Wednesday, February 10, 2010
How Expensive Is Cheap Food
Over the holidays in December, I stayed with my Mom for a few days. As we were cooking dinner one night, I opened the pantry to get some ingredients. Most of what was in there, I can only describe as a nutritional disaster. And after years of eating this way, it has certainly contributed to the poor health and weight issues she has experienced. But I have learned from experience that it doesn't do any good to preach to family members. My genuine concern has too often been viewed as overbearing and self-righteous. So I made a more subtle comment. "You know there's a new natural grocery store that just opened by the mall, Mom." "Yeah, and you've got to pay arm and a leg to get out of there too," she said. I left it at that and changed the subject. There was no sense in arguing. Between elevated health insurance costs, annual deductibles, monthly drug prescriptions and missed work due to illness my mother and her husband spend thousands - probably tens of thousands - of dollars on health care each year. In fact, next month my Mom is having a hip replacement surgery due to carrying too much weight for too many years... but eating healthy is too expensive. My brother recently told me a similar story about when his in-laws came to visit. He was making dinner and ran out of a few key ingredients. His mother-in-law offered to make a run to the store. They asked her to stop at the natural grocery store, because they didn't want to buy conventionally-raised meat. She agreed to go there. But when she returned, all she could comment on was how expensive everything was. Never mind that this woman and her husband are worth millions and a few hundred dollars here or there shouldn't make a difference. More to the point, he is diabetic and was hospitalized several times last year for heart problems. No telling how much that cost. She recently broke a hip due to bone-density issues. And they probably spend thousands of dollars a year on medications... but eating healthy is too expensive. My personal experiences are not unique. In fact a recent large survey of Canadians and Americans revealed that more than half reported "high costs" as the most significant obstacle to healthy eating. The first thing to understand is that disease and disability are far more expensive than even the most costly health foods and supplements. If you do not take care of your body - and if you abuse it by eating the wrong ones - the costs will be far higher than your grocery bills could ever be. Your joints will wear out before they should. You will experience more pain and a lower level of energy. You will get sick more often. And your net worth will definitely take a hit. You will pay more for health insurance and life insurance... not to mention the out-of-pocket costs for surgeries and frequent doctor visits. On the other hand, when you are operating at your peak, you will have more energy and creativity. You will feel better... and you will feel better about yourself. You will be happier. You will feel prouder to look in the mirror. And as a result, your relationships, your spiritual growth and even your career success will improve. Quite simply, the time and money you spend on your health and your diet are the most valuable investments you can make. There is simply no price you can put on a healthy body and a clear, sharp mind. And here is some great news if the economic downturn has you watching your wallet instead of your waistline... Despite the misconceptions, eating a healthy diet does not have to cost that much more than the standard American diet of processed, nutrient-depleted, hormone-pumped, pesticide-contaminated foods that most people eat. PERFECT BLOOD SUGAR! Without tasteless, "cardboard" food... Without endless hours of exhausting exercise... Without a second thought! Researchers have finally uncovered the real secret to maintaining healthy blood sugar levels... And it's not a strict, flavorless diet OR an expensive membership to a fancy gym! Believe it or not, the secret to ultimate blood sugar balance is a substance you've already got stockpiled inside your body. And by shoring up your reserves even more, you could...
Imagine NEVER having to give your blood sugar a second thought! For example, last night, my wife Kelley and I each enjoyed a piece of ruby-red Wild Alaskan salmon (Archer Farms from Target), half a baked sweet potato with grass-fed butter, a serving of sautéed broccoli (organic, frozen, from Costco) and a Wellness Bakeries cupcake. The entire meal: just over $4 per serving. The night before that, Kelley made a pot of chili with grass-fed ground beef. The cost of the meal: less than $2 a serving. We also enjoyed a bottle of Natura Cabernet (organic, grown in Chile) for just $11. For breakfast this morning, I had two organic eggs sautéed, half an avocado, an apple and a handful of almonds. Cost: less than $2. I don't know about you. But when I can eat a hearty meal of fresh, organic foods for less than the cost of a Super Value Meal at a fast food restaurant... I don't complain about the cost. With that said, here are several ways to save your dollars and still save your health... Buy in Bulk By far, the best way to save on food is to buy in bulk whenever possible. Not only will you save on the food, but you will also make fewer trips to the store. You have probably noticed that food prices have been steadily increasing over the past few years. This is a trend that is likely to continue, due to droughts, shortages and monetary inflation. As long as there is no danger of spoilage, food on the shelf is just as good as money in the bank. In fact, food is probably a much better investment than cash in the bank. If you have the space to do it, consider buying or building storage shelves to store more non-perishable foods. You can save a considerable amount of money buying staples, coffee and spices in bulk. And you can also take advantage of sales on canned goods and other foods, buying more than you need immediately and storing the rest. You should also consider buying a chest freezer to store more frozen foods and prepared meals. This allows you to multiply the recipes you cook and freeze what you don't eat immediately. This saves time later, when you can just pull an already-prepared meal out of the freezer. With extra freezer storage, you should also consider buying meat in bulk. You can take advantage of sales at the store. Or you might even consider going direct. Local farmers in many areas offer "cow sharing" or "cowpooling" programs. The farmer raises the animal. And when the meat is harvested, several people share the proceeds. You can buy a quarter of the meat from a grass-fed cow (about 200 pounds) for anywhere from $300 to $600. If you want to buy a "side" (half a cow) your savings per pound is even greater. You can also save money cooking whole chickens or learning to cut them up yourself. In some cases, you can save up to 75% on a per pound basis buying a whole chicken, versus boneless skinless breasts. And you can also simmer the bones to create stock for soup - another meal. A slow cooker is another great way to save time and money. You can use roasts and larger cuts of meat that you might not ordinarily cook. And since all you have to do is throw the ingredients together and turn it on, it saves a lot of time in the kitchen. Shop in Season Fresh fruits and vegetables are always priced higher during the non-peak seasons than in the summer and early fall. Not only are they less expensive when you buy them in season, but they usually taste better (tomatoes are not supposed to be pink and crunchy) and provide better nutritional value too. The best way to find organic food in season is to join a local CSA or visit your local farmer's market. Even Better... Grow Your Own You might not believe how much food you can grow in a very small space or in containers on a deck or porch. Last year, I picked up two young arugula plants on my way out of the grocery store. They were just three dollars apiece - and yet over the course of several months we probably ate 20 large salads from those two plants. And even if you don't grow vegetables and salad greens, you should consider growing herbs and spices. It takes very little space. They are quite easy to grow. And most are quite attractive. So yank out those geraniums and plant some basil, thyme and oregano. You can even landscape with certain plants. Several years ago, my brother planted a row of blueberry bushes. They are now over six feet tall. Last year, he harvested 75 pints of blueberries (and that was after the squirrels and birds ate their fair share). Buy Frozen Veggies and Berries If you are shopping on a budget don't forget about frozen organic vegetables and berries. They are usually much less expensive than those that are fresh. But the nutritional value is usually the same or often even better. After all, the produce is frozen and preserved shortly after being picked. Your Health Is Your Greatest Wealth There is no greater investment than an investment in your health. And there is no greater price to pay than losing it. The good news is that you can make healthy choices without breaking the bank. And I have only touched on a few in this article. There are many other ways to save money on food and supplements without sacrificing your health. I invite you to submit your own ideas in the comments section on the website. Just scroll down and click "comment" to let us know your thoughts. To Your Health,  Editorial DirectorTotal Health Breakthroughs |
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