Do you care to spare extra dollars for healthier foods?
Let's pretend we're in a supermarket doing grocery shopping and deciding what to eat for dinner. Take a look at those fresh, organic, selenium rich broccoli in display. Now look at the price tags. Are you having second thoughts? On the other end of the supermarket, there's a fast food corner selling microwaveable pizza. Does that appeal to you?
Yes, the healthier diet costs a lot more than the junk food you can get for cheap. Often times, you will think that the junk food tastes a lot better too. But is it wise to sacrifice your health in exchange of the extra dollars and palatable gourmet?
Let's look at the facts.
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| Green salad costs $3-$5, contains fiber, vitamins, and minerals |
Health expenditures in the United States were $2.6 trillion in 2010, over ten times the amount spent thirty years back in 1980. Since 2002, employer-sponsored health coverage for family premiums have increased by 97%, placing increasing cost burdens on employers and workers. In 2010, total health spending accounted for 17.9% of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). A large percentage of these numbers were used for treatment and rehabilitation.
"Getting the recommended servings of fruits and vegetables can cost as little as $2 a day."
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| Muffin costs $2 each, contains empty carbs and saturated fat |
Compared to the premiums you will pay for health insurance, it's actually a lot cheaper to invest a little more on healthy diets. The government estimates that getting the recommended servings of fruits and vegetables can cost as little as $2 a day. So, is healthy diet worth the cost? The answer is yes. You're going to spend a lot more when you've contracted a health problem, especially chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension.
Can fast food be healthy?
It's an inevitable fact that the world changes in a way that people's lives became so busy that the demand for easy meals that require little or no time to prepare. But even if you need fast food , you can make still make healthier choices without spending too much. Consider bringing seasoned fruits instead of french fires, eat salad with your pizza, and ask for extra vegetable instead of extra cheese in your subs or burgers.
Other articles in diet and nutrition:
- A lot of people are trying to find the most healthy nutrition habit that would work for them. If you have the right information, it's easy to design your personalized eating plan. Read more about finding the nutrition habit that is right for you
- Vitamins are a group organic substances occurring naturally in small amounts in every organism. They are needed for normal growth and body function. Read more about vitamins and their function
- The glycemic index (GI) measures how quickly blood sugar levels rise after eating a type of food. Low GI foods will improve blood glucose control in diabetes and provide other health benefits. Read more about glycemic index of different types of food
