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THE COST OF EATING HEALTHY

By Laura Cuddy / March 10th, 2017
by Laura Cuddy / March 10th, 2017
People often believe that eating healthy is very expensive.

In this article we review a Harvard University School of Public Health study about the cost of eating healthy in the US compared to the costs of an unhealthy diet.

We also explore the health consequences of an unhealthy diet and share four of our quick and healthy recipes and compare their costs to popular unhealthy alternatives.

The Cost of Eating Healthy in the US
COST COMPARISON STUDY: HEALTHY VS UNHEALTHY DIET

According to a Harvard University School of Public Health study, the daily cost of consuming the healthiest of diets, is approximately $1.50 more per person per day compared to the least healthy of diets.

There are some important price differences that should be noted when it comes to different types of food.

Within this study, proteins had the most expensive difference per serving, with the healthier choice being $0.29 more than the less healthy choice.

Similarly, healthier snacks and sweets were $0.12 more expensive per serving.

Grains, fats and oils were only marginally more expensive with a $0.02 to $0.03 difference.

Interestingly, healthier dairy products were found on average to actually be cheaper than their unhealthy counterparts.

Also, there was no price difference found in substituting healthy juices for processed, low nutritional value soft drinks.

Cost of Eating Healthy in the US

While this is not necessarily a miniscule difference, it is smaller than you’d expect, especially considering much of the negative publicity relating to class and poor diet practices.

Furthermore, not only are many healthy foods more accessible than many believe, often healthier organic alternatives can be cheaper than their processed counterparts.

A 2012 US government study found that carrots, onions, pinto beans, lettuce, mashed potatoes, bananas and orange juice are all less expensive per portion than soft drinks, ice cream, chocolate candy, French fries, sweet rolls and deep-fat fried chicken patties.

On top of that, the price per serving of potato chips, a favorite amongst processed foods and a staple of many American diets, is nearly twice that of carrots, the same study found.

HEALTH CONSEQUENCES OF AN UNHEALTHY DIET

OBESITY

Even in cases where eating healthier is more expensive, the health care costs associated with having a poorer diet of processed foods dwarf the short term savings of a cheaper diet.

It is no secret that unhealthy diet practices lead to many health complications.

Chief among these are obesity and diabetes.

Both of these health issues are growing significantly in the US. Obesity is responsible for $147 Billion per year in healthcare costs.

It is also estimated by the CDC that anywhere between $3.38 to $6.38 billion is lost per year in economic productivity due to absenteeism caused by obesity.

Approximately one-third of all American adults are obese, along with 17% of American children.

This works out to a per capita related costs of $79 to $132 per individual in the American labor force.

Direct medical costs may include preventive, diagnostic, and treatment services related to obesity.

Indirect costs relate to morbidity and mortality costs.

Cost of Eating Healthy

DIABETES

Diabetes is an even bigger drain on costs, both personally and socially.

In the US, nearly 30 million people have diabetes and 86 million more have pre-diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association (ADA).

The ADA also states that 1 in every 5 dollars spent on healthcare and diabetes costs $245 billion dollars per year.

The total cost in the US works out to $176 billion in healthcare costs and $69 billion in lost productivity per year.

While highly variable, most people contract diabetes in adulthood, known as type 2 diabetes. This happens as a result of a gradual failure of the body to produce insulin which is highly correlated with obesity.

Such astronomical health care costs as the result of poor diet choices clearly show a huge financial impact.

There are preventions in both fiscal terms and in terms of physical well being that could be made and it all starts with nutrition.

In taking the small short term expense, mountains of expenses can be prevented by making the right choice and choosing the healthy nutritional option.

Therefore, in spite of the perception of higher costs, it is imperative to remember both the long term savings related to healthy nutrition as well as the immediate savings with smart food choices.

The Cost of Eating Healthy

MOVE TOWARDS A HEALTHY DIET

Even amongst those who are not overweight, diabetic, or obese, the rise of unhealthy eating habits has put a huge portion of the population into risk of further health complications.

Now more than ever, it is absolutely imperative to be proactive and move towards a healthy diet.

Furthermore, with a near neutral cost offset,, there’s no reason not to make a change and adapt a healthy diet.

CONCLUSION: THE COST OF EATING HEALTHY

The costs of eating healthy vs eating poorly is not so significant in the US.

Low carb burrito bowl!!!

Coming soon!! Paleo Muffins!! We will have Blueberry, Pumpkin, and Apple Walnut!! These will be on sale on our new menu coming out September 21st!!

What is Paleo, anyway? Is it for you? Let’s discuss.

WTF Is Paleo?

A Paleo-friendly diet puts the focus on eating real, natural, whole foods that have gone through little or no processing to get on your plate. Simply put: You eat plants and animals. We’re talking meats, fish, eggs, greens, veggies, fruits, and nuts. Sounds easy, right? Maybe for cavemen it was… because they weren’t tempted by the thousands of packaged foods we have access to. If they couldn’t hunt it or gather it, they didn’t eat it. Today the only hunting we’re doing is for good deals on food we can gather into our shopping carts. In goes bread, cheese, yogurt, rice, candy bars, milk, chips, cereal, etc.

Paleo experts took note of our modern-day behavior and thought, if obesity and disease rates are rising as quickly as processed foods are flying off shelves, maybe we should go back to our roots and eat like our early ancestors did?

A Modern-Day Caveman

Before you grab a spear to go after tonight’s dinner, simmer down. It’s 2017, and Grocery stores and farmer's markets are there to do the work for you. How convenient! (Well, finding parking is a b*tch, but we guess it’s better than fighting a buffalo.)

