The reason I stopped eating that way was because of a few things, social pressure probably the biggest factor. Cost, is another - it is more expensive to eat 100% healthy than it is to eat total crap. Also, crap doesn't spoil, but a fridge full of fruit and meat does, quickly.
Yes fruit and vegetables are more expensive than junk food. So is meat but you don't have to eat meat. I don't eat very much of it.
When it comes to the price of healthy food, people need to change their thinking. The reason that people think that fruits, vegetables, meats and other healthy products are more expensive than junk food is because they just focus on the total price of what they're buying, not the price per serving.
I can walk into my grocery store here and buy a bag of 15-20 oranges for $5. Or, I could spend that $5 on a pint of vanilla ice cream. Which is the better buy?
Nutrition
Depending on what size oranges you buy, there are about 50-75 calories in one orange. In one serving (4 oz) of vanilla ice cream, there are about 150 calories. Oranges contain vitamin C, fiber and they are low in fat. Vanilla ice cream contains calcium, but it is also high in fat, cholesterol and sugar.
The Winner: Oranges
Price Per Serving
A bag of 15-20 oranges (at the grocery store here) costs $5. That means that each orange, individually (one serving), costs $.25-.33. A pint of ice cream costs $5. There are 2 C in one pint and 8 oz in one cup. This means that there are 16 oz of ice cream in one pint. Each serving of ice cream is 4 oz, so there are 4 servings of ice cream in one pint. Each serving in a pint of ice cream costs $1.25.
The Winner: Oranges
Shelf Life
When kept in a refrigerator, oranges can last anywhere between 2 to 3 weeks. Over time, oranges lose their natural sweetness and start to turn bitter. The taste is unpleasant, so most people throw them out when they begin to lose their sweetness. Vanilla ice cream is a frozen product that can be stored in a freezer. Needless to say, frozen foods last longer than refrigerated foods.
The Winner: Vanilla Ice Cream
Adjusted Shelf Life
The adjusted shelf life of a product is the true length of time that the food actually 'sits on the shelf' once it is in your home. For instance, when kept free of moisture, salt has a nearly infinite shelf life. But, people use salt regularly, which means that the salt won't literally last for eternity. A 1 lb box of kosher salt might last for 1-2 months until it is all used up. It's shelf life is nearly all of eternity, but it's adjusted shelf life is 1-2 months.
A bag of 15-20 oranges might last 1 to 2 weeks before each orange has been eaten. People usually don't eat 2 or 3 pieces of the same fruit every day, so a bag of oranges is more likely to last a little while. Vanilla ice cream, on the other hand, is something that most people eat quickly. Even though it is a frozen product, it doesn't mean it will last forever. One serving of vanilla ice cream is 4 oz, which is 1/2 C. Now, let's be honest - who here is eating only 1/2 C of ice cream every time they eat a bowl of ice cream? Hardly anybody. Most people take 2 or 3 scoops of ice cream as one serving for one bowl of ice cream. Or, they might consume the whole pint. So, realistically, you might get one or two servings out of a pint of ice cream. And, most people don't let ice cream sit in their freezer for weeks - rather, days. A bag of oranges might realistically last 1 to 2 weeks, while a pint of vanilla ice cream might not even last the night.
The Winner: Oranges
Not to mention, snack foods often contain high levels of sodium which promote thirst. So, along with that pint of ice cream or bag of Doritos, you'll probably also be paying for a 2-liter of pop or a carton of chocolate milk. Plus, snack foods often make people feel lazy, which can lead to people being unproductive. That lack of productivity can cost people money in many ways; lack of work, lazy spending, bad decisions when buying food, etc.
So, is healthy food
really costing anybody 'more money'? Just something to think about.
