Eating Healthy is Actually LESS Expensive than Processed Food

With the obesity epidemic quickly spiraling out of control, there is an opportunity to reimagine food pantries for food-insecure families. Ask yourself before you donate would you eat the items you are donating? Below is what I would love to see in food pantries... ultra-processed foods and juices (whole fruit is less expensive and healthier) replaced with the following, and it is also less expensive. I included prices to debunk the myth that eating healthy is more expensive.?

**I also want to be clear I don't think there is anything wrong with nitrate-free bacon or red meat that is hormone-free. I don't eat it so have no idea how to price it much less cook it, hence why not on this list.**

Natural almond butter (under $8.99 for 27 ounces at Costco)

Natural peanut butter ($1.79 at Kroger with no added sugar or oils!)

Nutella (we all need a fun treat!) 2 26.5 ounce packs for under $10.00

Organic Jam, 28 ounces for $5.69 at Costco

Plain Oatmeal (10lbs for under $10.00 at Sam's Club for a total of 113 servings). Nutri-Grain bars are $8.94 for a 32 count, making oatmeal the right economical purchase to make, not to mention so much healthier!

Pure Vanilla Extract 8 ounces for $12.98 at Sam's Club

Raw Honey (48 ounces for under $11.00 at Sam's Club)

Pure maple syrup (under $11 for 32 ounces at Sam's Club)

Extra Virgin Olive oil ($11.28 for 2L at Sam's Club)

Coconut oil ($7.84 for 56 ounces at Sam's Club)

Chicken broth ($6.98 for 32 ounce 6 pack at Sam's Club)

Vegetable Broth ($1.44 for 32 ounces a Walmart)

Canned Tuna ($2.74 for a four-count at Walmart)

Canned Salmon (Less than $15 for 5 pack at Costco)

Canned Chicken, Phospate free

Dehydrated Mushrooms

Sundried Tomatoes

Canned Olives

Chickpea Pasta

Canned Dice Tomatoes $7.99 for 8 count, 15.5-ounce cans, Organic at Costco

Almond Flour $12.99 for 3lbs at Costco

Barilla Chickpea Pasta, 4 pack $7.92 at Sam's Club

Hunt's Tomato Sauce, Non-GMO, $4.98 for an 8 pack, 15-ounce cans at Sam's Club!

Dehydrated Onion is a great substitute for cooking and is cost-effective $5.98 for 15 ounces at Sam's Club

Sardines in Olive Oil $1.50 each at Walmart

Mott's Organic Apple Sauce ($14.99 for 36 count at Costco)

Canned Black Beans ($0.69 for one low sodium can at Target!)

Canned Chickpeas ($0.69 a can at Target!)

Quinoa ($8.98 for 64 ounces at Sam's Club)

Canned Diced Tomatoes ($7.24 for 12 pack of 14.5-ounce cans!)

Dried Black Beans ($8.28 for 12lbs of black beans at Sam's Club!)

Canned Tomato Sauce (no sugar or corn syrup)

Instant Coffee ($13.98 for 2-pack of 10.5 ounces at Sam's Club) (so much greener than k cups!)

Organic Hot Cocoa (No corn syrup) ($9.04 for 18 ounces at Sam's Club)

Organic Teabags (6o count for $8.28 at Sam's Club)

Shelf-stable non-dairy milk (6 pack 32 ounces for $9.98 at Sam's Club)

Basmati Rice ($16.96 for 20lbs at Sam's Club or Costco!)

Dried Pinto beans (12lbs for $8.78 at Sam's Club)

Dried Red Kidney Beans (4lbs for $6.32 at Sam's Club)

Dried Black Beans (12lbs for $8.28)

Dried Blackeyes (4lbs for $5.48 at Sam's Club

Roasted Almonds ($17.49 for 5lbs at Costco)

Dried Cranberries (4lbs for $16.38 at Walmart)

Organic Raisins ($10 for 4 lbs at Costco!)

Pecans ($12.49 for 2lbs at Sam's Club)

Walnuts (less than $10 for 3lbs at Sam's Club)

Mayo $7.99 for 64 ounces at Costco

Chocolate Chips, clean ingredients, $12.49 for 4.5lbs at Costco!

organic juice boxes, $11.49 for 40 count at Costco

Microwave Popcorn (healthier than chips) ($12.99 for 3.3 ounces 44-count at Costco)

Pancake Mix, 10lbs at Costco for $6.99.?You can do so much with this one item. Blueberry pancakes, chocolate chips, add Nutella and strawberries. It becomes an all-around alternative to traditional cookies for a lot less money.?A 60 count of packaged cookies costs $11.98, almost double the cost of pancake mix.

Pepper

Curry

Lemmon Pepper Seasoning, $5.69 for organic at Costco

Coconut Milk ($1.99 for at Sprouts!)

Potatoes ($8.98 for 15lbs at Sam's Club) to put this into perspective, a 50 count pack of potato chips at Sam's Club costs $14.98, almost double the cost and nutritionally void.?

Sweet Potatoes ($3.98 for 5lbs)

5lbs of Fuji apples for $5.98 at Sam's Club. Apple juice is $4.48 for 2 x 96 ounces and is nutritionally void. For just over a dollar more, you can eat the whole fruit.

Avocados are $5.98 for five-count at Sam's Club or $0.88 each at Sprouts!

Onions $7.48 for 10lbs at Sam's Club

Lemon juice $6.49 for 2 48 ounce count at Costco!

Oranges 9lbs for less than $9.00 at Costco!

Bananas $1.53 for 3lbs at Sam's Club or Costco

Seeded Bread Dave's Killer bread 2 27 ounce loaves for $7.98 at Sam's Club or Costco

Brownie Mix (Bob Redmill's brownie mix, gluten-free, $3.21 at Swanson's health products for 21-ounce box)

I would love to see donations of freezers and refrigerators to food pantries to stock bulk frozen. Check out these prices.?

Chicken Breast $17.98 for 10lbs

Frozen Cod $17.88 for 3lbs

Frozen Salmon $22.48 for 2.5 lbs

Frozen Organic Veggies 5.5lbs at Costco for under $10!

Carrots: Organic, 5lbs for $2.98 at Sam's Club

3lbs of frozen organic blueberries are under $9.00 at Costco

Real Butter $8.69 for 4lbs at Sam's Club or Costco!

Hummus (Great snack for kids for school lunches) ($5.98 for 16-count at Sam's Club)

Eggs $2.99 for 30 count at Target - less than a dime an egg!

Sour Cream $3.72 for 3lbs at Sam's Club!

Whipped Cream Cocowhip non-dairy, $3.38