Is the Rise in Food Prices Making You Eat Less?
Food prices will continue to soar till at least 2010, and I have to start curbing my grocery bill. I’m not trying to be a tightwad, but I need to justify my habits. If I continue to shop at Whole Food exclusively, my monthly grocery bill will run about $600-$700/month. That makes no sense for one person.
When Whole Food wanted $1.50/lb.for yellow onions grown out in the percolated desert soils of southern Calif., I said, “No, thanks. I’m not a sucker.” I know onion is not an expensive item, but it makes no sense to pay $1.50/lb. for yellow onions when I can get locally grown yellow onions for $.35/lb from a farmer who has not used pesticide since 1975. This same farmer sells garlic for $1.25/lb. while Whole Food sells imported garlic for about $4.00/lb. What a ripped off!
BTW, here are the top 5 produce you do not need to buy organic.
http://www.foodnews.org/fulldataset.php
1) Onions
2) Avocado
3) Corn
4) Pineapple
5) Mango
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Superfoods ( the ones that are best for you) really don’t cost that much. I have to hold my nose and shop at Wal-Mart, because thats all there is around here. But my monthly cost is around $150 . I buy fresh produce, salmon, sardines, whole wheat bread, almonds, and other healthy staples. Whole foods is great, but you are paying extra for their “shine” (cooking and nutrition seminars, publications, etc…)
I eat superfoods, and I can’t keep my costs this low. The problem is that I have a ferocious appetite and need to consume at least 2000 calories or else my body will be fighting with me. I also have some expensive taste. BIG PROBLEM. My monthly food bill averages about $500/month. This is a far cry from $275/month, which I used to spend exclusively at Whole Food about 9 years ago. Here are my recent expenses: Conventional avocado - $1.25 each, Organic almonds - $12/lb., Organic walnuts - $10/lb., Conventional blueberries - $8/lb., Organic strawberries - $3 per pint basket, Farm raised salmon - $5.99 /lb. (Costco), Organic cherries - $6.00/lb., No filler dark chocolate - $25/lb., Domestic grown beans - $5/lb., Heirloom tomatoes - $4/lb., 1 lb. soy custard tofu - $4, Yuba (fresh bean curd) - $7 (about 4 oz.), museli - $3/lb., 64 oz. apple juice (100%, not from concentrated) - $6, etc.