Have you seen the Ask Me Anything page? All of the answers to the questions I’ve received are on this page and you can ask an anonymous question at any time! I will continue to answer them in segments such as this.
17. How much money do you spend per week/month on groceries?
I have a confession. I’ve been putting off this question and it was asked a few times in Ask Me Anything. After talking about it with Evan and some other food bloggers, I’m ready to answer it honestly. Here’s the simple answer: it costs money to eat an organic, produce-based diet. It just does. And I’m okay with that because I don’t want to be a part of the statistic that says if we spend less on food, we spend more on health care. I care about my body, I care about the environment, and I care about voting for better food. We pay good money for quality, organic food and not only does it taste better, it makes us feel amazing. It is all about priorities and I think it’s pretty clear where ours lie. Evan and I never really think twice about putting much of our money into food. We’re passionate about eating well and we don’t mind spending the extra money to do so.
With that said (and you’ve probably skipped to this paragraph first because you saw the $$ sign, but please read the first paragraph as well), we spend about $300-$600 a month ($75-$150 a week) on food. We tend to fall somewhere in between those two numbers but it certainly varies and sometimes we only do major grocery shopping every two weeks. It changes, depending on how many bulk items we need that month since raw nuts, seeds and grains tend to cost a lot up front, but last us awhile. We also buy products online (such as the ones in my store) that cost a lot up front, but last us a long time.
Whew, glad that’s over with. How much do you spend on groceries?
18. Could you show us a complete day of vegan eats for you? I am transitioning from vegetarian to vegan and I get lost when I try to think what I’m going to eat for each meal that will keep me from starving without cheese and yogurt.
I hope that the last couple of weeks of showing you all of the food I eat has really helped with this! Please let me know if you still have questions.
19. Was Evan always a vegan? I really would love to somehow transform my boyfriend’s carnivorous horrible eating habits…and I have no idea how to do this…I have him eating raw cabbage and he loves raw green onions (extremely salted)…any suggestions?
No, Evan was not always a vegan. We transitioned together and haven’t looked back! Evan has agreed to do a series of guest posts on G4G for all of the women looking for tips like this or the men looking for more information on being a male vegan. Stay tuned!
{ 25 comments… read them below or add one }
I am so with you on “pay more for food now, less on healthcare later.” Michael Pollan talked about this when he was just on Oprah a couple of weeks ago and it’s SO true. my husband and i spend about $100 per week on mostly-organic vegan food. Some weeks it’s more and some week’s it’s less but I’d say that’s an average. Yesterday I spent $140 total at two different stores, but a lot of the stuff will last us longer than a week.
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Ryan @ Greens for Good Reply:
March 8th, 2010 at 12:59 pm
You have no idea how much I appreciate your comment! I feel like I’m always justifying our grocery bills to other people, because it seems no one else spends that much money on food. But in all seriousness, GOOD food costs a lot of money and it costs even MORE money when you live with a man, don’t you think?!
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THANK YOU. Some is finally being honest about this. Spending less money on groceries is NOT a good thing. I get so fed up with all the food bloggers saying how great it is spending $75/wk on groceries for two people. I am a college student and only buy food for myself and spend this much (doesn’t include eating out 1-2 times a week)! I spend about $25/wk on local produce, etc and it used to be about $25/wk on grocery items (milk, eggs, soy products, peanut butter) but now that I buy organic my supermarket grocery bill is about $50/wk. I am trying to find ways to scale that back, through planning out my meals–not changing what I buy. (this week I made a stir-fry to last 2-3 night and roasted veggies that I can eat with veggies burger for a couple nights)
But food is expensive! And food SHOULD be expensive. you get what you pay for and you get out of your body exactly what you put in it!
Thanks for shining some light upon this.
Kelly B (Local Foodie Fight)´s last blog ..No Oscar for Food Inc. & a non-meat related food recall, this time in my kitchen
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Ryan @ Greens for Good Reply:
March 8th, 2010 at 1:01 pm
You are welcome! And THANK YOU for commenting! I was in the same boat in college and spent about that much for myself too.
