Who Can Afford to Eat Right? Healthy Foods Are Too Expensive for Millions, Research Shows

[RamboLiberal]

Source: ABC News

It's hard not to spend too much time at the dinner table during the holiday season, getting fatter on our way to the poor house. Though we are lectured constantly about eating right, most of us don't. And the reason, it seems, is more a matter of economics than self-indulgence.

Eating right, new research shows, is getting so expensive that millions of Americans can't afford it.

In what is believed to be the first study of its kind, researchers at the University of Washington focused on the cost of eating foods that are rich in nutrients, and low in calories, like fresh vegetables, whole grains, fish and lean meats. That's the stuff we're told we have to eat if we are going to shed a few pounds and remain healthy.

But when the researchers checked prices at numerous stores around the Seattle area, they found that the good, healthy foods had soared in price over a two-year period, jumping by nearly 20 percent compared to a 5 percent increase in the overall food price inflation. And during that same period, high-calorie foods had remained about the same price, and in some cases had actually dropped.

"We were shocked," Adam Drewnowsky, director of the Center for Public Health Nutrition at the University of Washington, said in an interview. Drewnowsky and fellow researcher Pablo Monsivais published their findings in the December issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.



Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/DiabetesResource/story...

---

One reason I'm pissed at this new trend of a few employers taking more money for health insurance from their employees who are overweight or have high blood pressure. They are putting these people in a vicious cycle of not being able to afford healthy food. And we've also got food programs for the poor having a supply problem of funds and food thanks to cuts and other factors.

[ixion]

1. gee, the MSM has yet another 'DUH' moment

[Wednesdays]

206. Not entirely...too many believe healthy foods are cheap

Even here on DU there have been plenty of condescending responses such as, "Gee, fresh fruits and vegetables are just as cheap as processed bologna."

Gee, I wonder who's really full of bologna?

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. Last year, leaf lettuce was 89 cents a head

Now it is $1.29. My husband is working on a greenhouse so we can grow our own.

[silverojo]

196. The price of lettuce varies constantly

It depends on the quality of the crops. When things are going well, you can get a great head of lettuce for about $1. I remember way back in the late 1980's--during periods when crops were bad--a wilty, disgusting head of lettuce could edge toward $2. Then the crop was good, and the price would drop again. So lettuce being over $1 per head isn't a new thing.

[Buzz Clik]

3. Back at the height of the concern over the AIDS "epidemic", the expense of treatment was discussed..

... particularly in reference to very poor African countries ravaged by AIDS. I heard this poignant comment: "If the cure for AIDS was a glass of clean water, it would be out of reach of the majority of those inflicted with the disease."

oy.

[tridim]

4. I started making my own granola recently

Since I can't afford the prepared granola any more.

My recipe is so much better than anything I've ever tasted from the store, and it's preservative free with loads of Omega3 fatty acids.

[TheDebbieDee]

19. Your homemade granola probably has a lot less salt, too!

[RavensChick]

33. That sounds like a great idea!

I rarely eat granola like I used to. You have the recipe?

[Occulus]

72. Post it here!

Here's one from The Joy of Cooking:

GRANOLA

about 9 cups

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Scatter over a large rimmed baking sheet and toast in the oven about 15 minutes, stirring frequently:

3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats

Mix in a large bowl:

1 1/2 cups wheat germ
(1/2 cup dry milk powder)
1 cup coarsely chopped almonds
1 cup shredded or flaked sweetened coconut
1/2 cup sesame seeds
1 cup hulled sunflower seeds

Heat in a small saucepan over low heat for 5 minutes:

1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup honey or maple syrup

Stir the honey into the wheat germ mixture. Combine with the toasted oats. Spread in a thin layer on the baking sheet (use 2 pans if necessary) and toast, stirring frequently, for 45 minutes, or until all the ingredients are toasted. Let cool, then store in a tightly sealed container at room temperature for up to five days or in the refrigerator for up to one month.

[RavensChick]

77. Thanks!

I'll fix it for breakfast on Christmas morning.

