When I was a student, I signed up for the college's food bank. Once every two weeks, I was entitled to a reusable bag worth of non-perishable food items and toiletries. for FREE!
"Extreme couponing". I dumpster Sunday coupons from recycling bins, sort the pages into stacks, cut 5-10 of the same coupon at a time and organize them in a binder. I bring the binder to the store and when I see a good sale price on an item I use, I look for a coupon. When I get a good price, I buy as many as I can. I log prices & weight/volume in a spreadsheet to determine the lowest price paid. I'm getting below wholesale prices, inflation hedging and am prepared for emergencies/shortages.
We have a monitor for Netflix documentaries that will educate and inform.
Next, we went vegetarian.
Then we started composting to add to our soil, because next, we started
growing our food. We live in urban Oakland and have a yard the size of a postage stamp. But like you said - that's all you need. And even if I didn't have this backyard, the house next door is abandoned -so there's no excuse to not plant! Now, we heal...
If only it were this simple! I work from home and actually do make good money but I work hard. If anyone is interested in a REAL opportunity to make good money by working hard then join my team! Just email me: foster_236@hotmail.com or skype me for a chat on: anthony62155.
All this is very good, but nothing beats growing it. Growing it is so rewarding, and if you invest what you would for a movie for 4 in a dehydrator, you can store years worth of food.
Commecial processing is not good for anyone, and if the model of "charging what the market will bear" as opposed to charging a small margin over the "actual cost to create" doesn't convince you, the preservatives should.
@pjamesbda Totally agree...jarring and pickling produce is also a good way to preserve food. The commercial food industry is killing us slowly, making healthy living nearly impossible and really pumping up the pharmaceutical industry (which also seems to pump itself up via side effects). We live longer, but, certainly not without a certain amount of suffering and pain. Call me crazy, but, I go without subjecting myself to the medical industry as much as possible.
@consciousnesswarrior- I am sprouting, which gives new meaning to seed stores. Seeds store for years. No one can garden seriously without learning to compost.
Composting is the foundation of growing food. I'm going to build a composter right away. Your observation about the medical field is spot on. I want to die in my garden, and be buried there too. My wife thinks that's a good idea...like right now.lol.
Like everything else, we give them too much power. But we do it with consent.
I am from Hamburg and I can tell everyone from my region that his tipps are right here too. For people from Hamburg: the best way to shop food cheaply in ethnic stores (especially vegetables and fruits) go to the steindamm where you will find not only sex shops but also a lot of cheap warm kitchens and grocerie stores of oriental ownership. Salaam alaikum :D
Overipe or bruised fruit is a lot cheaper. Throw it in the blender and you won't know the difference. Actually, overipe fruit makes a sweeter smoothie!
Since I had 2 children at a young age and was then poor, I had to cook almost always...I loved my kids and so I learned fast to cook cheap and well. I can easily afford to eat out now, but even with that choice, I found I loved to cook so much with my kids in the past, I continue to cook a lot now.
Whatever you love to eat or drink, focus on that. Make enough for the day, have containers in your car eg cannister of coffe or tea..use lots of spices for great tastes, stock up during sales.
Since I had 2 children at a young, age and was then poor, I had to cook almost always...I loved my kids and so I learned fast to cook cheap and well. I can easily afford to eat out now, but even with that choice, I found I loved to cook so much with my kids in the past, I continue to cook a lot now.
Whatever you love to eat or drink, focus on that. Make enough for the day, have containers in your car eg cannister of coffe or tea..use lots of spices for great tastes, stock up during sales.
I eat potatoes, rice and beans. Cook or prepare it yourself in bulk, use the left overs in sallads. Probably not optimal food but cheep and healthier then a lot of otherstufff.
there is a lot of truth to this video i love mexican market i use to live by. i swear produce was about 3 or 4 times cheaper than at corporate grocery stores. i also like to cook/grow my own food too.
some americans can't afford food. i recently became unemployed and realized this from waiting for food stamps for months now. i literally can't afford food and am relying on garbage food that i get from food pantries that groceries stores write off for $. id rather have rice and beans.
I love organic foods except that they are expensive.Places like Whole Foods have ridiculous prices, why? because they can get away with that and they do.People still hop there because the stores are pretty and have everything you need.But as they say " whole Foods takes your "whole paycheck".
I also watch the sales and use coupons. Bar-s turkey franks are less expensive and healthier than beef hot dogs. Ground beef is cheaper but its disgusting. A way to eat "heathlier" on a budget is to get canned vegetables as oppossed to fresh or frozen.
Ramens noodles are very inexpensive and only have 7 grams of fat per serving, only 26 carbs and 1 sugar. Switch over to whole wheat as opposed to white sure whole wheat is maybe 20 cents more expensive but it is worth it.
@InspiredMuse74 canned vegetables are not good for you because they put so much junk (perservatives)in the can to keep them edible.That's what causes toxins in your body.It's better the, to buy frozen.
the problem is how do you know what is healthy at a gocery store? I don't eat the fresh fruits or vegetables due to the chemicals that are sprayed when growing them. Pesticides can get into the food. I buy canned vegetables or frozen but how do I know it is not grown the same way?
I always buy store brands. I go to hyvee; there brand is much cheaper. I get turkey instead of beef. To eat organic or vegan it is more expensive. I can buy non organic bread that is whole wheat for a $1.50.
