why is healthy food so expensive?
By mama_bear
@mama_bear (1118)
Canada
August 14, 2009 9:16pm CST
in this day and age and in the culture of obesity and excess, why oh why is healthy food so expensive. surely if the powers that be wanted to address the obesity problem especially in america, then why is it more expensive to buy vegetables and fruits than it is to buy all the bad stuff like candy and fast food and whatnot. that is what i would like to know. speaking as someone who is into healthy eating, how are we supposed to teach our children healthy eating habits if we cannot even afford to buy necessities like vegetables and fruit, can they not see that these are not luxury items and in this harsh economic climate it would be nice to be able to be well nourished.
2 people like this
4 responses
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
15 Aug 09
This has been a question of mine for a long time...especially...why are "organically" raised produce so much more than commercially grown where it takes MORE money with allthe pesticides that are used? Brown rice which has all the fiber still intact is MORE than the stripped off bran and processed white rice--why?
Then of course you have the sickly sweet cereals...they are cheaper than the more nutritious granola mixture cereals
I can't figure it out either
Then of course you have the sickly sweet cereals...they are cheaper than the more nutritious granola mixture cereals
I can't figure it out either1 person likes this
@webearn99 (1742)
• India
16 Aug 09
Organically grown food does not have the same massive yield as the normally grown food. So it is the economies of production that boost the prices.
as for the Rice, I think that has more to do with scamming us than any sane reason.
@mama_bear (1118)
• Canada
19 Aug 09
see i come from a place where everything is organic and free range non of this created nonsense. back home if a fruit is not in season, then you will not find it in the store at all. over here the problem is i have even lost track of what is and what is not in season. i guess you are right it costs more to create the organic stuff but still, corporate greed is making america and the western world fat.
@hmfryklund (389)
• United States
19 Aug 09
I KNOW RIGHT! Oh man this is something that just blows me away, seriously. This is something that could EASILY limit the obesity in the United States. The obesity rate is so alarmingly high, it would be so simple to just lower those healthy, organic foods' prices, and raise the bad foods' prices up. And Bam! People will be healthier! My hubby and I want to use organic food and products, but half the time it is too expensive so we just buy the cheaper, unhealthier, or unsafer products. Ugh. I guess the only thing I use that is safer is cleaning "green" products because of my kids. Plus, I really like their smell and cleaning ability :)
@mama_bear (1118)
• Canada
19 Aug 09
the food does not even have to be organic, it can just be the generic veggies and fruit but more affordable, fast food should not be as readily accessible, that just burns me. well we are teaching my niece healthy eating habits. yeah i hear you about the products, one has to be safe and kinder to the environment.
this whole price hike of food is nonsense because salaries are not adjusted accordingly
@_sketch_ (5742)
• United States
15 Aug 09
It's all about money and power. People are willing to pay more for healthy foods. And rich people need to be better than poor people. It's all about keeping social classes where they are.
@mama_bear (1118)
• Canada
19 Aug 09
i totally agree, in order to be healthy you have to have a fat wallet. it is just not fair at all. i no longer go out to eat, i have found chinese owned stores to sell the best fruit and vegetables and they are reasonably priced too, so we eat all our meals at home, and if we have to road trip we take some fresh food supplies.
@webearn99 (1742)
• India
16 Aug 09
mama_bear, I am with you one hundred percent on you lament about having a healthy eating and passing on the knowledge. I have found a way of beating trend. Whenever possible I visit the countryside spend a few days there and do what they do. The food is of course straight from the nature. I buy supplies from them direct and I find that to be more economical. Since I have to pay for the transport the difference is not much. You can do the same. A trip once in three months really keeps me fit.
You being from the country of countryside should find it much easier. Best of luck!
@mama_bear (1118)
• Canada
19 Aug 09
hehh heh unfortunately i am over in canada at the moment, but that is actually a very cool idea, because recently we went out of town and we saw so many fresh food markets. we did not plan for this happy occurence so we were unprepared. next time though it will be all about the shopping. and i look forward to it. i am trying my hand at vegetable sushi this week, i am muy muy excited about that.