So your Paleo life can look something like this: Wake up in the morning to scrambled eggs with spinach, chicken sausage, and avocado, and a cup of coffee (yes, coffee is Paleo!) with a splash of almond milk. For lunch it’s all about the spaghetti squash and slow cooker Bolognese you made overnight. And oh, you can’t wait to dig your hands into shrimp stir-fry with cauliflower rice tonight. For dessert, it’s a few pieces of dark chocolate. Sounds good? That’s Paleo for ya. And that doesn’t even scratch the surface of the seriously good food that’s permitted on the plan.

What You Can Eat

Chicken. Probably already a staple in your diet.
Fish. BRB. Gone fishing to the fish market.
Red meat. So many meatballs.
Pork. Slow cooker Paleo pulled pork FTW.
Eggs. For breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Vegetables. As if you thought you couldn’t eat these.
Fruits. The less sugary ones (berries) are best.
Nuts. Peanuts aren’t allowed, but go nuts on almonds.
Natural oils. 'Cause ya gotta sauté the veg in something.
Healthy fats. Because avocados.
Natural sweeteners. Honey and maple syrup? YAS.
Pro tip: Prioritize organic, grass-fed meats and free-range eggs, and opt for wild-caught seafood and organic vegetables... when you can.

What’s Off-Limits

Processed foods. Yes, even the natural, gluten-free, avocado oil-based chips.
Refined sugar. Good-bye, Almond Joy. We’ll be making a Paleo version of you soon.
Refined carbs. RIP Bagel Fridays.
Legumes. Silver lining: Maybe you’ll have less gas.
Dairy. But have you tried banana “ice cream”?
Grains. Not even brown rice.
Vegetable oils. Easy at home, tough when eating out.
Pro tip: Just like bad breakups, “out of sight, out of mind” works here too. Get these foods out of the house, and it’ll be easier to say good-bye.

What’s Up for Debate

There are tons of Paleo bloggers and experts out there, and if there’s one thing we’ve learned from them, it’s that there’s no such thing as perfect Paleo. Michelle Tam of Nom Nom Paleo puts it well:

There isn’t just one definitive, monolithic, one-size-fits-all Paleo diet. Some Paleo eaters choose to go super low-carb, while others are happy to munch on a baked potato or a bowl of white rice every now and then. There are Paleo eaters who can’t imagine life without dairy, and more orthodox folks who refuse to touch even a pat of butter with a 10-foot pole.

So, really, there’s no debate. It’s finding the Paleo plan that works best for you. If that means adding a sprinkle of goat cheese to your baked sweet potato every now and then, or going out for ice cream on your birthday, we think that’s OK.

9 (Unofficial) Paleo Commandments

Since there really isn’t a Paleo rule book set in stone, we collected guidelines that most experts and bloggers follow. These will help any Paleo newbie understand what to expect when you’re going full (or even halfsie) caveman.

Eat plenty of whole foods.
We can’t live without sweet potatoes, avocados, and eggs while eating Paleo.
Eat less processed foods.
Packaged chips, cookies, breads, etc. are a no. While it might seem hard at first, you might find it harder to add them back into your diet once you start feeling better.
Just because it’s packaged doesn’t make it totally off-limits.
We're definitely stocking our pantry with these Paleo-approved staples. And when we're on the road, we're bringing these travel-friendly snacks.
Avoid foods that don’t make you feel good.
Even if something is “Paleo approved,” that doesn’t mean you have to eat it. Bolognese recipe calls for red meat but you're not a "red meat" person? Go for lean turkey instead.
Find what works for you.
Some Paleo peeps eat rice on occasion (gasp!), while some won’t even say the word “rice” without flinching. Be your own caveman and create a plan that will help you succeed at feeling your best.
Don’t be too strict.
We like to follow the 80/20 rule: 80 percent of the time we’ll eat Paleo, but 20 percent of the time we’re not saying no to pizza, rice, cookies, or cheese. The leniency makes it easier to stick to the plan the majority of the time.
Learn to love cooking.
Since you’re eating less processed foods, you’ll be making more homemade meals. Don’t let it stress you out. Find easy recipes, and ones you really love, so it becomes a joy, not a nuisance.
Don’t entirely say good-bye to your favorite junk foods.
Paleo allows you to still enjoy pancakes, chicken tenders, and chocolate… as long as they’re made with Paleo-approved ingredients. Think coconut flour flapjacks, almond-crusted tenders, and three-ingredient chocolate.
If ya booze, ya don’t necessarily lose.
Unless you and alcohol go together like oil and water, it’s hard completely giving it up. We’re not saying to drink three daiquiris at brunch, but wine, gluten-free beers, and hard ciders are OK on occasion. Paleo guru and author of The Paleo Solution Robb Wolf suggests a combo of soda water, lime, and 100 percent agave tequila for all of us lushes.

Why Go Paleo?

To get a six-pack, amirite? Just kidding. While this plan is popular for helping you whittle your waist and bulge your biceps, it’s so much more than a CrossFitter’s dream diet. Anyone who wants to clean up their eating and lifestyle habits can give it a go. Although further research is still needed, a number of smaller trials have suggested benefits in the weight loss and metabolism departments.

Experts from the Paleo Plan suggest the following results are what Paleo-ers most commonly experience:

Weight loss
Feeling pleasantly full for longer
Less sugar cravings
Clearer skin
Increase in energy
Physically more muscular
Improved digestion
Reduced inflammation
Healthier relationship with food
Is Paleo for Everyone?

If you’ve already found a way of eating that makes you feel your best, then you should probably stick to that. If you're still feeling kinda (or really) crappy on a daily basis, then you may want to give it a try. Going Paleo and taking a break from grains, dairy, and soy might be the stepping stone you need to find out if eating more animal proteins and less processed foods (and the occasional glass of wine; oops we said it) is what your body needs.