Organic food, juice cleanses, and fancy new diets are all the rage these days. But these cost a lot of money. Organic food can be double the price of normal groceries, and juice cleanses and diets can cost up to hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars. As a result, many consumers think that eating healthy is too expensive for them. It sounds much cheaper to stick to the dollar menu at McDonald’s. However, eating healthy doesn’t have to be a wallet buster. The idea that healthy eating costs too much is simply not true. In fact, eating healthy can save you a lot of money in the long run. How so?
- Most consumers spend a significant portion of their paychecks on dining out. However, the notion that eating at an inexpensive restaurant or fast food joint is cheaper is a common misconception. Although it may seem cheap at the time, those meals add up fast. And if you are feeding a whole family, those dollars can add up to hundreds a month. It is much more affordable to eat a healthy homemade meal at home.
- Snacks are another area where consumers end up spending a lot of money. Oftentimes, they don’t even notice how much they buy throughout the day: Starbucks in the morning, bagel for a mid morning snack, chips and a candy bar in the afternoon… All those little things seem cheap. A candy bar may only be $0.99. But if you go to the grocery store, an apple only costs $0.60 or so. And you can buy enough in bulk to last you for the week, saving you money, gas, and time.
- By eating healthy, you’ll spend less money on doctors visits and medical bills. This is one of the biggest reasons to eat healthy. Over time, consumers who don’t eat healthy will have more health problems. Whether it be heart disease, type 2 diabetes, or some other problem, this is a lot more money that you’ll have to spend on doctors visits, expensive medications, and other medical bills. Healthy eating will make you healthier, happier, and help you save enormous amounts of money.
- Not only does eating badly make you gain weight, but it also results in more exhaustion, higher rates of depression, and getting sick more often. Simply by eating healthier, you will be more energetic, healthy, and happy. You’ll end up taking less sick days. Plus, if you’re always tired or depressed, you won’t be performing your best. This could cost you pay raises or even your job. So, eating healthier can easily improve your energy levels, and in turn, your career.
All these things sound great, right? But are you still worried about the price?
Eating healthy doesn’t have to be so expensive. Sure, certain places mark up their prices, because their food is fresh and organic. But not all places do. Check out your local farmer’s market or co-op. A lot of these places will have healthy food for much cheaper, and you’ll get your pick of the fresh fruits and vegetables of the season. Many of these places even offer poultry and fish as well. And it’s not necessary to pay for some fancy diet or juice cleanse. By just planning your meals ahead of time and buying the right options, you can create your own healthy eating habits. Furthermore, by using the right credit card to pay for these groceries, you can end up earning rewards and cash back. These rewards can be large, often up to hundreds of dollars, for just using your credit card to buy the healthy food you need.
So, don’t give up on healthy eating, because you’re scared of your finances. Eating better will save you a lot of money in the long run!
