The thought of going to the grocery store to buy healthy ingredients can seem frightening and overwhelming to inexperienced dieters. But an Agriculture Department study found that most fruits, vegetables and other healthy foods actually cost less than foods high in fat, sugar and salt.
It is no secret that it can be tough finding time to go to the grocery store and sometimes—due to our hectic lifestyles—we have no choice but to scour the junk food aisle while our stomach yells at us and convinces us to buy every fattening, sugary and salty treat that makes our mouths water and our stomachs growl even louder. This is because we’re hungry and our blood sugar is low, which causes us to crave that quick sugary fix.
Shopping for healthy ingredients seems overwhelming because when we’re shopping on an empty stomach, we’re JUST looking for that quick sugary, salty and fattening fix. Unfortunately, it’s easy to end up in this endless cycle of binge eating.
But it doesn’t have to be that way. Shopping for healthy ingredients may actually save you money in the long run and a diet delivery program like bistroMD, can save you time and energy if you can’t seem to find the time to go to the grocery store and cook amazing and healthy entrées.
But before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s break down the mystery of shopping for healthy ingredients.
Keep in mind—it all depends on how you measure the price
The government says it all depends on how you measure the price. If you compare the price per calorie, then higher calorie pastries and processed snacks might seem like a bargain compared to fruits and vegetables.
However, comparing the cost of foods by weight or portion size actually shows that grains, vegetables, fruit and dairy foods are less expensive than most meats or foods high in saturated fat, added sugars or salt.
The downfalls of price per calorie
Using the price per calorie method won’t tell you how much food you’ll get or how full you’ll feel afterward. Eating a pastry from Starbucks for 250 calories probably won’t satiate you, but a banana with 110 calories probably will.
Some experts disagree saying a healthy diet costs MORE
Some experts argue that spending more money on nutritional foods now will save you money in the future. But Adam Drewnowski, the director of the Nutritional Sciences Program at the University of Washington, says it’s not that easy for everyone. Although empty calories are bad for you, they do keep you from being hungry and that’s why people buy them—especially lower-income people, according to Drewnowski.
The verdict
Buying empty calories is cheaper in the present moment. In contrast, buying healthy foods will be a little more expensive, but will ultimately pay off in the long run.
Still having concerns?
Going to the grocery store is very time consuming. On top of making the trek to your local grocery store, you must also learn which healthy ingredients to use, what healthy recipes to select and set aside a lot of time to cook. All of that can seem very overwhelming if you’re typically a very busy person.
If that’s the case, you should try bistroMD.
What bistroMD does and information about our programs
We are an innovative program that believes in the unique knowledge that food is medicine. Dr. Caroline Cederquist, who has over 20 years of experience as a bariatric physician, founded bistroMD through her extensive work with her patients. She came up with a diet that incorporated the nutritional foundation and healthy ingredients to lose weight by focusing on the right balance of macronutrients: protein, the right carbohydrates, healthy fats and fiber.
Dr. Cederquist combined her nutritional knowledge with her husband, Ed’s love of food to create delicious, high quality entrees that contain all of the essential vitamins and nutrients needed for successful weight-loss. And with over 200 delicious recipes, you don’t have to sacrifice your love of food while you satisfy your body’s need to eat healthier.
We do all the shopping, cooking and cleaning for you so all you have to do, when you receive your entrée, is zap it in the microwave for a few minutes and enjoy. It couldn’t get much more convenient than that.
If you're interested in one of our life changing, innovative programs, we have many to choose from including a weight loss program, gluten free program, heart healthy program and a diabetic program. Just click here to learn more.
