Talking about money makes people uncomfortable, but I’m going to do it anyway. Because money doesn’t get talked about nearly enough when we talk about healthy eating.
I wrote a post for Parents magazine last week called Healthy Eating IS More Expensive. Now What? In it, I mention a 2013 study done at Harvard School of Public Health that found that eating a healthy diet full of fruits, vegetables, fish, and nuts cost about $1.50 more per day per person than eating an unhealthy diet (rich in processed foods and refined grains). That’s an extra $2,200 per year for a family of four.
On my Facebook page and the Parents Facebook page, a lot of people agreed that affording healthy food was sometimes tricky–and many chimed in with their own tips for staying on budget. A few commenters said that buying more expensive food was worth it for their health and their children’s health. That’s a refrain I hear a lot. I understand that healthy eating is an investment–and that a healthy diet now may mean lower healthcare costs later. But what about those people struggling to make ends meet? Someone saying their kids’ health is “worth it” can sound an awful lot like, “If you cared about your kids and their health, you’d spend more money on food.”
As a dietitian, I’m thrilled that people are thinking and talking about where their food comes from. I love the focus on eating more fresh food and less hyper-processed food. But I think the conversation has become muddled in some circles, with “healthy eating” replaced by a brand of “clean eating” that demands organic, local, fresh, and non-GMO food–and an underlying message that if you’re not eating by these standards, you’re not doing a good enough job feeding your family.
But let’s face it: “Clean eating” is more than a lifestyle. It’s also a privilege–because being able to stick to these principles means you’ve got the money to do so.
So I cringe when I see “clean eating” presented as simply a choice. We all care about our kids and want them to be healthy. But abiding by those clean eating standards costs more money, and some people just don’t have it. (And that Harvard study? It didn’t even address the issue of organic food. A family trying to eat mostly organic food is likely paying a lot more than $1.50 extra per person per day.) People talk about reducing spending in other areas to afford certain food, but the fact is this: Every family spends money in different ways, and it’s not right to judge those priorities.
When I was chin-deep in angst over food costs, I decided to focus on specific foods and pay more for them–including meat, milk, and eggs (read 4 Foods I’ve Changed My Mind About)–and try to save on the other stuff. I recognize that I’m very lucky I can do that. But if we had a sudden drop in income or some major unexpected expenses, that would have to change. Not because I stopped caring about my health or my kids’ health, but because our food budget would fall to a point at which spending $4 on a half-gallon of milk wouldn’t be financially feasible or smart.
And what would happen if I did stop buying those $4 half-gallons of milk, and I traded farmer’s market greens for frozen spinach and organic apples for conventional? I’d still be able to feed my family a healthy diet. Because the overall pattern of your diet is what truly matters–and there’s more than one way to get there (read How I Stopped Stressing Out About Grocery Shopping).
Yes, the availability of cheap, hyper-processed food is a problem, and it’s hurting the health of many who are on limited incomes. But that’s not what I’m talking about here. I’m talking about the view that you’re not eating “clean” if you’re not eating in a narrowly-defined way. And I’m talking about the incorrect assumption that everyone could eat that way if only they tried hard or cared enough.
If you can feed your family all organic, local, non-GMO food and come in under budget every month, that’s great. You are probably creative and resourceful! And there’s lots of good advice for saving money on healthy food, like this series on saving money at Whole Foods by my friend Bi at Red, Round, or Green and these tips from 100 Days of Real Food.
But if you’re not able to do it, it’s time to stop agonizing and holding yourself up to what might be an unrealistic (and possibly unwise) standard for you. I have.
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Maryann says
I totally agree Sally. It’s also important to mention that there is a lack of evidence that clean eating is more beneficial over the long term. I’m not saying it’s worthless to eat organic etc., but there is a large body of evidence that dietary patterns focused on plant-based foods like fruits and veggies is beneficial.. So like you, I try to remind parents of that. Sometimes I think we get lost in the details when its the big picture that matters most.
Sally says
Thanks for your comment, Maryann! And YES, the evidence looks at patterns–and there’s great evidence to support the health benefits of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, fish, etc. So it really bothers me when I see these foods dismissed unless they meet the criteria of “clean” (i.e.: organic, GMO-free, local, fresh).
