I recently came across this article about food costs in the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics daily newsletter (formerly ADA) about the cost of healthy food versus unhealthy food:
The article was a rebuttal to a study done by the academy in which they measure the cost of healthy food, not as price per calorie which has been done in the past, but as price per portion, edible weight, or cost of meeting their dietary guidelines.
The study provides a good discussion of all four methods of measuring food cost and I think the authors make a good argument as to why studies that compare only cost per calorie were essentially useless in determining the overall healthfulness of a food. However, the study is based on a few very important and, I feel, incorrect things:
1. They assume that in order to eat healthy, one must follow either the USDA dietary guidelines or the My Pyramid guidelines (essentially the same thing in a different form)
2. Because of #1, they define "unhealthy foods" as those containing excess saturated fat, sugar or sodium.
3. They are assuming that everyone in the country shops at a grocery store, not only that, but a "normal grocery store" ie., not one that would specialize in healthier foods, such as Whole Foods. The food prices came from a food price database, which of course would eliminate the wide range in cost of living and food prices all over the country.
The study found that, following their guidelines, healthy foods can cost less than unhealthy or "moderation" foods as they call them. The above article was based on another study conducted around the same time. The authors of that one used food frequency questionnaires (because we all know how reliable they are) in the Seattle area and then measured the cost of each meal consumed by the participants. The idea behind that study actually makes more sense to me, but of course they are using the same guidelines for "healthy" foods.
Of course, neither of these really apply to me, or people who choose to follow a similar diet as myself. But the articles highlight what is wrong with the way we look at food cost. Besides my problems with the government's idea of healthy food, there are also other factors that affect the way we perceive food cost. For example:
1. The true cost of food, anyone who has studied factory farming or big agriculture can tell you that the cost to the land is enormous and that the cost of FF food does not reflect that cost.
2. The cost of labor, you may pay more for food from small farmers but you are supporting their family as well. Instead of buying food from places that pay their workers poorly or treat them badly, you can give that money to farmers who pay their workers a fair wage and provide a good life for them.
3. The lower cost of health care: If you eat better, you are almost guaranteed to be less sick later in life. It is one of the most simple laws of nature. Your children will benefit as well and be sick less often.
4. The authors of this study, and ones like it, and not really comparing "food" they are essentially comparing "food" with "non-food" items such as processed food. Once I started to think of those items as non-food, ie. not providing anything your body needs, these comparisons became (even more) useless.
So if you are convinced to pay a little more for higher quality food, what is the best way to keep food costs down? Some ideas that I would like to see promoted by the government are:
1. Encouraging people to grow their own food- probably one of the most, if not the most, important thing people can learn how to do to keep food costs down. You can even promote an even more cottage mentality by encouraging neighbors to grow food together or take over city plots that have been abandoned. Growing your own herbs can add flavor to foods while eliminating the need for store bought spices.
2. The keeping of livestock or chickens- chickens need very little room, even to be considered pastured and eggs are really one the healthiest foods. Of course the meat is also nourishing, but keeping laying hens could also be just as important.
3. Cooking from scratch- In my opinion, there is no cheaper way to cook. It may take more time and energy, but there are plenty of ways to make it easier, such as slow cookers or cooking a large quantity at once.
4. Promoting foods that can be inexpensive but nutritionally dense such as butter.
Butter is an incredibly healthy food, and even if you can not get the
best (organic, grass-fed), you can still reap some of the benefits.
As I have been between jobs recently, my husband and I have been trying to be very frugal in the way that we eat. We have been eating lost of chicken; unfortunately not local but organic none the less. We have been making veggies stretch further than we normally would and finding some good deals on local produce, both at Whole Foods and at local stores. We bake the chicken with spices and a little olive oil (bought in a large container at a good price) and then use the fat that drips down as a sauce for the veggies along with a little butter. This is an incredibly nourishing and satisfying meal that costs very little. I think you could even skip the olive oil and just use the chicken fat and make it even less expensive. I save the bones and make stocks in my slow cooker when I have enough, reaping even more nutrition from them. Last week we tested whether we could go without buying bread (I am going to start making my own soon but have not gotten in the habit yet), and had our local eggs in the morning with rice and beans instead. Very cheap and delicious!
I have thought a lot about what I would do if suddenly pressed for money. I think grains would probably be the first thing to go, as I do consider them a luxury because they can be expensive and time consuming to prepare. With them would go homemade sweets. I think proteins and veggies would be most important. Buying seasonally of course helps a lot, even with meat (chickens in spring and summer, beef in winter). And of course sticking with the (I think better) cuts of meat that are very frugal, such as chicken wings and thighs. I think staying away from the grocery store would also save lots of money!
What do you do to keep food costs down and do you agree/disagree with me?
What do you do to keep food costs down and do you agree/disagree with me?
* One of my favorite bloggers keeps a healthy dollar menu on her blog, contributed to by other talented bloggers:
