Is It Really More Expensive to Eat Clean? by JenniferM

One reason often cited for not eating healthy is because it’s more expensive to buy healthy food than it is to buy junk food.  But is it really more expensive to eat healthy?  The answer to that question may surprise you.

We’ve decided to do a cost comparison of clean food vs. junk food.  The following prices are based on what I paid at the grocery store today.  Prices will vary depending on where you live, but you can do your own cost comparison the next time you go food shopping to get a better idea, but I’m sure the end result will be the same: eating clean is actually less expensive than eating junk food.

I bought some dry black beans, dry lima beans, and dry great northern beans.  The cost of 1 serving of black beans (1/4 cup dry - 1/2 cup cooked) works out to $0.09 per serving.  Yes, you read that right - just 9 CENTS per serving.  The lima beans are $0.10 per serving and the great northerns come in the least expensive at $0.06 per serving.

How about some fresh fruit?  One pound of fresh strawberries is $1.98.  Let’s say 1/2 cup is 1 serving.  So 1 serving would cost $0.50.  Fresh strawberries too expensive?  Let’s try some frozen strawberries since frozen fruits and veggies provide the same nutritional value as fresh.  Plus, they’re already capped for you!  All you need to do is let them thaw out.  Frozen strawberries weigh in at only $0.34 per 1/2 cup serving. 

Let’s take a look at poultry.  I purchased a hormone free/steroid free whole chicken (5 lbs.) for $3.87.  If you were to have a 4 oz. serving (size equal to the palm of your hand), the cost per serving is $0.19.

How about some veggies?  I bought a huge bag of frozen mixed veggie chunks so that I could either roast them or grill them.  Included in the bag is squash, zucchini, cauliflower, carrots, and onions.  One serving is 1 cup.  The breakdown is $0.36 per 1 cup serving.

Now, what about some junk food?  Why don’t we take a look at how much a Snickers’ bar will cost you:  $0.55 per candy bar if you buy the 6-pack of regular sized Snickers.  And remember, if you pay for a single candy bar, it’s going to cost you probably $0.20 more.  Plus, candy bars have no nutritional value  - none, zip, zilch.  All they will do is spike your blood sugar levels, add inches to your waist and lbs. on the scale.

So let’s take a look at what a complete meal would cost us:

1 serving of chicken = $0.19, 1 serving of grilled or roasted veggies = $0.36, and a serving of fresh strawberries = $0.50.  A grand total of $1.05 for a complete meal, less than the cost of 2 Snickers’ bars!

The rationale that eating healthy food costs more than junk food just doesn’t make sense, does it?