[tridim]

78. It's based on this..

http://www.recipezaar.com/12303

I use dates and extra almonds and leave out the coconut, it's also important to toast the oatmeal and nuts beforehand. I've also used steel cut oats instead of old-fashioned and cut the corn syrup amount in half. The recipe is very flexible.

I've been making a half batch every week and eating them for breakfast. My gut loves me for it.

Edit: I buy all my nuts at Costco, I couldn't afford them otherwise. A huge bag of sliced almonds is $6.00 there, it's about 1/3 the price of the bags at the grocery store. Toasted almonds are good on almost everything!

[RavensChick]

80. Thank you!

Now I have 2 to work with. Thankfully I have lots of canisters to store them in. Thanks again!

[defendandprotect]

316. Do you really use "margarine, brown sugar, corn syrup" . . . ????

[tridim]

326. Butter, brown sugar, honey, 1/2 the corn syrup.

Corn syrup != high fructose corn syrup

[defendandprotect]

334. Honey, good -- the rest of it doesn't sound so good.

Especially corn syrup ---

I'm vegan ---

so I applaud any veggie activities ---

[tridim]

336. I hear you. I tried the honey substitution and it didn't work

In the grand scheme of the whole recipe it's pretty minor, I bet the recipe has less sugar than most healthy cereals. I'm okay with eating sugar when it's a carrier for so much goodness.

[defendandprotect]

342. I guess we need a thread where we all pitch in with what we THINK we know about food ---

my understanding is that there is good sugar -- from an apple say or Sweet Potatoes ---
and bad sugar which is cane sugar -- processed sugars.

Now on high blood pressure medicine!!! and trying to get off ---
and have quite an addition to salt --

Evidently, the way we are supposed to get salt is via fresh vegetables -- the best source of the healthy salt.

Pretzels --- no, no.

So in looking for some info, I understand that fish oil tablets will make your blood slippery -- and that sugar makes your blood sticky.

PLUS there are all those cavities!

Think this is a good issue and we should do more on food and stuff ---

[Mountainman]

5. If you don't buy meat you can afford to eat right.

I have my asbestos suit on so flame away, but it doesn't cost as much to eat if you eat a vegetarian diet. I say that because you are going to spend money on some kind of food. So don't spend it on meat, cakes etc, milk, etc. Of course if you include those things in your food purchases it will cost more. It's all personal choice.

[RebelOne]

9. No flaming here. I'm a vegetarian.

And by not having to buy meat, I know I'm saving a bundle at the supermarket and can afford to eat healthier.

[sentelle]

17. not neccesarily

Being one that eats an organic diet, my veggies are still far more than my meat. You go to the local supermarket, you see garlic for what? 2 heads of garlic for a dollar? AND non-organic? The organic variety is $2.69 a pound? Veggies are quite expensive here, comparing it to the rest of the nation. (I live in the Seattle Area)...

Of course, it begs the question.... this is a UW study, campus being in.... Seattle? Where there is no competition. All the chains get their food from the same supplier.

Maybe thats the problem....

[joeglow3]

20. Nothing says you have to buy "fresh" produce

Studies have shown that in most cases, canned and frozen produce retains all the beneficial properties of "fresh" produce. Just don't get the kinds that are soaked in preservatives.

[Gormy Cuss]

30. Fresh produce almost always bests canned or frozen in terms of nutritional value.

The key is fresh picked, not uncooked-picked-last-month-and-shipped-across-the-country produce. Some canned or frozen vegetables and fruits actually have higher nutritional values for nutrients other than water-soluble vitamins because of the cooking process. The biggest downside to canned vegetables is the added sodium and other ingredients like sugar. Both canned and frozen vegetables can have very different textures than fresh.

[Kokonoe]

62. SSHHHH.....Hey lets keep the price down.

[sandnsea]

79. frozen yes, canned no

Frozen can be more nutritious because they have to wait until the crop is mature to pack it, when the nutritious properties are at their peak. I've never seen studies saying canned is as nutritious though, so I'm not sure where you got that.

[GirlinContempt]

161. Canned does not retain the same nutritional values.

and generally, canned foods contain high levels of sodium and sugars.