Jaffe Brothers is a great source for fresh refrigerated organic grains, beans, nuts, seeds. soaked Brown Rice that actually taste good, etc. etc. When you order 5 pound bags or more the savings add up.
the 5 better amino acid shots to take daily.. better quality flesh, organic beans, organic roots, organic nuts-seeds, organic true whole grains-millet. A table top plug in steamer, B&D, is extremely handy, sometimes $5 in thrift shops, will cook grains well for lunch. papaya trees flurish with fast payback in florida.
Thank you Lorax2013. A few days ago, I had the courage, from your videos, to finally become a vegetarian. You can save money by being a vegetarian. Meat is expensive.
@Miamiprops07 if you do some higher quality fresh-ish organic-ish beans, nuts-seeds, roots, and true whole grains shots in the day , these are super protein rich amino acid sources, then all you need is 2 to 6 ounces of meat that day.
What do you think about the lead and heavy metal poisoning that may be present from the imported foods in these ethnic markets. In March there was a story about lead poisoning of Boston area children who regularly consumed Indian spices. I want to add turmeric to my diet, but I'm concerned about the lead. It makes sense since India doesn't have any regulations against leaded gas and many of these spices are harvested in crowded areas where there is a lot of lead gas in the air.
@blackberryjuice1 worried about lead!?! well what is more likely dying of lead poisoning, or from the asbest from WTC 1+2+7? buy the herbs from eco shops or a very reliable researched source
@gtxprince not realy a joke:-) pdepending on ur situation. hold chickens or join a hunting club? both cheap bcause u use ur own labour. gota be ready for slaughtering though.
@lookingforthemeaning i dont like the idea of eating a dead raccoon of a hot highway strip lmao. but yeh if your eating you might as well know where its coming from. ill look into a hunting club.
@gtxprince Probably not. But just eat less. Grassfed and finished Angus meat from my NYC farmer's market is $8.50 a pound. However, even if I consume 1/3 lb a day, it's only $2.83 a serving. Make a burger out of it, and with all the other ingredients, it's still only slightly more expensive than fast food but definitely less expensive than a gourmet restaurant takeout (I live in NYC) which still won't serve you healthy grassfed and finished beef.
@blackberryjuice1 i was watching the documentary food inc. and it really turned me off of these store brand names. Also i only eat chicken, turkey and a little bit of pork. But that is some great advice being that i also live in NYC.
The best advise you have - and which I can relate to because of my background of being born and raised in India - is to COOK AT HOME. Period. It will cut the food bill by 60% straightaway. Come to think of it, groceries themselves do not cost that much, it is the processed, prepared foods, and restaurant fare that bites the pocket. In fact, we buy the so-called "best" produce (organic, local etc) and cook every single day at home.
it's very rare you have a video with someone talking just good decent sense, cheers mate i'll check your other videos. RE: finance/global, always knew - it's not like a natural organism is it? things don't just fluctuate and fall.
I started baking my own bread a few months ago, and there is such an obvious difference. Wal-Mart brand bread was what we were buying before, and if you actually smell a slice, it smells like chemicals. Totally unappetizing.
Unfortunately, the way I save money on my foods (currently) is by buying the cheapest and lowest quality food I could possibly get my hands on :( I know this goes against the message you're trying to get across in this video, but when you're in the low income bracket like I am it's kind of hard to get your hands on some healthy, wholesome and nutritionally packed food :( but in the near future I plan on starting an organic garden. so i can start eatinbg heathly :)
The most important thing about food is to store a lot, at least a year's worth. There will be a total economic collapse and most folks are not ready for it. Two of the best tools you can buy to ready yourself is to buy a dehydrator and a vacuum sealer. Food can last up to 30 years. There will be empty grocery shelves.
I have watched some of your videos with great interest. I have come to the conclusion that you know everything. There is nothing you don't know. You are all knowing and you are conveying that to us.
@nld1960 There are an enormous number of topics I know almost nothing about - pro sports, computer games, pop culture... If most people put half the effort into studying economics, health, or consciousness that they put into watching TV, they'd probably know more than me.
@lorax2013 Great vid's mate, love watching. i brought your book a about a year ago and harry brownes books too, its very interesting however i find some of it difficult to apply, any advice?
@lorax2013 And for all you women out there, don't ever date this guy, he will pretend he's such a nice decent guy, but instead he has a second agenda, he's very insecure as a man and he needs to mess up women's lives. His game will take just as long as you'll let him. This guy is seriously sick, stay away from him.
@lorax2013 that's all just stuff created by humans, used for employment, mass control, technique, knowledge. You on the other hand, talk about the basis behind all this. The MEANINGS of life. The creating itself, the thought behind, the idea put into motion.
@nld1960 This guy is a f... moron, he's acting like he's all that great, but this guy is not only a criminal, he's very sick too. He stole a lot of money using 10 creditcards, the banks and IRS are after him big time and now he's trying to sell his house which is under a trust cause he's getting scared. This guy is a criminal first class so don't think he's all so good, he may know how to invest on the market, but he plays an unfair game.
@crazyleg2006 I have a huge tolerance for depressing and pessimistic documentaries but I have to confess that I couldn't get through that one. The amount of self deluded willful self-destruction displayed by the subjects of that film was just depressing.
farmers markets,ethnic markets when they have sales and for m relationships with people they welcome the business,natural foods over named brand supermarkets healthy food is an investment..growing is another topc easier said than done still a good bet.
