“Yes, eggs are ridiculously expensive right now. Yes, I still eat a ton of them anyways. I will never prioritize saving money on groceries over fueling my body with what it needs for optimal health. The cheapest food is not always the best food.”
Okay. This is an anonymous post on a social media site.
And while I genuinely appreciate the sentiment – fueling your
body with what it needs for optimal health – I don’t think I agree with a part
of it that seems to be kinda tone-deaf….in my opinion.
While I agree with fueling your body, I also understand that
not everyone has the ability to AFFORD the most nutritious options.
This post stressed (and again, I sort of agree – to an
extent) that making healthy food choices is their priority, and they will not compromise
that value to save a few dollars.
My disagreement is that everyone’s circumstances are different. At the time of this blog post, I was able to purchase boneless, skinless chicken breast on sale for $1.99 per pound. I was able to purchase 3 pounds of chicken for the same price as 1 dozen eggs ($5.97).
That is roughly 12 servings of chicken (4oz each) at 35
grams of protein per serving, compared to 6 servings of eggs (2 eggs per
serving) at 12 grams of protein per serving.
Now, if you’re on a tight budget, that chicken is going to
go a lot further feeding yourself or your family than the eggs are. And you’re
actually getting more protein per serving (almost 3 times as much). Calorically,
they are about the same (140 calories per serving).
1 cup of cooked beans is going to provide roughly 15 grams
of protein and about 220-250 calories. 1
pound of beans (dried) makes roughly 5-6 cups of cooked beans, and 1 pound of
dry beans costs about $1.50.
Add rice (roughly $1.00-$1.50 per pound) and you have a
complete protein.
See where this is going?
It’s not just about the eggs being a healthy option. They are.
Not a question.
The QUESTION is: in YOUR circumstances,
are you able to justify the current cost of eggs (or whatever healthy food it
may be) in your family’s food budget? Or are there alternatives that are equally
as nutritious, less expensive, or help you stretch your dollars a little
further?
Can you get similar nutritional value from a Gala Apple as
you can from a Honeycrisp Apple (currently $1.18 per pound versus $1.98 per pound)?
I have no qualms with prioritizing nutrition for yourself
and your family. If there are ways to cut back on less nutritious foods
(cookies, cupcakes, chips, crackers) and add healthier options (fruits,
vegetables, lean protein, whole grains), I always advocate for that.
But again, I feel like everyone is in different
circumstances and might not be able to afford more expensive items, regardless
of their nutritional value. And if there are alternatives that are equally as
healthy, or more so, then go for those.
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