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Frannie Reply:
March 8th, 2010 at 3:05 pm
While produce should be expensive, many of the vegan/vegetarian staples, such as beans, rice, canned, and frozen vegetables are actually quite cheap, especially if you buy the larger sizes. I balance all of my nutrient intake and am not lacking in any vitamins or minerals, and my fiance and I spend ~300.00 per month, only eating out 2-3x each. It can be done. It takes diligence and planning.
Also, I’m a graduate student. I work 70+ hours a week, and I have minimal income. I have to make it work, so I choose to make it work.
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Ryan @ Greens for Good Reply:
March 8th, 2010 at 3:13 pm
You’re right, those items can be quite cheap. We rely very minimally on them and more on produce, so perhaps that is where the difference lies. There is no doubt that a vegan/vegetarian diet can be extremely inexpensive if approached a certain way.
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I agree with you and also spend a bit more on groceries than other bloggers that I’ve seen. I felt weird about it, but then my mom was like 1. DC can be expensive at times and 2. that’s my priority. I want to eat the good, nutritious, tasteful foods and those cost money. Being a student, I do budget, but that budget lands around $100 a week and I don’t eat out a lot and I also care more about it than clothes and other items that others would budget in.
Jacquie´s last blog ..Nolita ad
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Ryan @ Greens for Good Reply:
March 8th, 2010 at 1:07 pm
Amen!
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I loved this post. I don’t do all the grocery shopping (I’m living at home until school in the fall) but when I do I think that I will be buying more organic and foods that I can feel good about. It may be more money, but I think if you eat well and clean you don’t necessarily need the maca powder, the goji berries, or the chia seeds. They’re the superfood cherries on top of the sundae, but not necessary. I also don’t think vita mixes or other high tech equipment is necessary. I think Gena from Choosing Raw spoke about that issue really well.
I think Evan guest posting is an awesome idea! Looking forward to the posts!
Maya´s last blog ..Thawing Out
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Ryan @ Greens for Good Reply:
March 8th, 2010 at 1:18 pm
Couldn’t agree with you more! They are absolutely the cherries on top of the sundae, but not completely necessary. We LOVE our superfoods and high tech equipment but we could definitely live without them if need be.
Love Gena!
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You’re right; a produced based diet does cost a lot! But I don’t think we can feel guilty about spending more for our bodies. In the long run you save money from Dr’s bills and it’s worth the investment
Evan Thomas´s last blog ..Candy, The Oscars, And Other Lies Your Mother Told You
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I’m with you, we try to keep it around $100/week, but sometimes the good stuff puts us over the top! It’s completely worth it to me.
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Love your response! I tell my husband that all the time… we don’t eat out that often, and because of that we shouldn’t freak out about money that we spend at the grocery store. It keeps us healthy, after all!
Leah @ Simply Fabulous´s last blog ..Adding sweetness with grilled banana
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My boyfriend and I spend about $400 a month on groceries, excluding eating out. This includes stuff like toilet paper and also includes buying wine at Trader Joe’s! We also usually have chicken or fish once a week each. We are very fortunate to be able to spend as much as we do on groceries and to be able to buy some organic produce (not everything we buy is organic) without regard to cost. Yes, I pay more by going to a local farm to buy eggs, but it is completely worth it!
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If there is something that I would be willing to spend good money on, it would be my health. It shouldn’t have a price tag on it, ya know? My husband and I also spend around $100 a week on groceries so I know where you’re coming from.
While I lived in Sweden, this was the norm for a regular weekly grocery shop for most people. The Swedes value the quality of food that they put into their bodies, and they love to invite guests over for elaborate dinners. So, obviously that results in a higher grocery price. But like I said, we shouldn’t put a price tag on the foods that we want to eat and that make us feel good.
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Ryan @ Greens for Good Reply:
March 8th, 2010 at 4:52 pm
Very interesting. The way different regions and cultures value food is so fascinating to me!
