{"id":165251,"date":"2021-01-04T08:00:24","date_gmt":"2021-01-04T08:00:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eu.intelligentlabs.org\/is-eating-healthy-expensive\/"},"modified":"2025-09-23T12:37:43","modified_gmt":"2025-09-23T11:37:43","slug":"is-eating-healthy-expensive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eu.intelligentlabs.org\/en-ie\/is-eating-healthy-expensive\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Eating Healthy Expensive?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Breaking free from bad eating habits is hard, especially if you\u2019re used to \u2013 and addicted \u2013 to junk food. It\u2019s cheap, tastes amazing, needs very little time to prepare (if at all), and you\u2019ll find it literally everywhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the contrary, healthy foods aren\u2019t as accessible for many. They may taste great too, but not right off the bat as most need to be prepared and cooked (check out Intelligent Keto<\/a><\/strong> if you want easy recipes!). Plus, they\u2019re not as cheap as junk food \u2013 or so many people think.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With that said, is eating healthy expensive<\/strong>? Or is this nothing more than an unhealthy myth? Scroll down to know the answer!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What does healthy eating mean?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Healthy eating refers to making smart food choices and eating a well-balanced diet. This means consuming nutrient-dense foods which give you all the nutrients your body needs to function properly, such as fat, carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, minerals, and water. Unfortunately, you won\u2019t find much of these nutrients in calorie-rich junk foods, like potato chips, pizza, milk shakes, sweetened drinks, and other commercially processed foods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, where do you get all these nutrients from? Check out this table outlining some of the very best sources of macronutrients and micronutrients:  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Protein<\/strong><\/td>Seafood, meat, poultry, eggs, nuts, seeds, dairy products<\/td><\/tr>
Carbohydrates<\/strong><\/td>Whole grains, whole wheat, potatoes, legumes, corn, beans, fiber-rich fruits, starchy veggies<\/td><\/tr>
Fats  <\/strong><\/td>Fatty fish, eggs, nuts, seeds, avocados, olive oil, peanut oil, cheese, dairy<\/td><\/tr>
Minerals<\/strong><\/td>Nuts, seeds, organ meats, eggs, beans, shellfish, veggies<\/td><\/tr>
Vitamins<\/strong><\/td>Liver, eggs, seafood, dairy, seeds, poultry, meat, fruits, vegetables  <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Is eating healthy expensive? And is it true that healthy foods cost more?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

According to Carlson and Frazao (1), healthy food is cheaper in terms of these price metrics: price per 100g of edible weight<\/em> and price per average portion<\/em>. However, in terms of price per calorie<\/em>, they found the opposite to be true, that is, healthy food is more expensive. This is interesting because according to Rao et al.\u2019s study (2), healthier diets cost about $1.54 more per 2,000 kcal<\/strong>, which supports the theory that healthy foods cost more in terms of price per calorie<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s an example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 <\/td>Broccoli Bunch<\/a><\/td>Pepperoni Pizza<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Price<\/td>$2.44\/lb (1lb=453.592g)<\/td>$4.88 per 40.8oz pack (2.55lb)<\/td><\/tr>
Price per lb<\/td>$2.44\/lb<\/td>$1.91\/lb<\/td><\/tr>
Serving size<\/td>5.22oz or 148g<\/td>\u00bd pizza or 5.1oz or 145g<\/td><\/tr>
No. of servings<\/td>3<\/td>8<\/td><\/tr>
Price per serving<\/td>$0.813<\/td>$0.61<\/td><\/tr>
Calories per serving<\/td>50 calories<\/td>330 calories<\/td><\/tr>
Price per calorie<\/td>$0.0488\/calorie<\/td>$0.0058\/calorie<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On a per calorie basis, broccoli appears<\/em><\/strong> to be more expensive than pepperoni pizza. You only get 3 servings out of a pound of broccoli, whilst the pizza pack is good for 8 servings. You need to consume about 6 servings of broccoli to receive the same number of calories in a serving of pizza:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Broccoli –> 50 calories\/serving x 6 servings = 300 calories –> You\u2019d need to spend $4.88 for 300 calories<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pepperoni pizza –> 330 calories\/serving –> You\u2019re only paying $0.61 for 330 calories<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