[defendandprotect]

317. No - No - No -- in fact, spina bifida and in some part Down's Syndrome . . .

are related to females not getting sufficient folate --- folic acid in its synthetic form - which comes from FRESH fruits and vegetables ---

I wouldn't take a chance with canned foods ---

[Zhade]

347. Produce those studies.

Assertions don't cut it.

[lildreamer316]

97. No, it's almost the EXACT same here, in NC.

..and we do have several local organic farmers. I would not be suprised if those prices were exactly the same, but I will check tonight.

[diane in sf]

18. I'm not a veg because I've found it's not healthy for me--but I do eat less meat

than many and the expense of organic meet is part of the reason. Though the grass fed beef from Trader Joes is pretty good and cheap.

[Skittles]

349. veg no good for me either

makes my iron so low I cannot donate blood

[Avalux]

28. I agree. Fresh fruits and veggies are cheaper if you buy local too.

I realize not everyone has the luxury, especially in the winter months. Legumes and grains aren't expensive (if not pre-packaged). I'd like to blame the lousy diets of Americans on prices, but it's more than that. A lot of healthy foods require preparation and people are too busy/lazy to spend the time. They want to purchase food that's either ready-to-eat, or requires very little preparation. And leftovers? Make a lot of one thing and eat it several times in one week. Such a thing is almost unheard of these days.

[KansDem]

29. No flame from me. It's all about priorities...

I gone mostly vegetarian in the last few years (I do enjoy a good steak now and then). But, my household has cut down considerably on the huge meals characteristic of the American midwest. We eat a lot of soy- and rice-based products and I find them tasty! And, clean-up is a lot faster (no scrubbing pots and pans to clean fat and grease!).

Here's a recipe for KansDem's famous east-Indian veggie wraps:

organic celery
organic carrots
organic bok-choy
organic mushrooms
organic unsalted peanuts
organic wraps (I like to use the sea-vegetable kind)
ginger spice
curry spice
garlic powder

Finely dice celery, carrots, bok-choy, mushrooms and place in frying pan with organic olive oil. Saute with generous amounts of ginger, curry, and garlic powder. Add peanuts. When thoroughly cooked, use a large spoon to fill center of wrap and roll up like a burrito. Mmm-mmmm...now you're eatin'!

[sandnsea]

40. Compare to burger and mac 'n cheese

Puhleeze. There isn't one meal I ever made my family of 6 that cost as much as you are describing. A lb of burger and 2 boxes of mac 'n cheese, what $4. Add a can of green beans bought on sale for 3/1.00.

[KansDem]

44. No thanks...no more fatty hamburger and cheap cheese-laden pasta for me!

I had a heart-attack in 2003. Can't afford to eat crap that'll clog my arteries (again). I'd rather eat expensive and live longer than to eat cheap and (finally) die an early death.

As I said, it's all about priorities...

[sandnsea]

46. No, it's about MONEY

The point of the article is that people can't afford to eat healthily, and you post an expensive meal that low income people can't afford to eat, and then deny that you just proved the point.

[KansDem]

53. Yeah?

I gave up cable in 1996. At the time I was paying $30 a month and it was soon to go up. That was 11 years ago, I'm sure it's gone up several times since. How much have I saved by not watching crap on the TeeVee?

I drive a 42-year-old car. Sure, I'd like to be driving a newer car, but I don't want to pay $200-$300 a month to do so. And I don't want to pay a couple of thousand to buy a used car from "Discount Credit Auto Sales." How much have I saved by driving a old clunker?

As I said, it's all about priorities. I used to sell a certain product door-to-door ( won't say what product but will say it was useful). I'd go into the home and make the pitch. The most often-heard excuse for not buying was, "Golly, Mister, we'd like to have have one of these, but it's just too awfully expensive." While the prospective customer was making these excuses, I'd be looking around at their new TeeVee, sound system, cable box (this was the mid-1980s), VHS machine, etc. I'd see a relatively new car in front of their house or apartment. And I'd say, "Yep, it's all about priorities..."

[sandnsea]

55. Oh brother

They didn't want your damn vacuum or encyclopedia or whatever over-priced piece of crap you were selling.

