Is this costly?

[Lois]

I really want to eat about 70% raw but I am worried that it will be fairly expensive. Any ideas on how to cut the cost? Thanks

[Evelynn]

Less costly than chemo or surgery later on. ;)

I've been told that you don't need to buy everything organic--there are some foods that are hardly sprayed at all because doing so would be useless. The list is probably around here somewhere.

I really don't think it's all that expensive unless you insist on having gourmet meals every night. Local produce is relatively cheap here, though I understand it isn't the case everywhere. Juicers and other appliances are also worth a pretty penny, but they aren't necessary--you can always save up for one later on if you want them. (We're lucky--we got a good one for free!)

When you think about how filling raw foods are compared to cooked foods, it's almost always a better deal. For example...$2.50 for five oranges vs. $3 for a slice of pizza or a carton of ice cream or something. Where do you live? Produce is usually available here in Amish Country, but again, that won't be true everywhere else.

[Lois]

I live in New Brunswick, Canada. I think I will try to get a juicer and dehydrator. Hmm, too bad there wasn't a guide somewhere to tell me what I need daily.

[misslinda]

I really want to eat about 70% raw but I am worried that it will be fairly expensive. Any ideas on how to cut the cost? Thanks


HI!

What do you mena by costly? Are you concerned that you will be starving and hungry all day and having to eat alot of food? What were you eating before that made your bill economical?

Definately using less electricity will save you money.

Health improves as less to none meds and doctors visits

As you progress, you will less hungry.

what else?

[fiddler]

I really want to eat about 70% raw but I am worried that it will be fairly expensive. Any ideas on how to cut the cost? Thanks

Lot's of discussion on this topic. Just search via the Banana icon for "cost" or whatever...

Here's a recent post -->
http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=12139&highlight=Cost

Hope this helps...
Gil

[Chanda]

Hi, I am new and just did my first raw shopping trip yesterday.

I found that my all raw shopping was only $30 more expensive than my regular shopping. I do shop at an all organic store so everything I was buying before was organic. It was more traditional food though.

So what I am saying is that if you already shop all organic, going raw isn't much more expensive.

I think if you just buy crap at the regular grocery store then it will definitley be more than that.

My problem was that it took much longer for me to find everything, bag it up and figure out what I was looking for. I had never heard of shallots before, hehe.

[Purl]

I've been 100% raw for 45 days. (with a few minor slips) What I have found was that I was RAVENOUS for raw nutrient dense food. Our food bill went from $185 to $285-but I have a large family (dh, me, 4 dc, and 2 cats). Now for the past week I have been really LISTENING to my body-eating ONLY what I want WHEN I want. and I've really been LISTENING to my body tell me the correct portion size. I've been eating about 1/4th of what I normally ate and the weight is just melting off. I've had a cold, too, and ALL my body wants it fruit til about 6:30, then a portion of veggies, and nothing else til morning.

My breakfasts have been 2-3 slices of pinapple, or 24 oz of fresh oj. Lunch his been a cereal bowl of green grapes at 2pm, and dinner has been 1/2 an avacado and a ginger marinated portabella. Every few days I eat a snack of 1/4 c of cashews and raisins. I have NO sad cravings, and for the first time in my life I don't feel deprived. So my grocery bill would probably be about $35-40 TOTAL, if I just shopped for myself. HTH.

[levamssg]

Lois,

The initial buy of staples is a bit, (herbs, spices, oils, nuts) adds up, but they last quite a while. Then, buy in small quantities, only what you intend to consume in a couple of days, so you don't throw away stuff. On the other hand, make sure you have food to eat ... :) Getting hungry and not having something to pop in your mouth makes it hard to stay raw.

Buy what you can organic. If not, buy conventional and wash well. I would like to eat all organic, but I simply can't afford it, so I pick and choose what I buy in each category.

You may find costs higher at first, but they will come down as you get into a pattern of eating. Coming into the summer season will help the $$ too.

[vickiesltw]

I really want to eat about 70% raw but I am worried that it will be fairly expensive. Any ideas on how to cut the cost? Thanks

I personally keep track of every penny we spend. I know I am anal but lists make me happy.

At first I thought it was outrageous. I think the 1st shopping trip was to the tune of $300.00 maybe a little more and that was for 2 people. Just so no one freaks at that price tag. That include storage containers, a sprouting system, staples, like spices, lots of nuts, olive oil, organic soy sauce, knifes etc. The things you will buy every few months or only once.

When we went raw we went from nothing but a vitamix to everything. Also, ours was more cause we were buying off a shopping list from a gourmet cookbook.

Anyway, even considering that the cost is minimal. We have gone out to eat on only 3 occasions. The cost of those meals have dropped form 30-50 each to 5-15 each. Also, we went to the movies a lot and got popcorn soda and whatever. We have only gone to the movies twice and spent 3.00 on a water. So again that went from about 30.00 for movie and conssions to 17.00. Our shopping is more frequent, but, total cost is down about 35.00 a week.

Hope this ex. helps

Lil' Brat

[lil fairy z girl]

i generally go shopping with a shopping list and have a plan of what i wish to make that week as i have to watch the pennies. to be quite honest i have been very surprised in that my grocery bills have gone down. For me and hubby I had a budget of £50 a week for all shopping inc food. Since RAW It has been around £30 - £35 a week for all the weekly shopping. I am quite amazed as I do buy organic items too, (although not all).
i buy alot of veg and fruit that has been reduced but there is nothing wrong with it just its coming up to sell by date.

sal
~*~*~*

[pdx kris]

Lois,

In my experience, it's actually a lot cheaper to be 100%. Like many have said here, your first couple of trips are pricey but after that, cheaper than eating a SAD diet and easier to shop too!

I am a one person household, and I do a lot of juicing and smoothie-ing in addition to eating whole foods and I spend about 65 dollars a week on food (and it is always organic).

Pound of organic apples: $.99 - 2.99
Pound of organic chicken: $8.99 - 10.99
I don't buy the chicken, just putting a comparison out there!

I like to look at the places raw has SAVED me money. I no longer:
- make a daily trip to starbucks (4 dollars a trip)
- get takeout for lunch at a deli everyday (8 dollars a trip)
- buy overpriced prepackaged snack and meal foods (a whole lot of
of money!)

My dinners out at restaurants are also a lot cheaper. A big, leafy salad is a lot less expensive than a big, juicy steak!

[rawpriestess]

You might take a look at this thread I started a few months ago,

It has a lot of information that might be of interest to you.