Cost of eating healthy (poll)

Yes, it is the American way.  Now that eating healthy is "in", we all pay dearly. Demand is up. DH and I spend more with two of us at home than when all four kids were home. We buy better grade meats, fish, yogurt, cereal, produce.   NO WAY would we have purchased for the kids $6 a box cereal or $4 loaves of bread like we do now for us. Things like protein bars, they would have consumed like coneheads. Mass Quantities. DH is the King of Coupons and discount store shopping, so it is kind of hard to tell exactly how much we spend. Regardless, our food and gasoline costs are about $800 monthly - that is TWO of us. This includes booze, restaurant (which is about $30 monthly).  I am in Child Nutrition, and I would like to see public critics of our programs put their money where thier mouths are - and no body likes paying more taxes.  It takes a LOT of money to eat whole grain, low fat in this environment. AND, I am not sure most kids even recognize those kinds of foods.  Who could afford to feed kids that well?

 I know what you mean, it's expensive feeding four kids healthy foods.  Two of my kids are over weight so I try to buy the best of everything.  I can't control my teenager that much anymore but I still do my ten year old.

I actually had a fight with a school nurse a couple years ago over school lunches.  They were giving some kind of points or credit?!?!  for kids that brought juice to school with them instead of other things.  I had a cow, I actually came unglued.  I know in moderation juice is good.  BUT, I have four children and juice is not an option in this house.  They have no control over juice so I don't buy it, and I believe fruit as a whole is so much better for you so then you don't need the juice. And they eat it every day so they don't need the juice.   So my son didn't get extra points when others did.  I was so upset with the school.  She actually agreed in her email with me, that fruit is by far more superior, but she said her hands were tied.  So it made me look like the bad guy.  I know some of you say..just give him the juice for the day and let it be done with.  I don't agree when your trying to teach your children how to eat right and in moderation.  I have a ten year old that weighs 134 pounds that I'm terrified for.   Because of that reason I do spend the extra dollar on wheat bread, etc.  THey haven't had a piece of white bread since they were probablyl two years old.  Trying to help kids with weight control is hard these days.

Schools suck when it comes to healthy options.  Overcooked greenbeans, mmm appetizing.  I remember cafeteria food--pizza, burgers, fried chicken, macaroni salad, pudding with whipped cream.  It tasted good at the time.

I often read how to save on groceries articles and when I read shop at your farmstand, well I do, and it's just as expensive.  One day I got a think of milk, 2 yams, 2 tomatoes and an apple for $16.  You heard me right, $16! I try the wholesale clubs, but for me, the food won't last long enough while I get through the mass quanitity to justify the cost "savings".  Plus, I'd be bored eating chicken all week for just about every meal.  I got two filets of tilapia last night, was my dinner--$6. I think my protein stuff is the "cheapest" 36 for ~$30.  Grrr. No coupons on produce and protein, generally speaking. And don't get me started on gas!  I spend $125/week driving about 150 miles/day.  This is what happens when the economy tanks--you have to work  wherever the work is.

Below is my normal grocery list...and cost per item. The total of one of these each is about $70.00.. Just imagine whats its like if I get low.. I find myself running to the market every weekend to restock. I imagine I spend about $200 a month on food including (weekly lunch and breakfast). Snack machine.. no no for me. It's gotten to the point where I don't consider cost anymore when in the market. I just swipe and leave. My biggest expense are the drinks and atkins bars. I go through those quickly. Calories est. - 1200-1400 Protein Fresh Meat (Chicken or Pork) $7.50 Fire Roasted Chicken Breast - 7.49 Bacon - $2.00 (Some may laugh because I listed this is a protein.. ha ha!) Veggies Spinach, Mixed Greens - $2.50 Cherry Tomatoes - $2.98 Spaghetti Squash - $4.00 Eggplant - $1.59 Cucumbers, Artichokes, Onions, Peppers - $2.00 avg
Goodies JELLO Pudding - $1.86 Soy Crisps/Dippers - $1.98 Sugar Free Chocolate Covered Almonds $2.99 Drinks Propel Water (12 pk) - $5.49 Lipton Diet Green Tea (Mixed Berry) (12pk)- $7.42 Water (12pk) - $2.50 MinuteMaid Light Beverages (12 pk) - $3.39
Other Atkins Bars - $5.49 Coca Via Almonds - $3.39 French Onion Dip / Guacomole - $1.50. Low Calorie Wheat Bread - $2.98 Cheese - $2.00

1800 calories - full force careful... lemme see 7 yoplait yogurts at = $5 1 dozen eggs = $2 wasa crackers = $4 turkey breast = $8 hummus = $4 tuna $7 miracle whip $3 beans $2 BBQ sauce $3 cottage cheese = $4 chicken breast = $6 veggies (fresh and frozen) = $8 sorbet $8 bread = 2 butter = $2 $68 a week - or about $10 a day... cheaper than eating out for sure.... but I can not eat healthy for about half that!

I get veggie steamers (frozen) they run them about $1- $1.50 per bag - 7 for a week so total for that is $7-$10.50

I buy the flash-frozen fish - salmon & tilapia - $5 a bag and lasts me two weeks so that $5 per week

couscous - $5 per big container lasts me about 2 weeks or 3 maybe - $2 we'll round it out

Special K Cereal  $3 per box - lasts 2 weeks or more $.50 per week

Oatmeal $3.50 per box - lasts about 3 weeks $.75 per week

bananas $.50 per week

grapes $1.00 per week

looks like I spend very little eating healthy!

Plus, I think about the money it'll save me in the future on medical bills!