Relatively new car? You are't talking about poor people. You are clueless.

[KansDem]

60. Give me a break!

You want to live longer by eating healthy food? Then you cut corners...you make due. You look for ways to do so. Healthy eating becomes part of your lifestyle.

Want to die younger? Then consume fatty hamburger and crappy cheesy pasta. Don't look to change your other lifestyle choices.

Or you could wait until you have a catastrophic change in your health. Then the choice is made for you.

It's all about priorities...

[sandnsea]

65. People on $600 a month SSD

and food stamps, do not have any corners to cut. You are clueless.

[joeglow3]

66. I agree...sort of

In the course of my volunteer work, I have seen a number of people who truly could not afford it and could not work (or, work any more). However, I also saw just as many, if not more, who could afford spinners, expensive stereo's, televisions (I am 30 and have NEVER bought a television), etc.

[sandnsea]

70. They're second hand from family

Yard sales, etc. People really are clueless as to how the bottom ten percent live. I get tired of going through it every single time one of these threads pops up.

[joeglow3]

83. What is second hand from family??

Our televisions? No, we scour yard sales on the last day and have found people more than willing to give stuff away rather than either throwing it away or giving it to a charity (works with other big items like appliances and furniture).

While I am fortunate to not have been in a poverty situation, I have spent thousands of hours volunteering with organization helping out the poor. I have found that there are people who think all the poor are people who piss their money away on luxuries and others who think all the poor are just unlucky. In my experiences, there are people all over the spectrum with no clear majority fitting in one area. Mind you, this is in dealing with people that our government or society label as poor.

I have a great friend (with a wife and 4 young kids) who is dirt poor and currently living with his in-laws. We do what we can and many of us in his circle of friends have put together about $300 worth of stuff to give the for Christmas (we are doing it through an intermediary, so he does not know it is coming from us). That said, while think the world of him as a friend, the majority of their current situation is of his own doing (i.e quitting job before having another lined up, his wife quitting her job because they figured they could get government insurance not realizing only the kids would be covered, still being to buy his cigarette's, etc.)

In short, if we are only talking about the true poverty stricken, I agree with you. If we are talking about those our government labels poverty stricken, I think they are all over the spectrum.

[sandnsea]

90. Excuse me?

What is second hand from family? I don't understand. A family member gives another one their used tv or stereo.

$300 for Christmas. That's so funny to me, a lot of these Christmas threads are. I don't think I have ever spent that much on Christmas and we've got 4 kids between us. I think a lot of people on this board look at their life, like salmon grade sushi, and then base other people's diets on that. Well you can live so much cheaper than $8 lb meat... I can hear it now. Well duh. Somebody else talking about kobe beef, lol. I will never have that in my lifetime. Then, when you try to tell people how out of touch they are, they get mad and call you envious or bitter or, lol, sanctimonious. No, just angry that other people who ARE clueless are trying to pretend they know something about poverty.

Yes, poor people often have a variety of addictive behaviors and poor decision making skills. Of course, I've also noticed wealthier people have a variety of addictive behaviors and poor decision making skills... and parents who bail them out over and over again.

[joeglow3]

96. I thought you were implying my televisions were second hand

Which they are not. $300 for Christmas is NOT coming from us. We can afford to contribute $20 (which, due to lack of money, is why we try to contribute as much time to charities as we can).

However, to give you a bit of understanding of where I am coming from, my father was ALWAYS employed as we grew up. However, we had so little money, that my mother made our clothes (the old fashioned sewing way). My dad, at 55, has an artificial knee, arthritis through all his joints to the point that doctors have put him on pain medication, and worthless shoulders. This is because he is a drywaller and worked 70 hours a week (40 at his job and 30 at any side jobs he could scrounge up - decks, roofs, etc.). He did this because he would do anything to provide for his family.

Thus, I am empathetic with people's situations. However, I have seen firsthand the sacrifices my father made to his health in order to provide for his family and I have seen firsthand MANY families who don't do near that for their current situation.

Now, I have also seen many families who, like ours, literally does everything they can for their family and are just stuck.