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Me and my husband spend a ton of money on groceries…especially now that we are trying to eat more organic. We easily spend the between $400 and $600 a month in food. It also doesn’t help that I end up trying 75% of new products (or new to me) that I see on other blogs. It is a personal decision what you spend your money on and there is no shame in spending your money on healthy food!
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Ryan @ Greens for Good Reply:
March 8th, 2010 at 4:51 pm
Agreed!!
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Hey Ryan!! Even while my husband + I are both unemployed FOOD is top priority. I said if we have to eat organic pasta + sauce then so be it, I’m not going to sacrifice quality. We spend a lot on groceries and we don’t work out a budget…sounds kind of dumb for being unemployed, but it has worked. I think I have bought like 3 new articles of clothing [except my parents got me some around the holidays] in the past 6 months. I do all of the shopping and it’s mostly vegetarian, a good deal of it vegan, and once in awhile grass-fed/organic meat is involved. But lately, that’s only been for Chris as I’m becoming more and more turned off by meat. Anyway, some of my friends don’t understand why I would ever want to spend more on food than on clothes but it is SO much more worth it to me. I worked [selling my granola bars] at a farmer’s market this summer and I felt different those months eating at least 50% local+seasonal+organic food. I try to tell family + friends how much more Europeans spend on their food, etc. Some get it some just want cheap food. To each their own..but just know, you’re not alone!! We are lucky to still be able to afford the good foods we eat and I know that a lot of people just aren’t that fortunate. However, I like to think that the more I support organic/quality foods [and hope that others are too] demand will go up and cost will go down. Ummm…ramble much?
I am currently cooking a lot from Clean Food “Winter”…have you looked at that cook book at all? Love that you posted about this!!
Ashley´s last blog ..stuck on the couch
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Ryan @ Greens for Good Reply:
March 8th, 2010 at 4:50 pm
Fabulous comment, thank you! I love hearing about this from your unique perspective! I have seen that book and love that revolves around seasonal eating…perfect!
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Great Q & A
HOwever, like you, I believe it is something that I am willing to spend my $$ on too.
I agree that it isn’t necessarily ‘cheap’ to live a life full of fresh organic produce
Lisa (bakebikeblog)´s last blog ..Carb-loving
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i just posted my whole foods haul from yesterday in my entry today . . . and it fell towards the upper end of your $$$ spectrum. i completely agree that i am willing to pay a premium for high quality food. there are a million things i would give up before relinquishing my WF!
sarah (the SHU box)´s last blog ..HL week day 1: prep is key
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I use to blow $140-200/week on what I eat….mostly junk food or at least not the healthiest. Since changing my ways I’m now spending around $50/week on healthy mainly unprocessed foods. Some day maybe I’ll go farther and get into organic but for now I’m happy with getting this far.
For 2 people $300-600 doesn’t seem outrageous to me.
I always enjoy the Q&A from the bloggers.
John´s last blog ..Toughest One Yet
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Hi Ryan! It’s funny you wrote about this topic (what you spend on groceries) because I just mentioned it in my blog post today: http://finnyfinds.wordpress.com. Basically, my hubby and I spend $75/week (approx. $400/month) and I’ve never thought it was all that much. In upstate NY the cost of living is kind of high so maybe you get more for your money than we do … I don’t know … but I’m glad you posted on this topic because I was wondering what other people spend.
Alison @ finnyfinds´s last blog ..Blazing a Vegan Food Trail Through Our Kitchen
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Wow I was completely struggling with this food shopping this week, and so glad you posted. I also spent about 100$ give/take a week on groceries, and sometimes I think I’m abnormal! I’m with ya!
Amanda´s last blog ..Sweet Utopia Review & Ultimate Brownies
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Oooh yeah, I definitely spend this much. There are some things I tend to only buy organic. You’re not alone
. Plus, if I go to Whole Foods (this involves an hour trip), a lot of the budget is blown right there. So I try to only do that occasionally…..