Alli says
SO right on, Maryann. “Sometimes I think we get lost in the details when its the big picture that matters most.”
Alli says
Great thoughts. Sharing.
Sally says
Thanks Alli!
Danielle @ (healthy) Vittles & Bits says
Couldn’t agree more! I always tell my clients that you have to find what works best for you. And try to improve your diet where you can, when you can. It’s nearly impossible to go from a Standard American Diet to a completely “clean” diet. But if you make changes bit by bit and choose what you’re willing to spend more on, then you can make huge improvements to any diet. Like you, I make sure to buy organic, grass fed, pastured meat and eggs and dairy when I can, because that’s most important to me to make sure it’s of the highest quality in my diet. I don’t buy organic fruits and vegetables, but hey – at least I’m eating them!
Angela says
This is so insightful! I wish everyone could see this post.
Terita says
Thank you for this post! Compassion and realistic expectations matter so much. Time constraints, like finances, can be a barrier to healthy eating for low-income families. A bag of dried split peas may be financially affordable, but a parent who works two jobs might not have an hour before dinnertime to simmer them.
I feel thankful every day to have access to healthy food AND the time to get it on the table for my family.
Hanna says
Thanks for the insightful piece, Sally. To take a birds-eye view on this: when it comes to food choices (and health more generally), I think that in most cases, the choice rhetoric is wrong. Not just wrong, but dangerous: by pretending our health is totally our choice, as a society we exacerbate the inequalities and injustices that are causing health problems in the first place.
Aimee @ Aim for Healthy Bites says
I love everything about this post. And such perfect timing as we are examining our budget and seeing what we can really afford right now and what is the most important.
Shaina says
Just gotta say, love this but disagree. Our situation is a bit different, though. We’re barely making ends meet but *have* to feed a very strict (read:expensive) diet. It’s not really a choice here. If our 8 year old doesn’t eat a 98% or so organic,100% whole foods diet, while avoiding eggs, dairy, soy, gluten and garlic, his health suffers tremendously. The list of exceptions to the organic rule is very small. He reacts to basically every chemical he encounters, from conventionally grown produce to “natural” flavors, to, well just about anything that has been altered from nature that goes in or on his body. It’s not just doing the best for our kids health, in this case, but more about avoiding the worst. Working around his allergies and sensitivities while meeting his nutritional needs, isn’t something I would call a privilege. And we honestly can’t afford it. The parents go without, quantity-wise and in nutrition, and brother is never hungry but he gets about 50% organic/50% conventional and processed foods which do affect his health negatively, but not anywhere near as bad as his brother’s. I make one, from scratch, as nutritionally dense and varied as I can manage, and safe for everyone dinner each night that we eat as a family. I try to make it as economical as possible but prices fluctuate. The leftovers are reserved for him. I freeze part for future lunches or quick dinners and he has lunch for the next couple days. I make him his own pancakes and granola and milk and everything I possibly can as cheaply as I possibly can, in bulk, and the rest of us eat crap because we can’t afford better. In order for us to survive, there’s a ginormous time and energy investment as well.
Shaina says
PS: I’m 7 1/2 months pregnant and know the importance of organic or grass fed eggs and dairy for myself and the baby (plus I love garlic and it’s nutritional benefits) but don’t buy eggs or dairy at all, among other things, because after buying everything needed for everyone else there’s just nothing left to make extravagant food purchases for myself. Don’t know why I’m sharing all this. Just wanted to point out that everyone’s situation is different. People know me who don’t entirely understand our situation and they make assumptions. I know when people see what’s in my cart or what I pack my kids for snacks they judge and are thinking “food snob”.
Joani Schaffner says
LOVE this post!!! Eating healthy is insanely expensive. My boyfriend and I live on a very limited budget. We both are just starting out and have large student loans to repay. There just isn’t money there to buy local, organic, non-GMO foods. I mainly do the grocery shopping and I buy what I can. I find eating whole grains to be just about the same price-wise, so that’s an easy switch. But you’ll never find me purchasing organic anything and I usually have to buy the generic brand of frozen veggies versus fresh because they’re so much cheaper. But I still think we’re eating healthy! 🙂
Alana says
Agree, good stuff.