All I am saying is, based on my own experiences, you can't label all poor people as lazy slobs or as hardworking, unlucky people. They are all over the spectrum in great numbers.

[sandnsea]

102. I hear you correctly

I thought you were asking what's a second hand television. lol. I also understood you and your friends were all going together, and that is very nice. We had a fire just a few days before Christmas one year and the community we lived in came together and helped. It was a wonderful thing. The kids deserve to have a nice Christmas.

I know that there are all kinds of people and not everybody does every single thing they can to make ends meet. That is true. But as to stupidity, addiction, laziness, I've actually not seen more prevalent in one segment than another. The difference seems to be in who is there to bail the idiot out.

My point is not to defend people's choices - rather to say that all things being equal, healthy food is simply more expensive. It just is.

[joeglow3]

103. Thanks

I agree that knowing there is family to help you out goes a long way. My parents were fortunate enough to have made couple great investments in the last 10 years (after us kids moved out). Couple that with my dad's company giving him a desk job (thereby allowing him to also draw on his pension since he is now 55), my wife and I know if we needed it, there is SOME help if we get in a sticky situation.

Regarding the giving of gift, we agree about this kids (they are the sole reason we are doing it). That said, they should not have to be burdened with mom and dad's inability to purchase presents, which is why we are giving the gifts to the parent's through an intermediary, thereby allowing THEM to give the presents to the kids.

[Skittles]

351. isn't it something, sandnsea?

it's like they've never known any truly poor folk their entire lives - they seem so g.d. clueless

[KansDem]

71. Really? You are a family of six and live on only $600 a month?

[sandnsea]

75. Hey, been on welfare?

Actually, I was referring to one person in that post. Do you know how much a welfare check is? Not $600.

[silverojo]

198. Agreed, but consider this....

People who've never been on a fixed govt. income ARE usually clueless when it comes to how desperate a financial situation can be.

Don't forget, that single people without dependent children CAN'T EVEN GET FOOD STAMPS. (Thank you, Bill Clinton.)

[bitchkitty]

353. Not true

I'm single and I get food stamps. I live in Oregon, but I don't think it makes any difference where you live. I believe that it's welfare and health care that are hard to get if you're single without children.

[glowing]

149. There is an inbetween, and I find a way to do it. Some things come

from the organic mart, other's local farmers market, and a few things from the regular store. I pay attention to the labels... Not everything in the supermarket is bad for you. I don't use milk except for the child and for cooking occassionally. This summer I'm growing a garden (I finally bought a house).

On the other hand, there are people who have no choice. My step-son eats well 1/2 the week and 1/2 the week he's eating french fries, hot dogs, kraft mac n' cheese, hamburger helper.. stuff that his mother can try to afford. He doesn't have his organic milk over there or org. veggies. When he gets to me, he's starving for good stuff.. goes straight to the org. applesauce or tomatos.. the hotdogs I buy are Kosher (another way to get organic, look for Kosher things).

I know this is going to sound voodoo to some.. stay away from the immuniztion shots unless your Dr. can provide documentation as to the safety in the shot he's about to give your most precious item.. when they can't you know to run.

[BronxBoy]

248. Congrats

You will be amazed at how even a small garden will supply you with food.

[143tbone]

323. You got that right!

It IS all about priorities and Americans need to reevaluate what they do with their money AND their time.

[Zhade]

348. It's the same attitude as people who can't understand why everyone doesn't drive...

...a hybrid like themselves.

Uh, because we can't afford to, you out-of-touch dipshits!

(Not aimed at you. I agree with your point only too well.)

[sentelle]

112. I understand completely

Over the period of 2 or 3 years went from a typical US bad Diet, dropped HFCS first, then went organic. When the missus and I started feeling fuller on less food, we started cutting our portion sizes.

In that time, thanks to changes in diet, and excercise, lost about 80 pounds.

That recipe sounds good actually...

One of my favorite Weekend morning foods is as such:
Take a potato and dice it (don't bother peeling it, but wash it).
Put a tablespoon of curry powder and a tablespoon of garlic powder.
Microwave it for about 5 minutes.
While that is nuking, dice an onion (or if one of those large spanish onions, half an onion)
Saute the onion until lightly browned...
Toss the potatoes in, with some hot sauce and Braggs Liquid Aminos (or soy sauce) to taste.