Many folks don't realize that 4 oz (to 6 oz) of boneless meat or fish is a serving. Going to a butcher or fish market and buying just what you need (instead of what the prepackaged stores want to sell to you), is actually economical. For meats with bones, figure at least 8 oz. I rarely freeze meat or fish - it loses too much quality. Frozen veg, on the other hand, are often a bargain - stock up at sales.
@MzProgressive people also buy the "reddest" beef they can find...buying brownish beef is usually cheaper and better because the beef has been 'aged"...and beef to be good really requires some fat..."marbling'used to be a sign of quality beef AMA got involved...
Farmers' Markets! Quality is always economical. Learning how to cook is not a long process if you know some simple rules: meat and fish will overcook and lose nutrients if exposed to temperatures of over 350 degrees F. for very long. I set my oven at 350 and place lightly buttered filets or small steaks (dressed w/soy sauce & choped garlic) in the broiler. Figure on 20 min per pound. Add a fresh steamed veg and a salad ~ and voila!
@MzProgressive Er, that's fish filets. Try wild caught salmon dressed with a classic Teriaki sauce: Fresh chopped garlic, powdered ginger and soy sauce - a quick sniff should tell you if one ingredient is overpowering the others, and adjust. Set your oven at 350 degrees and place it in the oven or broiler at that temp. People who normally wouldn't touch fish, tell me they love my salmon. Cooked over a wood charcoal fired Weber grill, (and covered), it's fabulous party food.
@MzProgressive you send me fresh salmon and ill send you vegetables! i wish we had salmon here...we have catfish, bluegill and bass...and some trout.....people should buy a 12 dollar fishing pole and try catching their own dinner occasionally.
I think we can easily see the consequences of people in this country not eating healthy reflected in their bodies. Its effect to mind is less visible. Today, I planted 4 green kales and 3 cherry tomatoes although I have to use pots because I live in a townhouse. One suggestion I have is using local farmer's markets as much as possible. Once you start buy fresh produces from farmer's markets, it is hard to go back to a super market unless I am forced to due to the end of growing season here.
@nocoincidence59 I totally agree with you on the Farmers Markets advice. Quality is always economical, in terms of flavor and nutrients, if not always, the price. Buying foods in season will always save dollars.
come take a look at my garden..i have about 100 dollars in what you see growing there. eating well is a matter of an hours work a day..if you arent willing to invest in your health your priorities need to be reevaluated
@nocoincidence59 Nunnelly is in tennessee about 50 miles west of nashville. Its only my 3rd garden...its not near as difficult as folks think.....ive had a great time learning how to grow my own food.
@MzProgressive the most expensive item in the garden was the potatoes...45 cents a pound for seed potatoes...and i bought 50 lbs...everything else was 3 packs for a dollar at the dollar store...except for the sweet potatoes...18 plants for 12 dollars and okra...10 dollars....there are 4 of us..and i have 4 sisters and two brothers and my parents live nearby too...
Wow. That was pretty informative. My grocery bill is always ridiculously high because I shop at those chain supermarkets, and their markup on organic foods and produce is crazy. Usually I just suffer and pay because I'm afraid of consuming the meat here. I'm definitely going to attempt growing herbs and veggies. Thanks!
@Jenna83184 If you shop the chains, only visit the departments on the "outer walls" of the market - fresh fruits and veg, dairy, meats. Seasonal items will always cost less, and taste better. Avoid going up and down the aisles where you will find "prepared" foods designed for profit over nutrition. Find a Whole Foods Market for grass fed or grass finished beef, and wonderfully fresh fish. Shop the chains for your cheaper staples.
I suspect a large factor in people falsely believing eating healthy is too expensive is the fact that the majority of what they are currently eating contains added fructose (HFCS) which blocks the satiety signal to the brain. They're eating much more than they actually need which is skewing their perception of cost.
Real meat is the only thing that can be a problem to acquire inexpensively given the limited supply and federally distorted market, but buying in bulk and co-op purchasing helps.
Note that all prices given below are not in actual dollars but rather in Federal Reserve Notes, i.e. Federal Reserve promises to pay dollars. It's not likely that the Federal Reserve will actually ever make good on its promise to pay dollars to the bearer of these debt instruments so they naturally trade at a steep discount to their face value. Currently one real dollar can be traded for almost fourteen dollars face value of Federal Reserve Notes. FYI a dollar is 371.25 grains of fine silver.
Parts of other food plants can also be saved, recently I have planted celery parts that I saved, as well as bok choy and I even took part of the bottom of a romaine lettuce and planted it and I noticed recently that it is growing well in the little 2 inch pot I planted it in. I have found that it's also really easy to start lettuce from seeds and they grow super fast. It really is possible to feed two people 100% organic food for a very reasonable price if you know how to shop and be smart.
Yet another great idea is to save parts of certain plants for your garden. For example I save onion sets by eating the layers of onion one by one and then I plant the sets in the center in my garden and voila fresh green onions to add to my salads and hash browns. You can do the same with garlic although it is a little more difficult to peal a garlic clove to save the baby inside it can be done and if planted it will grow and produce spring garlic which is also great for salads.
Another great way to save money is to buy in bulk. I bought a lot of organic food in bulk (flour, rice, pinto beans, black beans popcorn, split peas, lentils, millet, rolled outs, rye etc.) just before the big food price increase in the summer of 2007 for less than $1 per pound in most cases and I still have most of it and it is still good for emergencies and/or everyday eating, Some items can still be had at or near $1/lb, for example I bought 25 lbs of organic pinto beans recently.
