Healthy Foods Price Comparison

There is one food myth that I just love and it is that eating healthy is more expensive. I hear this from patients and also when I am giving lectures. The myth is so strong that even many of my colleagues believe it.

I believe that there are a lot of reasons for this myth. For a long time eating healthy meant going to the health food store and prices were much higher. The idea of finding organic food, foods with less salt or something as exotic as whole wheat flour seemed to stray from the norm. Because of the rarities of such foods they were, quite simply, expensive. Fast forward to today. There are not very many health food stores left because even the smallest groceries carries all these items and more.

The best part of this is that all of these foods are now priced normally. When I am giving lectures I show all of these foods side by side. Whole wheat pasta is the same price. Lower fat cheeses are no difference. Low fat, low sodium cold cuts cost exactly the same. The list goes on and on and on. Whole wheat bread, no salt added beans and veggies, low fat milk, brown rice, healthier spreads, reduced fat mayonnaise and more are all affordable.

There are as many ingredients now that are as healthy for you as "regular" ones, but folks have put forth other arguments. They say "Oh well, people can go to McDonald's and order cheap food from the Value Meal menu." This is again a fallacy because that less expensive menu is not the one that folks end up eating. A Quarter Pounder still costs a few bucks. For the same money you can purchase enough lean ground beef, whole wheat buns, lettuce and tomatoes as you would pay for a couple of burgers.

In most cases eating unhealthy foods is a lot more expensive. Purchasing products like Hamburger Helper or taco seasonings is so much more expensive than buying fresh ingredients that don't include all the fat and salt of processed foods.

This is one of the easy ones for you. Look at the Nutrition Facts and compare labels. You'll find that the healthy versions are better for you, taste fabulous and are priced just the same.