Change your life with $1.50 per day
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EmailIs $1.50 per day worth the cost to eat healthy and improve your health?
New research from the Harvard School of Public Health finds that eating a healthy diet costs $1.50 more per day than the least healthy diets. This would equal about $528 increased spending on food costs per year. But spending $1.50 per day may result in future reduced healthcare costs and the priceless, increased quality of life.
This may mean the need to increase your food budget by $10.50 per week or more, depending on your family size. This could mean eliminating a daily cup of coffee from the gas station or preparing your own lunch each day, in place of fast food or convenience food.
For $1.50 per day, a variety of healthy food options to purchase could include:
- A small piece of fruit and a bag of frozen vegetables
- A loaf of whole wheat bread
- Yogurt and a small piece of fruit
- A dozen eggs
- Dry or canned beans or lentils
- A quart of low-fat or fat-free milk
- Fresh fruit or vegetables on sale
- Individual sweet potato
- Jar of peanut butter
Other ways to save on healthier food items include making sure to shop the sales for the week, participating in digital store coupon programs, or cutting coupons for items that are already on your grocery list. You can also purchase items when they are on sale or in season and preserve them for use later when they may be sold for a higher price.
A $1.50 per day may equate to thousands of healthcare costs and most importantly, an improved quality of life for you and your family.
Michigan State University Extension offers nutrition education classes for adults and youth that include information on positive dietary lifestyle habits that will provide education on food preparation and selection. More information can be found at http://msue.anr.msu.edu/topic/info/nutrition.