I totally agree with you that it is a myth that you can't afford to eat healthy food. I challenge anyone who actually believes that to keep track of how much you pay per pound for the food you eat now. I would guess that most people are paying much more than they realize for food on a per pound basis because most people go to restaurants and/or eat packaged foods frequently. The fact is that if you are willing to eat simply you can afford healthy food, I only eat organic and I am very poor.
@gnayler I got such a kick out of people saying that organic is expensive when I made the switch that I began to wonder how much they spend on food. I would ask them how much they spend on food a month. None of them really knew. One female coworker (age 35) said "$100 a month" So I asked her how often she ate out. She said "5 times a week" LOL, I remember her complaining that she doesn't know where all her money goes.
Yet another way I save money is by brewing my own kombucha at home. Organic Kombucha sells for $3+/pint and I make it for literally pennies per gallon. I haven't calculated exactly what it costs but one tea bag and a cup of sugar are the only inputs I have to purchase for one gallon of kombucha so it's safe to say that with organic fair trade sugar costing only $1.05/lb that it costs me significantly less than $1 per gallon which is at least 20 times less than it costs in the store.
Another way that I save money is by participating in a CSA program. My mother has a share at a local organic CSA which provides a big box of fresh produce every week for reasonable cost, and the best part is that I can go harvest basically as much extra greens (cilantro, chives, kale, sorrel, rosemary, thyme, lemon balm, sage etc.) as we can eat. I pick several huge bags full of greens every week so that I can make multiple salads daily to feed myself and my fiance.
I save money on my grocery bill while eating healthier by buying directly from the producer items which they have a hard time selling to other people. For example tomorrow I will be picking up 50 lbs of organic potato seconds for $0.50 per lb or $25 for a big giant box of potatoes that will last at least 2 weeks if I ate potatoes for every meal for me and my Fiance. To cook the potatoes I go directly to a local organic meat shop and purchase back fat for $0.98/lb which I render it into lard.
@gnayler cooking is a snap I simply shred the potatoes with a cheese grater, heat up some lard in an iron pan on my woodstove or my barbecue (which I fire with coals I harvest from the woodstove as well as apple wood pruned from my trees), and drop the shredded potato into the pan and that makes for some tasty healthy homemade organic hash browns. And the cooking time is very short once the pan is heated it can cook very fast.
@gnayler I also cut out the eyes from the potatoes (and I get all the best varieties like purple, red, butterball etc.) for planting in my garden. Potatoes are easy to grow as far as I can tell. The ones I planted this year appear to be doing quite well.
@gnayler Where do you buy lard? In the northeast, it's practically non-existent. But I suppose some nice no-nitrates bacon fat would do? Sounds yummy!
Sounds like you might've read Pollan's books... Great video, Loren. Starting a garden this year. Hoping the initial investment of lumber (doing raised beds) and plants (still have much to learn about sprouting) pays off... Would estimate the investment at 200 bucks at this point. (If food prices go way up this could pay off a hundred fold.)
My wife is big on getting only organic foods. It makes things more expensive. I will say that eating grass fed beef is so much better.
If you want to save money on meats, buy a good size chest freezer and then buy a quarter cow from a farmer. You can do this with chicken and pork, too. Having several months of meat in your freezer feels really good.
We're saving by moving out of the urban areas and into a rural zone, learning about permaculture, cob building, natural health and hygiene as well as doing away with technology that's not crucial. We figured having land, a mortgage-free home, fresh free food, free spring water and solar power later on, was by far the best way to save and live to the fullest.
If you have some dirt, having a garden is grand! My family's been growing lettuce and tomatoes for years. It tastes the best right out of the garden, and it's cheaper too!
1) Plan ahead - when you write down 3-4 days ahead what you're going to prepare for dinner, you avoid buying something you don't necessarily need.
2) Cut the meat out of your diet. - It takes creativity at first, but you'll get the hang of it after a while. I personally eat meat occasionally, but it doesn't feel like being robbed when paying a little extra on greener piece of meat. It's still cheaper than eating industrialized meat every day.
@neanam But who would WANT to! Yech! I have avoided "factory" hamburgers since the Mad Cow scare ... you can't throw 250 beef cows in one hopper and expect to not have one that isn't healthy. Also, premade patties are often "filled" with soy (read: GMO soy), and other additives. No thanks!
Parboiled rice is perhaps the cheapest nutrition per calorie there is.
I have three eggs for breakfast with grape juice, and consume a half liter of soy milk for lunch. Only takes 60 seconds to drink, so I dont even have to sit down.
You forgot a big one: go to your store on foot or bike. It saves on gas, you can't take too much useless junk food back with you, it's easier to profit from the special offer of the day AND you get needed exercise and prepare your body for the next round of food.
We have our own grain mill, and mill the wheat as we need the flour.
Buy your wheat by the 25lb sack. Big savings.
instead of soda, drink mint tea,or a blend of mint, chamomile, and yarrow tea.
The only cost is the dirt, water, and seeds, or tap a birch tree for its sap in the spring, it is sweet and taste like a birch smells.
Look for ways to buy in bulk and make many meals. We save the carcass of our salmon after the fillets come off to make salmon soup stock for a second meal of chowder.