That, plus one egg each, and our requisite lattes, and we are both good. Between the two of us, the potatoes will last for two meals.

(On Edit)
For curry powder, you can use a Korma mix, or make your own curry.

[sandnsea]

141. A potato and egg for breakfast, whoda thunk it!!!

When you have to live on potatoes, and nothing else, come talk to me.

Requisite lattes.

Clue-Less.

[noamnety]

233. I had a span where I lived on potatoes for lunches.

The single mom days, heh.

I'd throw a potato in my coat pocket in the morning. At lunch time, it went in the microwave at work. Then I ate it like an apple - no butter, no sour cream, no fork, etc. Just ate it.

It fills you up, it's warm, it's cheap.

It's sure not a healthy diet for three meals a day, but it's cheaper and healthier than getting fast food fries, and less work, since it's one trip to the store for the sack of spuds instead of a trip each day for fries, and either way there are no dishes to clean and no "cooking" - unless you count putting it into the microwave and taking it out.

I had a lot of boiled eggs too, so when I saw that subject line, I thought that's where the person was going with it. At the time I could get eggs for about 7 cents a piece. I'd get a carton of them and hard boil the whole thing. So I'd have an egg for breakfast (2 if I was splurging). 7 or 14 cents. A potato for lunch for about 10-15 cents. I could get through up until dinner time on a quarter. But I did have gas at home so I could boil the eggs, electricity and a fridge to keep them in, and access to a microwave at work, so there were other luxuries that made the cheap price possible. Not everyone's got those things.

I also was lucky in that I've generally lived places where I could grow or scavenge fruits, veggies or nuts, either from nut trees in public parks and woods, or berries, or renting a plot for 10 bucks for the year ... without growing and scavenging, I'd have had a much rougher time of it.

[sandnsea]

278. "it's sure not a healthy diet"

Are you being intentinally thick in the head? The point of the article is HEALTHY DIETS. Why in the world would you post your starvation diet, which validates that the goddamn article is TRUE, as an argument against the OP????

[noamnety]

308. I don't know why you are insulting me.

I was actually agreeing with you there - the requisite lattes were certainly not part of my diet when I really was hurting for money.

I was just telling a story. I wasn't making "an argument against the OP." In the post you're responding to, I specifically mentioned that I was "scavenging" for food, and that if I hadn't done that I'd have had a much rougher time of it. Not sure how you got from that to thinking I was arguing that healthy balanced diets are affordable. Not sure why you are attacking me for talking about my experiences trying to get by when I couldn't afford healthy food.

I do think though that less processed foods are cheaper and just as easy to prepare as more processed foods, IF you are going to go the starch and protein route. So a plain potato is probably better for you than mac and cheese, and cheaper. I don't know if an egg or two is better for you than a serving of hamburger, but I do think it's usually cheaper and more convenient, at 7 cents a serving for a boiled egg. And lentils or beans, even cheaper and better for you. Neither the potato nor the mac and cheese are going to give you what fresh veggies would provide, but within the range of starches there are good and bad choices, with the good being less processed, cheaper, and less junk added (chemicals, sodium, fats). That's all I was trying to say.

[Codeine]

310. Don't feel too special,

she's just randomly insulting everybody at this point.

[Zhade]

350. No, she's not. A lot of people here just don't fucking get it.

NT!

[kestrel91316]

237. When I first got out of vet school, before I got my first paycheck,

I got down to my last $12 in the world (and no more room on the cc). I bought myself a 10 lb sack of potatoes, a 10 lb sack of Walla Walla onions, and a can of Crisco. I didn't even have a fridge. I lived on fried potatoes and onions until I got my first paycheck (that was TWO WEEKS).

I am intimately acquainted with poor and making do. I hope to never be THAT bad off again. It wasn't fun, and thank heaven it was only two weeks.

[sandnsea]

279. Gasp! Two Weeks!!!!!!!!

I have to concur with girlincontempt here, SHUT UP.

