ridiculous how much more expensive quality food is. You also might find that you are shopping more often because fresh food spoils whereas boxed, processed, and frozen food seems to stay good forever. Since we started eating better earlier this year, our food bill has increased substantially, but we feel better and weigh less

To help save money on groceries, we meal plan around the sales. Organic fruit and vegetables are much cheaper at a health food store than they are at a grocery store.....including target. Also, my local health food store has double ad Wednesdays, where there are two weeks worth of sales in one day! Amazing. It might be worth it to buy the staples at target and the produce elsewhere.