The Cost of Eating Healthy
As of right now, Terry and I are on a full out plan to get healthy in 2008. This plan involves lots of little meals throughout the day, more organic foods, more fruits and veggies and less processed junky things. Oh yeah, and I’m walking/running again.
It took me extra time to meal plan for the next two weeks. After all, our meals still have to be easy, kid friendly, and not crazy expensive. That last part seems to be the kicker. Organic foods are significantly more expensive than their non-organic counterparts. I understand why, but I just wish it wasn’t that way.
Up to this point I haven’t really thought going the organic/more natural route was worth it financially. After all, I spent an extra $65 today on groceries and I’m sure I’ll have to get more before it’s all said and done. But after doing some research, I’m beginning to think it’s worth the extra money to not fill our family’s bodies with even half the crap that goes into growing and preserving food for shelf life today. Truly, it’s incredible.
I wish we just had more access to organic and fresh foods here in OKC. While in Dallas this past weekend, I was able to run by Central Market and get some items I had been looking for, but certainly didn’t want to pay shipping on. I just love that place. If we had brought a cooler with us, I probably would have stocked up on quite a few things!
On another, but related note, the organic vegetables at Target today were completely wiped out. Not just picked over. Gone. Adios. See ya later. Bye.
Good thing I didn’t want any of them anyway. I am trying to be reasonable here. I look for less processed over organic mostly. If I can read, and understand, the ingredients on the label, I’m happy.
I am also looking into buying grain fed beef and free range chicken from local farmers. But the research is still out on the best, most cost effective way to make that happen.
What are you guys going to change in 2008? Healthy living in just one of several goals I have this year. More on that later!
Hey Robin! Do you guys have any Signature Kroger stores up there? I’m completely sold on ours - I can get almost all of the healthy/organic foods I want there. Also, we’re sometimes able to order a few things from Amazon, and our Amazon Prime shipping membership means that we don’t have to pay shipping on it.
One can go bonkers trying to balance all the arguments for organic, locally grown, etc. Good for you for looking for a reasonable balance!
You should look into http://www.townandcountryfoods.com/ We use them and the meat is all corn fed, free-range chickens, etc. The veges are frozen and they are Cascadian Farms, a huge organic retailer. We are a tight budget family, so my hubby did the research and the meat ends up costing less than Wal-Mart meat, but it is Central Market quality, but better. You do need a deep freeze, but it is so convenient. Also try to find a Sprouts, or some kind of local farmers market, I am sure they have one in OK. Even though it might not be “organic” it usually is less processed and has less chemicals in it. Plus, organic is really hard to always get the same level of quality because it is not very regulated, not to mention you will be supporting your local famers!
Robin,
I know what you mean. I have written Whole Foods and begged for them to put a store in as I-35 develops here in Edmond. When we go to Dallas to see friends I always take a cooler and load up at Central Market and Whole Foods. There is a Wild Oats, now owned by Whole Foods, in Tulsa but they were too expensive, in my opinion, the last time we were in Tulsa.
We have been using the Eat to Live plan by Dr. Joel Fuhrman. It is a mainly vegetarian and here in Edmond you just can’t get the type of organic goods that he requires.
I encourage you to email Whole Foods. I know the hold up for Oklahoma is that we do not allow the selling of wine in our markets. Until that law changes we will not have a Whole Foods here. However, there has been talk though of W.F. coming to Bricktown. So who knows.
Lori, we do not have Sig. Kroger here. We have cheesy places like Homeland and Crest. Places you will only find in OKC I believe. We do have Super T and Super Walmart, which helps; but I really miss my Tom Thumb and Central Market.
Erin, Thanks for the link. I will check them out and I have already mentioned to Terry about getting a deep freeze soon.
Vickie–I will continue to pray hard and email frequently. I would gladly dive to Bricktown for a WF!!
Good for you on the better eating plan! I am hoping to be more consistent with those same things… we have been slowly becoming more and more organic over the last two years, but I need to change some of my general eating to lower fat - not just organic (I must confess that I use A LOT of organic sugar in my sweet tea!)
It is so expensive, but I hope that the reduced medical expenses balance out that factor, and when you start reading about the preservatives and their affect on our body it is well worth it!
Good luck:-)
I’m impressed, Robin! Keep up the good work!
Hi. Check out Chefmandy.com - she is a local raw foods chef in Edmond. My children are in her kids culinary class - it is so much fun and since they started……..drum roll please….they are eating salads, spinach wrapped grapes, healthy carmel and everything that I will take the time to make for them! AMAZING!
Sheri, Terry and I are planning on taking a class of hers. I’ve been to her website and look forward to meeting her. Thanks!
All I am saying is LEATHER PANTS by 2009 baby!
Oh, and we left Northpark Mall at 8:00 tonight so I didn’t call!
But I did find some great deals at Macy’s and Victoria’s Secret!
We tried to buy the organic food a couple of times but I just can’t afford to raise 3 kids alone AND buy organic lol The cost is insane! What I really need to find here in OKC is a farmers market because I miss the one we used to shop at in Florida and you can get some great deals there on veggies. I don’t really have any “New Years resolutions” but I was already working on eating better and I am down 16lbs and I have 10 more to go..yay! My only focus this year is to go to court in February and get this nightmare behind me and just focus on my Jesus:-) He hasn’t let me down yet!
For 2008 I’m thinking of some lipo, a tummy-tuck and maybe a little botox. Hee Hee. Oh, did you mean what we ourselves want to personal change? Umm… definitely eating healthy and working out.
Oops, I guess I better add to that learning to spell “personally”. And to think, I call myself a teacher.
Hi Robin!
I listened to this interview on NPR this afternoon, great discussion about whole foods and
organic ! He also has a new book out. . .
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17725932
I would recommend Chef Mandy as well, only because she is so sweet though, I’ve never ate her food
Savanah, I just read the article and I agree with him 100%. I think that is where I am at now. It is going to take more time and cost more money, but the long term benefits will be exponential. Particularly if my kids learn to eat well, and teach their kids and so on.
What about farmer’s markets? Do you have any of those? I don’t necessarily know if it’s all organic, but it seems to be more fresh than what you find at the grocery store. We are also trying to eat less sugar, preservatives, HFCS (high-fructose corn syrup) which, BTW is in everything it seems! I do hate that the healthier stuff costs more mostly because I know that those less fortunate certainly cannot afford it and they cannot afford the medical bills that come with obesity and heart disease either. Sorry for the tangent! Good luck with your goals to eat healthier, we are working on it too!
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