@ursushoribilisron I would love to know where you buy that wheat! Also - would you give us your recipe for Birch Beer???? (I was crazy for it as a kid! And my Grandpa used to buy it from a supplier that made it naturally ... it was clear!)
I saved money on my grocery bill by moving to Argentina!! But then again inflation is pretty intense down here, so I'm not too sure where things stand. Mom and pop veggie stands are great down here. when I was in Houston I shopped at the Farmer's Market and got great produce prices. Just moving away from meat toward veggies helps cut costs dramatically.
You are right Loren, in order to eat healthy and not expensive one should learn to prepare the meal. Or perhaps one shouldn't be lazy and prepare the meal ;)
Try to plan the menu for the whole week, then go to shop only for items you will need.
I'm thinking of making how to videos on exactly that. I've been living on unemployment for over a year now, and I've learned how to cook whole foods from scratch, buy in bulk and garden. I've also lost weight.
Some of my favorite cheap, healthy and delicious meals:
BREAKFAST; Oatmeal and raisins; with one egg and dash of hot sauce.
LUNCH: PB&J, with a chunk of cheddar cheese and a apple or banana.
DINNER1: Small portion of broiled western style pork ribs prepared Thai meat salad style; with broiled vegetables such as carrots, beets, onion, potato with sauce of drizzled olive oil, apple cider vinegar, salt and herbs,
DINNER2: Fish soup from wild salmon fish heads from butcher.
@MrMoodang a friend of mine here was showing me a similar breakfast - raw oats mixed with shredded apple and a bit of hot milk and sugar or honey to taste. Really easy and quite filling.
You can look for deals on seasonal and perishable items such as fruits, vegetables, and meats. If there is an over supply or a danger of items going bad then stores often lower the prices significantly to get them off the shelves. For example, let the stir-fry you plan to make depend on whatever fire sale meats and vegetables are available.
Also, even storable foods go on huge sales at times. For example, two or three times every year my favorite cereal is 2 for 1.
Humm, you have done really good videos in the past, however this is not one of them ! The reason ppl go to get food at higher prices is because everything is under one roof which is a major advantage even if it costs more, it's a massive time saver and time = money. " Secondly, growing your own food is not economical for the time that it takes to got and dig the stuff out of the ground takes more than it's worth in advanced countries. Until a paradigm shift in the west this will continue !
@lasercat10cc Even though two different supermarkets have the same item, they can be cheaper in one store compared to another, and vice-versa. You may save time by buying everything in one shop but you are working to make the money which is time - also if you have a few stores within walking distance it won't take that much longer to do this.
@lasercat10cc@lasercat10cc Wow, you totally missed the point, huh? It's not about the economy of time , it's about maintaining a good diet. Who says nutrition has to be easy? American's are lazy as hell. So lazy in fact that we're being poisoned to death with processed foods and the reasoning is, Oh, well, it's a huge time saver, and ummm, yea, it's economical...poison is not so bad if it shaves a few minutes off my day" What a lame argument. Why the hell is everybody in such a hurry????
Thank you for bringing this up. People forget the local farmers and are so conditioned to purchasing all their items at the local supermarkets and Walmarts. There are some Local Harvest/ Farmers Markets that will actually provide vegetables and fruit at great discounts and also do co-op programs so you can get your produce for free. Some of them will deliver them to you on a bi-weekly plan.
The more nutrient dense your food is the less you need to eat. I know that after decades of eating empty calories that the cheap stuff doesn't satisfy your hunger and you keep going back for more. Cheap is not cheap when you need twice as much just to keep your stomach occupied or distracted. Also reconsider what constitutes a meal for example 5-8 organic apples can be breakfast on the go for about $3.00 for a bag of 10 organic apples. Same for a lot of fruit.
Food shouldn't be cheap, in the 80's people spent 20% of their income on food, today's it's about 10% but they are buying cheap junk. So true about gardening, most of the cost of gardening is upfront the 1st year and really cheap after that. Certain herbs, vegetables & fruits are so easy to grow that it's ridiculous. I love mint for contained areas. Tomatoes in a self watering container are so low maintenance.
@malangsob 40%, he/she didn't state income, whether is was before or after taxes or whether he/she buys cheap food or organic nutrient dense food. My parents will spend $600 a month on mediocre food but it's only 10% of their gross pay and they eat out a lot and they will throw at least 25% of it away. They spend more on medication. They are a walking advertisement that what the average American considers healthy food will only have you paying more on meds.
@Phyle9 The average American, yes, but I'm not in that income bracket. I spend about 25 to 35% of my income after taxes on food, but organic nutrient dense food is not cheap. Cheap food was never cheap because it was so deficit in nutrition I just ate double. Cheap food is subsidized by the federal govt (corn, wheat & soy), the cheapest food for the calories is the dollar menu at fast food chains (see Nickel & Dimed book).
beef is great for us. My question is does it matter what cut. I typically always get ground beef because its cheaper then steak. But if its much more beneficial for steak id consider upgrading. Keep in mind I like fat in my diet so it doesn't matter how lean one is
@ExplicitContent81 The fat is not the problem but the way the animals are raised. Apart from ethical issues, do animals need growth hormones or eat things not in their natural diet? Go with grass fed beef.
@NaomiClareNL You didnt read my question at all, I know organic grass (finished) beef is the best, grass fed is the next best and fat is very good. and no anti biotics or hormones, obviously.
My question was is there any benefits to steak over ground beef???
