How to Deal with the Increased Cost of Eating Paleo
One of the toughest challenges to getting on a better path to eating paleo or primal is the cost. Simply put, it is more expensive and not as convenient to procure natural, healthy food.
When we embarked on this Primal Blueprint experiment, our first order of business was to swap out our pantry filled with grain-based snacks and stock it full of primal approved foods - nuts, seeds, butters (almond, cashew, sunflower are our favorites), fresh fruits and vegetables, and some jerky. We also needed to start buying a lot more meat which is more expensive than the heavy pasta dishes we were used to preparing for most meals.
Lisa's been buying organic for a long time but shifting from a diet where grains play a high role and provide a lot of relatively cheap calories to one that replaces grains with primarily grass-fed meat, organic vegetables, fruit, nuts, and seeds bumped our grocery budget into a tailspin... sort of... The way it really went down is we were spending about the same amount of money but burning through the food faster and finding ourselves hungry with bare pantries before the next grocery visit was planned.
What transpired has been a continually evolving system to find savings, make efficiencies, and cut costs out of other less important areas of our lives. I'd like to say I found a magic formula or found a secret supplier that can deliver organic, contaminate-free food for the same price the grocery store sells frozen dinners but that is not the reality. Eating the right healthy foods is more of an investment but these tips will help you get the best returns.
First a mindshift; then some tactics
Step 1: Get Used to It
The laws of economics are at work here and quality organic foods are going to be more expensive. But I also believe that over the long haul this will change as more businesses step in to fill the void and established conglomerates will follow suit as more and more people become educated on food and health.
Step 2: Make it a Priority
In the United States, we spend an average of 6.7% of our income on food according to the USDA and presented nicely by Mark Perry, professor of economics and finance at the University of Michigan. The rest of the world combined averages upwards of 30% of their incomes towards food (in Pakistan it's over 45%). I'd venture that in many of these countries, just getting a meal is a priority. If you truly want to get optimal fuel running through your body, you're going to have to change the priority and be willing to dedicate more of your earnings towards quality foods.
Step 3: Think Long-Term Savings
Particularly if you get behind the science that demonstrates the correlation between what we ingest and health issues. Diabetes, heart disease, many cancers, the list goes on and on. I'm in the camp that believes eating healthy is the best preventative medicine. The way I see it, the more I spend on quality food now, the less I spend on healthcare for the rest of my days. Seems like a good deal.
The mental shift helps get us thinking positive about the investment we're putting into our health. That said, here are some ideas for savings and efficiencies in gathering for your paleo diet:
1. Grow your own vegetables and fruit - here in the Midwest, we can get a good crop in between spring and fall frost. We started organic gardening this year and looking forward to a better year in 2012.
2. Beef Shares - This allows you to buy a full, half, or quarter beef - enough to feed a family of 4 for an entire year. Checkout: LocalHarvest.com - Beef Shares
3. Go online - We love Amazon Prime and use it to buy the majority of our non-perishables. The biggest saving is the convenience and not driving around town (time, gas) to buy this stuff. Also working on a re-occurring grocery list through Amazon to make ordering quicker, easier, and eventually automated.
4. Get to know your farmers - Go to the Farmer's Markets and get to know the farmers by name. Ask questions, be friendly. They want your business too and it may be possible that if you're willing to make a commitment to obtain a certain amount of product from them, they may be willing to work a deal for that consistency.
5. Raise chickens - This is a tall order for many (including myself at the moment) but this is a great way to grow your own protein. I did research this because it's something we're curious about and it's amazing how many cities allow raising chickens - and I mean cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, and NYC- TheCityChicken.com keeps a list of laws in your state.
6. Supplement - At $2.50 per meal, the protein shakes (Primal Fuel) I get are low sugar and paleo diet approved and satisfy my quest for a quick, high-protein meal. I get these on auto-ship (very convenient) and cry when I run out before the next shipment arrives.
7. Delivery Services - Checkout local co-ops and CSA's (LocalHarvest.com). In Indy there is GreenBeanDelivery.com and Seattle has AmazonFresh and other companies such as Foodzie.com that deliver organics to your door. It still may cost a premium but utilize that TIME you save on generating more value in other areas of your life.
8. Find joy in food - Taking time to enjoy the process of gathering, preparing, and dining with your family, friends, or in sweet solitude will make any extra expenditure seem like a token expense.
Share your ideas by posting to the comments below or on this re-post on my blog.
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