The Cost of Food

My sister came for a visit this weekend and I told her we had joined Weight Watchers.  It wasn't long before the question came up "don't you think it's expensive to eat healthy?"  I didn't delay in my reply of no. Yesterday though, I thought more about it and realized that I really believed what I said, "no, it's not that expensive to eat healthy."

This picture is what I bought on week two of Weight Watchers for my family of four adults (includes 1 teen girl and 1 grandma).  There were things that wasn't the best choice (chips and graham crackers) but there were items that were new purchases in the life of this duo (fat free mayo, fat free milk).  Everything on the table totaled $55 that week.  I admit, I had plenty of meat in the freezer, so that helped, but since we cut out the junk, our bill each week has been consistently $65 or lower.   The one thing I do have to go back to the store for is fruit (bananas especially).

Before we started living this way, our grocery bill was at least $80 a week.  Here are some things that I don't buy anymore that I think made up the higher cost.  Cake mixes, frosting, cookies, 2 gallons milk, Sunny D, chips, dip, crackers, lunchables cake or donuts(premade in the deli), ice cream, mayo (almost every 2 weeks), hot dogs, lunchmeat, ham salad, Little Debbie cakes, soda and the list can go on.  It's not hard to see why my budget has decreased.. lol. :)  This was an eye opener to myself.

I shop at a small town grocery store that carries Always Save and Best Choice options along with the name brand items.  I don't buy many name brands though because I haven't found anything that tastes exceptionally better than it's lower priced competitor.  I shop at Walmart for a small handful of things.  The only selection of ff mayo that I can find is made by Kraft...and it's $1 cheaper at Walmart. Other than that, we use walmart fruit from time to time if that's the store we're going to (personal opinion is I don't like Walmart and avoid it at all costs).  If you think Walmart is cheaper, you should visit another store sometime to compare prices.  You might be surprised (not to mention I cannot understand why the wm brand is the same price as name brand) that you'll be able to save at least 25%.

Meat is also at a discount at my choice of grocery store.  I go on Friday mornings at 9 and their loading up the cases for the weekend, so they reduce a lot of meat that is still in good condition.  I've bought roasts for $2, 90% burger for $1lb, pork steaks for $1lb, chicken, brats, etc.  You never know what you're going to get, but you can stock your freezer and use it for next weeks main dishes. If walmart marks their food down, I've never found the time they do it.

I don't know if this will ever help anyone, but that's why I'm posting this.  I know what life was like and I know what it is now and I'm starting to see what it can be like.  Most of all, I know it can be done.

~Kathie