Q: Why is it so expensive to eat healthy, compared to the standard diet? And do you have any tricks for eating healthy on a budget? There are several reasons that healthy food costs more. Some are acceptable, and some make my blood boil. 

1. Market forces

As long as healthy, fresh and organic are viewed as premium qualities, marketers understand that well-healed folks will pay more for them. I just yesterday saw for the first time the Maya Bar, the organic (and otherwise identical) version of the Lara Bar. I get my Lara Bars at Costco for about a buck each. The Maya Bar retails for 2 bucks.

2. Economies of scale

Organically farmed products are generally more expensive because it takes more labor to grow them. The margins must be higher to make up for the diminished output.


3. Smaller market

For high end products to survive, they have to make up for a smaller market share with higher margins

4. (The reason that boils my blood) Government subsidies for unhealthy foods

The US government subsidizes the production of high fructose corn syrup, sugar, white flour, and a whole bunch of other substances that have no place in our diets. Also, the cost of meat and dairy are artificially suppressed by passing on the pollution costs to society as a whole and by subsidizing grazing land, feed and water.

As a result, unprocessed fruits and vegetables end up costing more than highly processed poisons.

Now - what to do about it?

Three strategies:


1. Buy in bulk

When you hit your stride, you'll buy certain staples again and again. There are a number of food coops, both local and national, that will provide low-cost foods in bulk. For example, I get brown rice, quinoa, nuts, seeds, oatmeal, and mochi from United Foods Coop (www.unitedbuyingclubs.com). Many years ago I bought a standalone freezer from Sears for $200, and I use it to store the bulk purchases of frozen fruit that I use for smoothies and desserts.

2. Prepare in advance and brown bag it

A fruit smoothie made at home in the morning and stuck in the freezer while you shower will be better and cheaper than one you can buy at a smoothie bar. Get your cookies at a health food store or bake them yourself, and you won't be subject to the price increases passed on in the financial district. (When I worked in Manhattan, I knew I couldn't eat lunch for less than $8, and that was 5 years ago.)


3. Amortize the costs by considering the costs of illness and lower productivity if you continue eating a nutrient-deficient diet

As the MasterCard commercial goes, "Avoiding one quadruple bypass: Priceless."