Is it Really Too Expensive to Eat Healthy?

In the second week of Achieve Weight Loss classes we ask people what are the negative effects of their weight. Invariably, someone will complain that "Eating healthy costs too much." Is that true? If it is, is it worth it to spend a few more dollars to eat healthy?

According to a study done by the Harvard School of Public Health, it costs about $1.50 more per day to eat healthier foods (e.g., fruits, vegetables, fish and nuts). However, before you decide it is too expensive to eat better, you need to consider the following:

1. You will eat less healthier food than the junk food. Healthier food keeps you feeling fuller longer. Even though junk food is often cheaper you will buy more of it because you will eat more of it. So, in the long run, it is not more expensive to eat healthier foods.
2. Healthier food may initially cost more, but a steady diet of cheaper junk food leads to a host of medical conditions such as type 2 diabetes, gout, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, etc. These medical conditions result in costs for medications. Once you factor in how much money you are paying for medications which can be often reduced or eliminated by fueling your body consistently with healthier food, you are actually saving money with the healthier food!
3. Healthier food may initially cost more, but it is cheaper than a heart attack, stroke, and other diet-related (and often causing) medical conditions.
4. Healthier food may initially cost more, but a diet of the cheaper food leads to larger clothes-which cost more money.
5. Healthier food may initially cost more, but a diet of the cheaper food leads to less productivity. If you don't feel good, you don't get as much done. Lower productivity may result in lower income. 

We could go on with more examples, but the reality is that in the long run, cheaper food costs more. It really depends on whether you are thinking long or thinking short. If all you focus on is the cost at the check out line, you will keep buying the cheaper, junk food. But, as the old saying goes "Pay now or pay later."

At Achieve Weight Loss we educate and empower you so you can make the correct food choices so you can fuel your body with food that will result in a healthier body. A healthier body results in benefits such as:

1. Reduced or elimination of many weight-induced medications
2. More energy
3. Greater productivity
4. Less joint and back pain
5. Greater self-esteem

I think those benefits (and more) are worth a few extra bucks a month.