@ExplicitContent81 I've worked in a meat department so I roughly understand the concept of fat... ground beef actually LACKS a significant amount of benefits, because for one, particularly ground *chuck* (normally fattier chunks of meat, commonly the cut of meat "chuck" which is arguably one of the fattier cuts) - if you want leaner, go with ground round (or 90%).
That being said, ground chuck needs to be well-cooked to at least a brown/pink center. Steak, if it's fresh, might do well at rare.
@ExplicitContent81 Also, while the fat is necessary in your diet and should just be cooked with a steak, keep it in moderation. Round steaks, in general, lack most of the benefits a sirloin steak has, and while tenderloin (filet mignon) may be delicious, it's overly expensive and probably should only be bought as a whole.
Burger shouldn't really be cooked to rare because ground chuck is mixed with other cuts of meat that have been exposed to the air, meaning more bacteria hazards.
@ExplicitContent81 Ground chuck is difficult to know (and ground round as well) because several cuts of meat are mixed to create the beef itself. It gets nutrients notably from sirloin/chuck cuts (which is, to my belief, the most nutrients and vitamins as well as protein in general) vs ground round which gets its nutrients and vitamins from round cuts and leaner cuts in general, meaning less benefits.
Keep in mind, you need to cook burger... so vitamins + benefits get cooked away usually.
@ExplicitContent81 Actually, fully grass fed is the "best" and grass finished next best - if you're looking at health benefits over fat content. My local supermarket gets grass fed Australian beef every few weeks, and at their price, I do stock up. Paying what amounts to $4 a pound for Filet Mignon (a whole tenderloin) is worth freezing some, which I normally wouldn't do - but hey, it's hard to wreck filet mignon! :)
When I was a student, I signed up for the college's food bank. Once every two weeks, I was entitled to a reusable bag worth of non-perishable food items and toiletries. for FREE!
TshaFromTWest 1 month ago
Great advice, thanks! It's a shame how eating Healthy & Cheap are almost an oxymoron with the prices we pay.
eastcoastbiker1 1 month ago
"Extreme couponing". I dumpster Sunday coupons from recycling bins, sort the pages into stacks, cut 5-10 of the same coupon at a time and organize them in a binder. I bring the binder to the store and when I see a good sale price on an item I use, I look for a coupon. When I get a good price, I buy as many as I can. I log prices & weight/volume in a spreadsheet to determine the lowest price paid. I'm getting below wholesale prices, inflation hedging and am prepared for emergencies/shortages.
tcorourke2007 1 month ago
First we stopped watching TV - mainly the news.
We have a monitor for Netflix documentaries that will educate and inform.
Next, we went vegetarian.
Then we started composting to add to our soil, because next, we started
growing our food. We live in urban Oakland and have a yard the size of a postage stamp. But like you said - that's all you need. And even if I didn't have this backyard, the house next door is abandoned -so there's no excuse to not plant! Now, we heal...
Thanks again
anamariavideo 8 months ago
this guy is pretty smart
sxyTuXeDoZ 8 months ago 2
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If only it were this simple! I work from home and actually do make good money but I work hard. If anyone is interested in a REAL opportunity to make good money by working hard then join my team! Just email me: foster_236@hotmail.com or skype me for a chat on: anthony62155.
foster2367 9 months ago
All this is very good, but nothing beats growing it. Growing it is so rewarding, and if you invest what you would for a movie for 4 in a dehydrator, you can store years worth of food.
Commecial processing is not good for anyone, and if the model of "charging what the market will bear" as opposed to charging a small margin over the "actual cost to create" doesn't convince you, the preservatives should.
pjamesbda 9 months ago
@pjamesbda Totally agree...jarring and pickling produce is also a good way to preserve food. The commercial food industry is killing us slowly, making healthy living nearly impossible and really pumping up the pharmaceutical industry (which also seems to pump itself up via side effects). We live longer, but, certainly not without a certain amount of suffering and pain. Call me crazy, but, I go without subjecting myself to the medical industry as much as possible.
consciousnesswarrior 8 months ago
@consciousnesswarrior- I am sprouting, which gives new meaning to seed stores. Seeds store for years. No one can garden seriously without learning to compost.
Composting is the foundation of growing food. I'm going to build a composter right away. Your observation about the medical field is spot on. I want to die in my garden, and be buried there too. My wife thinks that's a good idea...like right now.lol.
Like everything else, we give them too much power. But we do it with consent.
pjamesbda 8 months ago
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saved over 50% on my grocery bill... by switching to geico :)
merkywave 9 months ago
Lovelly, true and clever advice!
Totally agree with this!
xxx
amigarute 9 months ago
I am from Hamburg and I can tell everyone from my region that his tipps are right here too. For people from Hamburg: the best way to shop food cheaply in ethnic stores (especially vegetables and fruits) go to the steindamm where you will find not only sex shops but also a lot of cheap warm kitchens and grocerie stores of oriental ownership. Salaam alaikum :D
KuanYuh 10 months ago
Overipe or bruised fruit is a lot cheaper. Throw it in the blender and you won't know the difference. Actually, overipe fruit makes a sweeter smoothie!
dong2phat4u 1 year ago
You are truly inspiring; this is my personal opinion; i can hardly wait for your next video. Be safe, take care and carry on!