With that said, pizza is definitely good value for money in terms of calories. However, food is so much more than just calories. We eat food for sustenance, energy, and immunity, which is why it\u2019s important to eat a well-balanced diet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nutrient-wise, we all know who\u2019s the real winner\u2026 broccoli!<\/strong> Unlike the cheaper pizza party pack, broccoli is an excellent source of antioxidants, fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K, folic acid, and many other essential vitamins and minerals!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"pizza<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Not everyone can afford to make the healthy choice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Factors like cost, income levels, <\/strong>and availability <\/strong>influence our food choices. Even physical factors like time <\/strong>and cooking skills<\/strong> can affect our choices as well (3), which is why instant meals and fast food are extremely popular. Why cook when you can just grab a ready meal at a burger joint, right? Or like the pepperoni pizza example, just pop one in the microwave and you\u2019d have a hot pizza in a minute!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But why is this so?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well, according to a study published in the Journal of Consumer Researchers (4), there is a link between perceived healthiness of food and its expensiveness. Researchers did a series of tests which supported the \u201chealthy-is-expensive intuition.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One interesting finding was that when given a budget, participants chose the cheaper option even though they weren\u2019t as healthy as the more expensive products<\/strong>. So, choosing between a higher-calorie pizza pack over a pound of healthy broccoli becomes an easy choice for the budget-conscious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately, eating healthy need NOT be expensive!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Follow these tips to save some money whilst still feeding yourself and your family healthy, nutritious meals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1) Cook at home<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Cooking at home not only helps you save money, it also helps you save on unnecessary calories, carbs, sugar and fat (5).<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"One<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Another benefit to home cooking is that you can prepare your meals for the week. There\u2019s a bit of upfront work involved \u2013 planning, cooking, dividing the meals up, labelling the food containers, etc. \u2013 but the good thing is you\u2019ll have it easy the rest of the week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s a bit of a learning curve involved when it comes to cooking, but once you get the basics right, you\u2019ll be up to speed in to time at all. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are plenty of free resources and recipes on the web (check out Intelligent Keto<\/a><\/strong>), so really all you need is some spare time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2) Pick normal produce over organic ones<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s good reason why organic produce is more expensive than ordinary ones. They\u2019re pesticide and synthetic chemical-free, which means they\u2019re cleaner and generally healthier than non-organic produce. However, when it comes to nutrition, they are NOT significantly more nutritious than ordinary produce<\/strong> (6).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, don\u2019t feel too bad if your budget doesn\u2019t allow for products with an \u2018organic\u2019 sticker plastered on it. You\u2019ll save money and still get the same nutrients as organic ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3) Buy at farmer\u2019s markets<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Buying at farmer\u2019s markets do have a lot of advantages. For instance, you get fresher and better-tasting produce and you\u2019re supporting local farmers at the same time. There\u2019s less travel and handling time as opposed to produce found at the supermarket, especially those imported from abroad. More often than not, in-season products are also sold cheaper in farmer\u2019s markets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4) Have a list before you go shopping<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Creating a shopping list \u2013 and sticking to it \u2013 can do a lot of wonders for your wallet. This is a great time to have tunnel vision so you can stick to what\u2019s on your list. This way you avoid loitering and looking around at the aisles waiting for something to catch your eye. This tip works really well with meal planning, too!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Related article: New To Keto? Here’s Your Complete Keto Shopping List<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"prepare<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

5) Buy in bulk and stock up on frozen produce<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A freezer is a great investment. You can buy in bulk and stock up on frozen delights for several months and enjoy food you love no matter the season! With a well-stocked freezer, you have instant access to healthy food, which means fewer trips to the supermarket. By buying in bulk, you also get to do your share in helping the environment, since there\u2019s less packaging and less waste involved.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

6) Grow an indoor herb garden<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Growing your own herbs is another excellent way to save some money and eat healthy at the same time. The good thing is you don\u2019t need lots of space for an indoor garden. Simply clear out a bit of space which gets natural sunlight. This can be a nook, corner or countertop and just put your pots of herbs in there. Check out our guide on how to grow your very own indoor herb garden<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To sum up this post \u201cis eating healthy expensive\u201d, the answer is both yes and no. Yes, it\u2019s more expensive than junk food from a purely price-per-calorie angle. But a big NO in terms of nutrition and its overall effects on your health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

References:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(1) Are Healthy Foods Really More Expensive? It Depends on How You Measure the Price, Andrea Carlson, Elizabeth Frazao, USDA-ERS Economic Information Bulletin No. 96. Posted: 18 Jan 2013<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(2) Do healthier foods and diet patterns cost more than less healthy options? A systematic review and meta-analysis, Mayuree Rao, Ashkan Afshin, Gitanjali Singh, Dariush Mozaffarian, Public health Research, Volume 3, Issue 12.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(3) The Factors That Influence Our Food Choices, Last Updated : 06 June 2006, from: https:\/\/www.eufic.org\/en\/healthy-living\/article\/the-determinants-of-food-choice<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(4) Healthy Diets Make Empty Wallets: The Healthy = Expensive Intuition, Kelly L Haws, Rebecca Walker Reczek, Kevin L Sample, Journal of Consumer Research, Volume 43, Issue 6, April 2017, Pages 992\u20131007<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(5) Study Suggests Home Cooking is a Main Ingredient in Healthier Diet, Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future, Nov 17, 2014.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(6) Are organic foods safer or healthier than conventional alternatives? A systematic review, Smith-Spangler C, Brandeau ML, Hunter GE, Bavinger JC, Pearson M, Eschbach PJ, Sundaram V, Liu H, Schirmer P, Stave C, Olkin I, Bravata DM, Review published: 2012.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Breaking free from bad eating habits is hard, especially if you\u2019re used to \u2013 and addicted \u2013 to junk food. It\u2019s cheap, tastes amazing, needs very little time to prepare (if at all), and you\u2019ll find it literally everywhere. On the contrary, healthy foods aren\u2019t as accessible for many. They may taste great too, 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