Recently my mother in law (who seems to have an opinion on just about everything I do, by the way) commented to me (and not for the first time) that my husband and I must have lots of money because we always seem to buy whatever we want at the grocery store without considering the cost. Sorry Mom-in-law, but we don’t have a fortune tucked away under the mattress. We simply have decided that what we eat is a priority in our lives, and from a financial standpoint, we consider it a good investment in the future.
This observation really has nothing to do with becoming pretty strict vegetarians a year and a half ago. Even when we ate meat, the weekly supermarket run ate up a pretty good chunk of our paycheck. I would say that today the amount we spend is about the same as before the change in diet.I would have liked to think that giving up animal products would ultimately be cheaper, but that hasn’t been the case yet. A lot of my acquaintances over the past year or so have commented that they were sure it would be much more expensive to be a veg*n, but that hasn’t been the case either.
As it turns out, the cost of the items in my shopping cart balance each other out pretty well. For example, a bag of dried beans is a heck of a lot cheaper than a pound of steak, but the veggie burgers are pricier than beef burgers. The soymilk is a little cheaper than dairy milk, but the soy yogourt is a smidge more expensive. The veggie dogs are waaayyy more dear than regular hotdogs. (But really, have you ever given two seconds worth of though about what goes into a regular hotdog? I’ve researched it myself, and just pondering it is enough to give me a full body shiver. I think the extra cost is worth it, all things considered!)
We also shop with a pretty free hand in the produce department, grabbing pricey and exotic produce out of season, loading up on fancy nuts and organic seeds, and latching on to salad greens and fixin’s without an eye to the cost. Yes, we do know those items have to travel thousands of miles in the dead of winter to tempt our taste buds, and we do take that into consideration and shop locally when possible. But when I know my kids will choose pommellos, uglifruit or Chinese pears instead of chips when I have them around, I consider it well worth it.
So yes, dear Mother-in-Law, you are right. I do spend a fortune on the food for my family. But I can’t take it with me, and I think the money spent now will reap benefits later. After all, I could drive an expensive car or live in an expensive house right now, but what good will that do me when I’m eighty and I want to be able to romp with my great-grandchildren? Eating a healthy diet now will not only increase my chances of being alive and kicking for as long as possible, but I’m also planning on saving a bundle on doctor’s visits and prescription medication as the years trudge on. (In fact, I already am…. eliminating dairy from our diets has cured both mine and my daughter’s asthma, and my husband only needs about a quarter of the amount of allergy medications that he used to use!)
Not only that, as time goes on and we become most accustomed to simpler and less processed food, our food bill is gradually going down. Where we used to choose a pre-made veggie burger, we are replacing those with homemade grain and soy burgers, and where we may have chosen expensive potato chips before, we have started to prefer air-popped popcorn or carrots sticks to snack on. So we’re getting there, Mom-in-Law. We’re getting there, and we’re sure enjoying the trip. I hereby heartily invite you along for the ride….
Comments
What a great perspective
curbing my own guilt
good transitional perspective!!