Pimpsme 1 year ago
i saved over 50% on my grocery bill... by switching to geico :)
ShinTetsuo 1 year ago 2
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Since I had 2 children at a young age and was then poor, I had to cook almost always...I loved my kids and so I learned fast to cook cheap and well. I can easily afford to eat out now, but even with that choice, I found I loved to cook so much with my kids in the past, I continue to cook a lot now.
Whatever you love to eat or drink, focus on that. Make enough for the day, have containers in your car eg cannister of coffe or tea..use lots of spices for great tastes, stock up during sales.
Greanwitch 1 year ago
Since I had 2 children at a young, age and was then poor, I had to cook almost always...I loved my kids and so I learned fast to cook cheap and well. I can easily afford to eat out now, but even with that choice, I found I loved to cook so much with my kids in the past, I continue to cook a lot now.
Whatever you love to eat or drink, focus on that. Make enough for the day, have containers in your car eg cannister of coffe or tea..use lots of spices for great tastes, stock up during sales.
Greanwitch 1 year ago
Start your own herb & vegetable garden, even in containers if you dont have the room ;)
bluesdog88 1 year ago
Buy a book about food foraging, plants, nuts, berries, seaweeds
BambiXmas 1 year ago
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raw food diet is the solution ;))
Zalousteek 1 year ago
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raw food diet is the solution ;))
Zalousteek 1 year ago
raw food diet is the solution ;))
Zalousteek 1 year ago
You seem uncomfortable at times..but other than that, I really like your videos and your eyes. (:
heluvspringnsd 1 year ago
I eat potatoes, rice and beans. Cook or prepare it yourself in bulk, use the left overs in sallads. Probably not optimal food but cheep and healthier then a lot of otherstufff.
typeclash 1 year ago
there is a lot of truth to this video i love mexican market i use to live by. i swear produce was about 3 or 4 times cheaper than at corporate grocery stores. i also like to cook/grow my own food too.
some americans can't afford food. i recently became unemployed and realized this from waiting for food stamps for months now. i literally can't afford food and am relying on garbage food that i get from food pantries that groceries stores write off for $. id rather have rice and beans.
truthisouttheir 1 year ago
i want to have sex with you.Send me your adress in a mail...Please
Hunting4TheLight 1 year ago
I love organic foods except that they are expensive.Places like Whole Foods have ridiculous prices, why? because they can get away with that and they do.People still hop there because the stores are pretty and have everything you need.But as they say " whole Foods takes your "whole paycheck".
belindabell2 1 year ago
I also watch the sales and use coupons. Bar-s turkey franks are less expensive and healthier than beef hot dogs. Ground beef is cheaper but its disgusting. A way to eat "heathlier" on a budget is to get canned vegetables as oppossed to fresh or frozen.
Ramens noodles are very inexpensive and only have 7 grams of fat per serving, only 26 carbs and 1 sugar. Switch over to whole wheat as opposed to white sure whole wheat is maybe 20 cents more expensive but it is worth it.
InspiredMuse74 1 year ago
@InspiredMuse74 canned vegetables are not good for you because they put so much junk (perservatives)in the can to keep them edible.That's what causes toxins in your body.It's better the, to buy frozen.
belindabell2 1 year ago
the problem is how do you know what is healthy at a gocery store? I don't eat the fresh fruits or vegetables due to the chemicals that are sprayed when growing them. Pesticides can get into the food. I buy canned vegetables or frozen but how do I know it is not grown the same way?
I always buy store brands. I go to hyvee; there brand is much cheaper. I get turkey instead of beef. To eat organic or vegan it is more expensive. I can buy non organic bread that is whole wheat for a $1.50.
InspiredMuse74 1 year ago
Your video topics are fantastic thanks for taking the time to film and upload
history546 1 year ago
Jaffe Brothers is a great source for fresh refrigerated organic grains, beans, nuts, seeds. soaked Brown Rice that actually taste good, etc. etc. When you order 5 pound bags or more the savings add up.
borisbmx 1 year ago
the 5 better amino acid shots to take daily.. better quality flesh, organic beans, organic roots, organic nuts-seeds, organic true whole grains-millet. A table top plug in steamer, B&D, is extremely handy, sometimes $5 in thrift shops, will cook grains well for lunch. papaya trees flurish with fast payback in florida.
intuitiveworker 1 year ago
Thank you Lorax2013. A few days ago, I had the courage, from your videos, to finally become a vegetarian. You can save money by being a vegetarian. Meat is expensive.
Miamiprops07 1 year ago
@Miamiprops07 if you do some higher quality fresh-ish organic-ish beans, nuts-seeds, roots, and true whole grains shots in the day , these are super protein rich amino acid sources, then all you need is 2 to 6 ounces of meat that day.
intuitiveworker 1 year ago
What do you think about the lead and heavy metal poisoning that may be present from the imported foods in these ethnic markets. In March there was a story about lead poisoning of Boston area children who regularly consumed Indian spices. I want to add turmeric to my diet, but I'm concerned about the lead. It makes sense since India doesn't have any regulations against leaded gas and many of these spices are harvested in crowded areas where there is a lot of lead gas in the air.
blackberryjuice1 1 year ago
@blackberryjuice1 worried about lead!?! well what is more likely dying of lead poisoning, or from the asbest from WTC 1+2+7? buy the herbs from eco shops or a very reliable researched source
lookingforthemeaning 1 year ago
@lookingforthemeaning There is no more dust lingering in the air from 9/11/2001
blackberryjuice1 1 year ago
is there anyway to eat organic meat for cheap?