[kestrel91316]

295. You are rather presumptuous in assuming that I only had to struggle

for that two week period, and that all the rest of my life has been sunshine and roses.

I suspect I have known a great deal more hunger and financial difficulty than you, with your extremely superior attitude. It's very telling.

[KansDem]

352. Thanks for the recipe!

And you're right; when we went organic everything tasted better. And the aroma! I'll bring home organic celery and it could be smelled throughout the whole house.

We eat smaller portions now as well. It just tastes so much better!

[silverojo]

197. True, but if you don't eat meat

Those Vitamin B12 tablets can get pretty costly. I know--I tried the whole no-meat thing, and only succeeded in giving myself a B12 deficiency.

Meat is nowhere near as expensive as junk food. Cut that crap out of your diet and you'll save a lot of money.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

199. Prescription B-12 is really cheap.

If you get a prescription for the liquid injectable from your doctor and syringes at the drugstore and inject yourself once a week. The needles are tiny.

[GirlinContempt]

315. And how much is the Drs visit?

[RebelOne]

204. Vitamin B-12 is quite inexpensive.

Check out www.puritan.com . That's where I buy mine. Right now, it's buy 2, get 1 free. Sometimes, it will be buy 1, get 3 free.

[sentelle]

212. B complex vitamins are very inexpensive

Think Whole wheat bread. Not only do you get your b complexes, but you get fiber too.

[flvegan]

211. Hmm...I've never taken a B12 supplement in my life.

My one almost daily vitamin (which everyone should take anyway) costs me maybe 10 cents.

You are right about cutting the crap to save money.

[LeftyMom]

213. Me either. Except I never remember to take my multi.

OMG we're going to die!

Oh wait, except for nasty allergies we're both perfectly healthy.

[Codeine]

261. I just guzzle an energy drink every couple of days.

That's plenty of B vitamins, and I love the taste. Clone brand is identical to Red Bull but tastes a little better, and it's like a dollar a can.

[defendandprotect]

318. Eat natural peanut butter --- made only from peanuts . . . nothing else --- NOTHING else ....

Many of the health food stores --- and Whole Foods --- have the peanut butter machines ---
you just put your little container under the spiget and out comes peanut butter ---
they also have almond ---

and sadly, they also have some they are adding sugar to ---

[Zhade]

346. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Oh, that was comical.

[HughBeaumont]

6. I'm looking into hydroponic kitchens or like a mini-greenhouse.

It may pay for itself in a couple of years if this keeps up.

[tridim]

95. Just don't buy that one they're selling on TV now..

It's crappy and much too expensive.

IMO it's easier to grow herbs in compost, but if I ever wanted to go hydroponic I'd just use a small plastic tub and an aquarium pump (about $20.00 in total). My farmer friends have taught me a lot!

[sandnsea]

111. tell me more

I'd love to have fresh tomatoes all year. One of my favorite things. Can I do hydroponic in the garage??

[tridim]

114. Yes, but if you grow veggies you're going to have to invest in a good light

You won't get good results with fluorescents.

Search for "400 watt hydro", and ignore what the people are growing on the sites you see. Everything works the same for tomatoes. Also visit your local hydroponics shop, they'll be able to show you some nice products. Just read a lot and you'll learn how to do DIY hydro on the cheap. You can even do it outside if it's warm enough.

[sandnsea]

116. aaaah,

uhm, er, I think all I need to do is ask my husband. I just never thought of applying old skills (very old) to current needs, if you get my drift. lol. thanks!

[sentelle]

139. if you are going to grow tomatoes

You are going to need some heat. Out in the seattle area, we don't get enough light or warm temps for good tomatoes. Sure, cherries, and grape tomatoes, and the occasional stupice's (golf ball sized) but anything beyond a 50-55 day growing time gets pelted by Seattle's 'liquid sunshine' they also need space.

[MadHound]

7. One more reason that I garden

I can take much of the produce costs out of my budget since I grow and store most of my own veggies. Yes, I pay in sweat equity, but not only do I have plenty of that to spend, gardening is relaxing in its own way.