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Good news – I think my husband and I spend about the same $ on groceries that you do. A lot isn’t it? but it’s worth every cent.
Jessica´s last blog ..Geting Closer to Spring!
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Honestly with that lead in I was expecting a MUCH higher number! I spent at least $400/month for my husband and I. It’s a little skewed because he likes some junk food too- but honestly, I always feel like my bill is higher when I get him lots of “treats” as opposed to mostly veggies, etc.
Thanks for answering that question honestly- I hate when people try to say eating healthy is just as cheap as eating fast food- it’s not! But cost of groceries isn’t the only way to look at “cost”. Like you said- it’s setting you up for better health throughout your life!! I think you’re helping people realize it’s ok to spend money on something good for them!!
Heather @ Side of Sneakers´s last blog ..Punkin Oats & DYKT #6
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Thank you so much for sharing how much you spend on groceries! It makes me feel so much better knowing that I am not the only one who spends a large amount on food. I am in total agreement with your philosophies on food. I recently made the switch to local, organic food and have never felt better!
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I meant to comment yesterday, then forgot!
But thank you for sharing what you spend. You are definitely not alone. My vegan boyfriend and I spend roughly the same each week. But when you break it down $100/week to feed 2 people, 3 meals a day, plus 2 snacks, for 7 days, it works out to be extremely cheap. We usually eat out once a week, but still, I feel like we barely spend anything on food.
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it’s too bad that you felt the need to justify the amount of money that you spend on groceries…i think most people spend about that much…my boyfriend and i spend about the same, however, i am the veggie in the relationship…i believe we’ll most likely be spending a little more in the next few months as i have told him that we need to look for meat that is grass fed and organic and well treated…
on myself, i say i spend about $300 a month on food…organic produce, nuts, seeds, vegan foods, and specialty superfood items…food and nutrition is SO important to me, and it’s something i am passionate about, so i don’t mind spending the money…we also don’t eat out very often…i also spend a bit of money on my dog’s food as well…organic for him too, produce and kibble!
oh and i CAN’T wait for evan’s post!!!!
=)
nelly´s last blog ..day 11 – sugar cleanse…
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I absolutely love that you shared about your grocery costs, because I do the shopping for my family of four and I have to stop at 4 different grocery stores to pick up everything for the family and I try my best to get my parents and brother healthy food and we spend close to $215 a week on groceries and we go out to eat multiple times a month. So I guess that the amount of money we spend on groceries is reasonable for US!!
Lindsay ´s last blog ..I’m Back at It….
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For Christmass I bought my boyfriend a cookbook called earth to table whichis about slow foods and making food that really comes from the earth. The book interviews many famous chefs who are a part of the slow foods movement, one in particular being Thomas Keller or French Laundry. When the author asks him what he thinks when his approach to food (whole, real, organic, local ingredients) is described as elitst he says – well yes, it is elitist because how can you respect someone who doesn’t respect what they are putting into their body? I think it is a sign of intellgence and self respect when food becomes one of your number one expenses, and yeah maybe tha is elitist, especially when you consider that some people can’t afford to eat, but look at it this way. Supporting organic farms supports the small farming industry, which cuts down on our dependence on cash crops, the manfacture of which is responsible for some of the worst human rights violations in the world, which I think is a good thing.
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Ryan @ Greens for Good Reply:
March 10th, 2010 at 7:49 am
Wow, thanks for that information! I love thinking about it that way!
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Thanks for sharing! My girlfriend and I spend around $300 a month on groceries plus about $50 on ‘mess dues’ (she is a firefighter and they cook lunch together at the station) and $100 a month on dining out. Our grocery bill is definitely a little higher when we re-stock our bulk items – we shop at Costco for these and I’ve been really impressed with their quality and selection of organic items!
One other thing I use to ‘justify’ my grocery bill is that I get so much joy out of trying new foods and cooking. I guess I kind of classify grocery shopping and cooking as hobbies, so the cost is split between ‘food’ and ‘entertainment’.
Lizz @ Leading the Good Life´s last blog ..Intervals
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