Is a Healthy Raw Food Diet Lifestyle Expensive?
budget, health, raw food diet cost
Many people are concerned about the cost of maintaining a raw food diet. Even if you’re not into raw foods, the following discussion pertains to health and healthy lifestyles in general, and I believe you will benefit from reading further.
I’d like to take a step back and ask a couple of questions. First, is it a cost? Second, is it expensive?
Healthy Eating: Is It a Cost?
Your health is an investment, not a cost. In fact, it is arguably the single most important investment you can make in your life — more so than your home, your education, your career, or even your retirement account!
(With the possible exception of investing in your children, although your eating healthily sets a positive example of the life-long skill of loving and taking care of oneself, plus your being healthy and energetic is an indirect investment in them when you are more available and present for them.)
Take a moment to consider the importance of this investment:
- If you’re not healthy, how effective can you be in your career? If you have to take time off work, where will your income come from?
- Without good health, how can you enjoy your home or your retirement?
- How can you be available for those who depend on you?
- What good is your education if you’re not healthy enough long enough to make the most of it?
- Could health issues keep you from doing all the important things you want to do in life, like being around to watch your grandchildren blossom?
Here’s another, more pragmatic view: It’s preventive maintenance. When you are healthy, you’ll save money on medical expenses — doctors, medications, and the like. As an example, I take no regular medications (in fact, I can’t recall the last time I took ANY medication). I’ve seen a doctor once in the past 8 years, and the last time I saw a dentist was 10 years ago! (These are my own personal circumstances and I’m not recommending that you skip professional health care to such an extreme.) How much money do you think I have saved as a result?
Your health is one of the most important assets in your life. Invest in it accordingly; the dividends are priceless.
Are Raw Foods Expensive?
It’s true that prepared raw meals/snacks and specialty ingredients can be pricey. But when you consider that the basis of a raw food diet is fresh, whole fruits and vegetables, is it really so bad?
Over the past 6 months, my family’s grocery spending has averaged $535 per month for 3 people. That’s an average of $1.98 per person per meal. Bear in mind we live in one of the most expensive counties in the United States, and buy organic whenever possible. Compare that with the cost of a fast food meal, and you’ll see just how much of a bargain healthy eating can be!
Here’s another way to look at it. You know that fresh, whole fruits and vegetables are healthy and good for you and your family, right? If your current diet is cheaper than fresh fruits and vegetables, what does that say about what you’re eating now? What is it made of?
One more thing. How much of what you eat now has marketing expenses associated with it? When you buy food that is advertised or has coupons, part of what you’re paying is to cover those marketing expenses. On the other hand, when was the last time you saw a television commercial for fresh fruits and vegetables?
Maximize the fruits and vegetables. Minimize the packaged foods, advertised foods, hard-to-find specialty ingredients and equipment, and exotic non-local produce. Keeping things simple will go a long way.
Your Money and Your Life
Think of healthy eating as a top-priority investment, not an expense. After all, what could be more valuable than your good health? You’ll find the risks few, and the rewards many. And in the end, not the burden on your pocketbook you might fear.
What do YOU say about it? Share your thoughts below!
Raw Food Diet, Raw Food Success | Chuck June 7, 2009
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By Tonja, June 8, 2009 @ 6:09 pm
Americans spend on average a smaller percentage of their income on food than people in most other countries. Interestingly, we also spend a greater percentage on disease care. Perhaps a connection???
By Elise, July 7, 2009 @ 7:30 pm
Good question about the initial expense however. A 15-yr vegetarian (lacto/ovo/pescado) I’m 1-wk new to a mostly raw-foods diet. I feel so much better, but stood confused at Whole Foods exploring options. I bought 3 items from the special ‘raw’ section at $8-$10/ea. (ironically, haven’t opened the $8 pak of raw fudgy cookies b/c I now don’t crave sweets). I will focus on organic fruits & salads, raw unsweetened almond milk (I’M LOVING w raw Agave nectar & in smoothies) & maybe get a dehydrator (if I want breads for my almond butter). I agree over the long-term the price of nutrient-rich foods is comparitively small.