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Healthy Foods on a Budget

M

msummers26

Guest
I've been noticing that its more expensive to eat a healthy meal than an unhealthy one. But if you consider the cost of ingredients, it shouldn't be.

Who else notices this? Discuss.

-Mike
 
I don't see it at all.

Many people who think it's expensive to eat "healthy", I find are doing two things. Firstly, they're buying everything at the supermarket, secondly they're buying fresh fruit and vegies as well as rather than instead of packaged processed crap. And then they're throwing away a third their food uneaten.

The key thing is not to do all your shopping at the supermarket. You pay extra for the convenience of having everything in one place. Go to the shops specialising in that thing. Aim for shops run by Asians or Greeks, since their customers will be predominantly Asian or Greek, and those guys shop around for the best deal.
  • Buy seasonal fresh fruit and vegetables at the vegie shop or market
  • meat, if you eat it, at butchers or also at the market
  • bread from the bakery
  • pastas, tinned food etc from the supermarket, homebrand
  • nuts, dried fruit and beans, etc from a dedicated nut shop
  • Bodybuilding supplements? For the first 3-9 months of hard training, and for maintaining after that, plain old eggs and skim milk powder will be enough
  • Do not buy lemonade, pizza, premade beef lasagna, chocky bikkies, etc - that processed stuff, you have to pay for the processing. And it's mostly not healthy.
Here in the southeastern suburbs of Melbourne we spend $65 a week for two, and $85 a week when there are three of us. We'd spend $10-$15 less if we were vegetarian. We could spend less still if we did things like making pasta from scratch, but when you can get it for $2 for a kilo bag, why bother?
 
With you on this Kyle. One thing I noticed with buying meat in the butcher is altough the price per kg might be higher, it works out cheaper because you buy what you need. I do not need 600g of mince to make a meal for two people, but in a supermarket that tends to be the smallest size, so I end up cooking it all and we eat the same meal until we get sick of it/it becomes poisonious.
 
Also, 1 word: ALDI! It's much cheaper for staples eg. pasta.

We do all our shopping at local greengrocers and butchers. They even mince up our beef for us so we know it's 100% lean.

We only shop at Coles, Woolies for milk, bread, cottage cheese etc. Even eggs are too expensive at the supermarkets - the greengrocers have 800g eggs for $2.60.
 
I personally find it to be alot cheaper eating healthy because im not walking up and down isles at the supermarket buying shit i dont need.
i go to a fruit and vege market do get all that stuuf cause its always fresher and cheaper, i get most of my meat from aldi cause i find its really good priced and good quality. generally ill know what im going to buy cause i roughly have an idea of what ill eat for the week, so it makes it easier to stick to a budget.
You need to shop around a bit, i have found safeway to be a complete rip off for meat, even when it is marked down it is still to expensive.
 
breebreerocks said:
One thing I noticed with buying meat in the butcher is altough the price per kg might be higher
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Depends a lot on the butcher. I'm lucky enough to be in an area with several butchers, Chinese and Greek. Between the competition and the natural bargain-seeking of those ethnic groups, things are cheap. Mince for $6/kg, topside for $8/kg, chicken breast for $9/kg, and so on.

Rather than buying for each meal, I just buy whatever's cheap and looks alright, then when I get home I portion it up into roughly 200g lots. 200g is a good meal size for one serve for a heavy meat eater, or 2-4 serves for light meat eaters, or where the meat is just part of the dish like in bolognese.

Morgan said:
Kyle, where abouts in SE Melb are you from?
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This is my gym.
 
My freezer is like a slow death for meat. Whatever goes in never comes out.

I get hit with a post code charge where I live. There is choice, but they all pay such massive rents they charge more. Whenever I'm out in the 'burbs I'll grab fresh fruit and veg because it is half the price.
 
breebreerocks said:
My freezer is like a slow death for meat. Whatever goes in never comes out.

I get hit with a post code charge where I live. There is choice, but they all pay such massive rents they charge more. Whenever I'm out in the 'burbs I'll grab fresh fruit and veg because it is half the price.
Click to expand...
i have always disliked the city, and your giving me more ammo.
 
breebreerocks said:
I get hit with a post code charge where I live. There is choice, but they all pay such massive rents they charge more.
Click to expand...
If you're living where you're training, well in Bondi Junction you also have the kosher tax on most of the shops. I lived there (Bennett St) a few months in 1999. I lived alone and didn't eat much at home, mostly at work, so I can't suggest cheaper places, unfortunately.

There are always other places to shop, though, so you'll have to find other reasons to hate the city, Shammo. Well, except for Sydney, go ahead and hate that joint :p
 
When I lived in Canberra, there were the best food markets. Heaps of choice, fruiterers battling out for the cheapest product, butchers, etc. Each area had one ie south=Fyshwick, north=Belconnen. Probably the only thing about Canberra that I miss.
 
Very good advice Karl, I do agree with you on those but I often find it difficult to go to the market due to time constraints. My jobs takes me 8-12 hours a day and weekend hours are pretty much a juggling act between social commitments, house chores, and the gym.

But I like your advice, I probably find it more expensive coz I either shop at the supermarket or eat out.

-Mike
 
Think you'd be hard pressed to find any professional who doesn't work between 8-12 hours a day! Guess it is about prioritising. Go to the markets at 6am when its just the wholesalers and you'll get awesome produce and a great price.
 
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