The "Cost" of Healthy Eating

We've all heard it said: "Eating healthy is so EXPENSIVE."

Disclosure: I rarely look at prices of things I buy at the grocery store. Perhaps, for comparison's sake, between brands of, say, popcorn, pasta ... that kind of thing. But I'm blessed not to have to choose between a carrot and a Coke.

Also: there have undoubtedly been cost comparisons done between shopping organic and not, shopping the perimeter of the grocery store and not ... And more poignant would be studies done on the TRUE cost, in terms of our health, of eating garbage because it's cheaper. [insert one of 9,999 food-based documentaries here]

That said, I had fun shopping yesterday, and I made a list of all the good stuff I bought ... I thought I'd share it with you.

1. I did not "shop around," look for sale prices, use coupons, or choose the cheapest store in town. In fact, I chose arguably the most pricey location for groceries.

2. I don't know "how long this will last us" before we shop again. That will depend on the vacuum factor (ie: how much of the fruit the kiddos realize we have before I get a chance to eat some of it - my son eats a quart of strawberries in one sitting) and the longevity and/or freezability of the produce (assuming some of it is not gotten to right away and therefore needs to be "put on hold." I'm GUESSING it will be at least three weeks till we hit the store again.

3. We have milk delivered.

4. Some items I would not normally purchase. As I said, I had a fun day in the produce aisle! and some items are specifically for the program I mentioned in Wednesday's post).

5. some items are organic, others are not; I try to stick to organic for the "dirty dozen."

Now, on to the list:

3 lb Macintosh apples 4.49
2 lb bag lemons 3.99
bag of limes 2.99
radicchio                                    .83
1 mango 1.00
5 kiwi 2.95
3 pears 2.23
bundle asparagus 2.87
bananas 1.37
3-pack seedless cucumber 3.99
3 lb bag yellow onions 2.49
avocado 1.79
head of cauliflower 3.99
celery 2.39
broccoli         2.00
leeks (soup?) 2.54
kohlrabi (saute?) 4.46
green pepper 1.09
red pepper 2.51
blueberries 3.99
blackberries (2) 6.98
raspberries (2) 9.98
baby tomatoes 3.99
strawberries 1.99
4 oz mushrooms 1.69
---------------------------------------------
Produce Total 78.59


"Other" (I'm putting things I consider condiments in parenthesis ... something you'd put ON something else and wouldn't be filling stomach space)


rice crisp streusel snacks 3.39
bag of brown rice 4.49
wheat pocket pitas 1.99
tortillas         2.79
whole wheat penne 2.19
no-boil lasagna noodles 2.39
minute rice, brown 2.19
rice cakes         1.39
cheerios (buy 2 get 1 free) - (3)  7.78
vegetable stock cups          (3.99)
spray sesame oil (5.99)
can of hearts of palm 5.39
natural peanut butter 3.39
almond butter 10.99
white vinegar (2.99)
mayonnaise (3.99)
whole wheat couscous 10.79
cranberry juice 3.00
bag of pre-cut salmon steaks 11.98
tofu           1.99
Colby jack cheese sticks   3.34
block of feta cheese   7.99
------------------------------------------------
"Other" total 104.42

Note: I consider quite a few items in this second list exotic: SPRAY sesame oil, hearts of palm, almond butter ($11!!!), salmon, even. And the streusel snacks, a total impulse buy. And a few of the items I could have purchased in cheaper sizes (a block of cheese, instead of the convenient, pre-packaged cheese sticks. a carton of veggie stock instead of smaller servings.) Still, my total for everything listed was $183.01. How long could/would a 2 lb bag of rice and a 3 lb bag of apples last you? If that's ALL I had to eat, how long could I make 8.98 last?

Issues, Issues

I have food issues.

Don't we all?

The other day I was reviewing my info packet for my upcoming adventure in health and fitness. I was also doing some research on my daily meal "replacement" shake - reading the ingredients list, etc.

A neighbor came by and asked about all the stuff I had spread about. "What's that?" she asked.

I proceeded to explain to her my plan of attack. I mentioned that losing some weight factored into that plan (albeit a secondary benefit of overall fitness and attention to health).

"Is that a concern for you?" she asked.

Truthfully, weight has never been a primary concern for me. My weight has fluctuated depending on life circumstance (I was, at one point in my adult life, a size 5 at 5'8"; metabolism like a maniac and college food will do that for you.). When I've been overweight, I notice because my clothing fits tightly, which is annoying because 1. I want to be comfortable and 2. I loathe clothes shopping.

We OWN a scale, although it's rarely pulled out. What would I do with the information anyway? "Huh. I weigh more than I did before!" "Hey, look! The numbers went down! Neat!" Purely academic.

What matters to me, though, is my level of physical activity (little to none), flexibility and mobility (again, not so much), and overall health (eating HABITS come in to play here). These are the things that SHOULD matter to EVERYONE. The time to "get in shape" is, and always has been, NOW.

Which leads me to MY issue: I don't enjoy eating.

No, really.

If left to my own devices, I FORGET to eat.

"Gee, I'd LOOOOOOVE to have THAT problem," I've heard MANY times.

Uh, nope, no, uh-uh, no way -- you would not. As my family can attest ... a person who has gone the day without eating is NOT a happy camper. Lack of nutrients turns me into a Grade-A b@#*h (ok, turns might not be the correct term --  who am I kidding? it's like alcohol ... you start out a jerk you become a loud, belligerent jerk.). It is not a weight loss plan, it's a prescription for stupid. Starving yourself (whether intentionally or not) wrecks your metabolism, messes with your blood sugar, and just all-out hoses you up. Then when you stop long enough to realize, "hey, wait, I didn't EAT anything," what are the chances you're going to make healthy, rational decisions about what to consume? spend a few extra minutes in the kitchen preparing some veggies or complex carbs? nope, you grab a bag of chips (or in my case, Wheat Thins and Marzetti's Southwestern Ranch Dip) and do the cookie-monster gobble. And then eat double at dinner before settling in to an evening of in-activity and acid re-flux.

At least, that's my tendency.

So no, the "meal replacement" shake I'm having every day, without fail, for lunch, is NOT a weight-loss solution. It's called ACTUALLY HAVING LUNCH (by drinking it! bonus! I don't have to EAT!) and reminding myself daily that I CAN and WILL make wise choices when it comes to what I put into my body.

And now cheer me on as I endeavor to make the more difficult commitment to a daily fitness routine.

No, I'm not "trying to lose weight."

Just actively .... not being stupid :) Only that doesn't make a very good slogan, does it?

Jump

Five Minute Friday: JUMP

(to play along, or read other entries, follow the link above)

GO:

Look before you leap? I've considered myself one of those folks ... who weigh the situation. Put a toe in. Carefully consider. And those are good things. Wouldn't want to go off (is the expression half-cocked? origin?). Perhaps I have some pride in this aspect of my personality.

However for the past month or so, while struggling with depression, I've chosen to JUMP into a few things, all at once, no reservations or negative self-talk, no "what ifs." Just JUMP.

1. I've chosen to jump into a Beach Body exercise and fitness plan. The pack of stuffs should arrive early next week. I've also chosen public accountability for this journey.

2. I've committed to learning to ride my bike this year; again, a public declaration. I've had folks offer to help me learn! and for that I'm grateful, although I doubt they know what they're getting into :) I'm a tough case when it comes to wheels... it's a LONG WAY DOWN when you're old!!

3. I've jumped with both feet into Early to Rise ... which is a book, a mindset, a new way to be. I've bounced after the initial jump ... sleeping in, getting up early only to fall back asleep on the couch ... but still the rewards have been many-fold and I'm encouraged by the new way of "doing my days."

4. there are a few other "private jumps" I've made or am making ... the only thing I need to say about them is that they are related to changes I know I need to make. Making my stated priorities match up with my actual days.

As I jump into this next season, which includes some physical fitness, I also hope to be able to jump ... as in get my butt into the air, with a lighter step and a bit more ease.

And also, just because it's in my head: JUMP! 21 Jump Street, Jump for My Love, and Jump Around. Some earworms for you today.

STOP.