Why is Healthy Eating so Expensive?

Every savvy shopper knows the produce cycle in the grocery store. Fresh fruits and veggies are ALWAYS more highly priced in the winter and non-peak seasons than in the summer and early fall when they are plentiful. Ever try buying grapes or strawberries in the winter? Not only do they taste awful because they aren't ripe, but they're also well over $2 or $3 a pound! And check out the tomatoes too. I didn't think they were supposed to be that sallow-colored orange and crunchy?? It's cheaper to buy a few bags of chips and soda than it is to buy a pint of fresh blueberries most times of the year.

This is the everyday-norm for vegetarians, and even for those who live to simply eat a healthy diet. In the long run we save costs on medical bills, because we aren't clogging our arteries with an abundance of animal fats and avoid countless other ailments that meat and dairy products can cause, but in the immediate, we get our pockets and purses cleaned out with each trip down a grocery store aisle.

Sure, you can avoid meat and load up on starch-based products, but doesn't the word "VEGE-tarian' indicate some sort of vegetable consumption? And if you're weight conscious, I don't think that loading up on an abundance of starch and carbohydrates each day is such a good thing. So, during the winter months, I tend to eat more frozen vegetables, and as a last resort, canned vegetables to combat the high prices of the fresh stuff. But even during the warmer months when fresh produce prices are reasonable, think about the last time a salad really stuck to your ribs and kept you full for any length of time. Personally, I have a tendency to eat more frequently because water-based fruits and veggies pass right through the body. Of course, as a vegetarian, we do add the rice, grains and legumes to our diets, which helps keep us fuller, because we all know that starches expand when wet (just think about how full you are after say, a bowl of oatmeal, or how rice doubles its size when dry vs cooked).

To avoid the cholesterol and fat, we also try meat substitutes, such as tofu and tempeh. These items are great because we can still have a 'burger,' tacos and a spaghetti sauce or chili with a little substance to it. Tofu and tempeh pretty much take on any flavor you mix them with, but cooking with them and getting good results can be a little tricky. These products are also relatively inexpensive, under $2, until you start buying the imitation sausage, deli meat, pre-seasoned items and different versions of the ground 'meatless' meat - then each item is at least $3 - $4 or more for a small package. Though, if you're not a vegan, (who also don't eat dairy products or seafood) then there are also some other food alternatives and choices like cheese, eggs, fish, and shellfish.

I guess it boils down to supply and demand, and especially what area of the country you live in. It seems that anywhere South of the Mason-Dixon line is a heart-attack waiting to happen, except for Florida. There is more lard, fat-back and B-B-Q floating around here in Georgia than I've ever seen anywhere else. I have had the most difficult time finding a reasonably priced health/organic/whole food store. While when I lived in California, vegetarianism was everywhere. There was even a great little restaurant in Berkeley on Telegraph that had veggie burgers, air-baked fries and smoothies/fresh juices. It was fabulous! It seems that the warmer the weather, the more health conscious, the slimmer and more fit the population. The colder the weather, the more uneducated the folks are about proper nutrition, and the poorer the demographics are, the less likely you are to find healthy eating habits and accessibility to natural foods. So, you make due with what you have.

Don't give up healthful eating. Even if you're not a vegetarian, produce consumption, a little 'ruffiage' as my mom says, does you're body a host of good. Again, buying fresh produce will deplete your wallet during the winter months, but frozen fruit and vegetables are a good alternative and provide a great variety, and if needed, canned items are also available at decent prices. Do a little searching. While most larger grocery store chains tend to have the cheapest produce, you will probably find the best deals on natural food products, such as pre-packaged mixes, meat substitutes, soy products, etc at a health food store. There seems to be a Whole Foods Market in just about every major city, but they can be a little pricey. Seek out a smaller store and even check out some online stores. You can try the DMOZ's directory , nSpired Natural Foods and SimplyNatural. Strive to be healthy without going broke!