gtxprince 1 year ago
@gtxprince roadkill :-)
lookingforthemeaning 1 year ago
@lookingforthemeaning why didnt i think of that before xD
gtxprince 1 year ago
@gtxprince not realy a joke:-) pdepending on ur situation. hold chickens or join a hunting club? both cheap bcause u use ur own labour. gota be ready for slaughtering though.
lookingforthemeaning 1 year ago
@lookingforthemeaning i dont like the idea of eating a dead raccoon of a hot highway strip lmao. but yeh if your eating you might as well know where its coming from. ill look into a hunting club.
gtxprince 1 year ago
@gtxprince Probably not. But just eat less. Grassfed and finished Angus meat from my NYC farmer's market is $8.50 a pound. However, even if I consume 1/3 lb a day, it's only $2.83 a serving. Make a burger out of it, and with all the other ingredients, it's still only slightly more expensive than fast food but definitely less expensive than a gourmet restaurant takeout (I live in NYC) which still won't serve you healthy grassfed and finished beef.
blackberryjuice1 1 year ago
@blackberryjuice1 i was watching the documentary food inc. and it really turned me off of these store brand names. Also i only eat chicken, turkey and a little bit of pork. But that is some great advice being that i also live in NYC.
gtxprince 1 year ago
The best advise you have - and which I can relate to because of my background of being born and raised in India - is to COOK AT HOME. Period. It will cut the food bill by 60% straightaway. Come to think of it, groceries themselves do not cost that much, it is the processed, prepared foods, and restaurant fare that bites the pocket. In fact, we buy the so-called "best" produce (organic, local etc) and cook every single day at home.
AlanKarMom 1 year ago
it's very rare you have a video with someone talking just good decent sense, cheers mate i'll check your other videos. RE: finance/global, always knew - it's not like a natural organism is it? things don't just fluctuate and fall.
JDurden33 1 year ago
Yawn,,, oh yeah gimmee fries with that.
Americans are just too lazy PERIOD.
We are so fat its comical/sad/insane
Thanks for trying.
cpgone 1 year ago
I am a vegetarian and I go to trader Joe's once a week and I spend about $80.00 a week and that includes several bottles of wine.
TadRapidly 1 year ago
Farmer's markets and fruit stands they sell fresh fruits for 50% less than grocery stores
niggaflies 1 year ago
farmers markets!
SensoryOssuary 1 year ago
I networked with some head hunting cannibals many years ago. I went for years without paying for fresh meat. LOL
MicrosoftsourceCode 1 year ago
I started baking my own bread a few months ago, and there is such an obvious difference. Wal-Mart brand bread was what we were buying before, and if you actually smell a slice, it smells like chemicals. Totally unappetizing.
spiralmewtrix 1 year ago
thank you for your videos hermano
postmarvi 1 year ago
Unfortunately, the way I save money on my foods (currently) is by buying the cheapest and lowest quality food I could possibly get my hands on :( I know this goes against the message you're trying to get across in this video, but when you're in the low income bracket like I am it's kind of hard to get your hands on some healthy, wholesome and nutritionally packed food :( but in the near future I plan on starting an organic garden. so i can start eatinbg heathly :)
shadowgames824 1 year ago
The most important thing about food is to store a lot, at least a year's worth. There will be a total economic collapse and most folks are not ready for it. Two of the best tools you can buy to ready yourself is to buy a dehydrator and a vacuum sealer. Food can last up to 30 years. There will be empty grocery shelves.
nld1960 1 year ago
I have watched some of your videos with great interest. I have come to the conclusion that you know everything. There is nothing you don't know. You are all knowing and you are conveying that to us.
nld1960 1 year ago 11
@nld1960 There are an enormous number of topics I know almost nothing about - pro sports, computer games, pop culture... If most people put half the effort into studying economics, health, or consciousness that they put into watching TV, they'd probably know more than me.
lorax2013 1 year ago 35
@lorax2013 You are right about that. I quit watching TV about a year ago and get all my info from people like you. Great tool.
There will be a collapse soon, debt just over 13 trillion, 90% to GDP, by years end 100%.
By the way, Lorax, are you familiar with the bible at all?
nld1960 1 year ago
@lorax2013 Great vid's mate, love watching. i brought your book a about a year ago and harry brownes books too, its very interesting however i find some of it difficult to apply, any advice?
58jtaylor 1 year ago
@lorax2013 True, it's all about time invested.
Isabels100day 1 year ago
@lorax2013
it's true. It's weird but it's almost as if we have enslaved ourselves.
screw aliens you know lol(joking)
we are our own worst enemies.
Themexicanguanorat 1 year ago
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@lorax2013 And for all you women out there, don't ever date this guy, he will pretend he's such a nice decent guy, but instead he has a second agenda, he's very insecure as a man and he needs to mess up women's lives. His game will take just as long as you'll let him. This guy is seriously sick, stay away from him.
DutchGirl13131313 10 months ago
@lorax2013 that's all just stuff created by humans, used for employment, mass control, technique, knowledge. You on the other hand, talk about the basis behind all this. The MEANINGS of life. The creating itself, the thought behind, the idea put into motion.
zugarpies 3 months ago
@lorax2013 Well said
laoshu505000 1 month ago
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@nld1960 This guy is a f... moron, he's acting like he's all that great, but this guy is not only a criminal, he's very sick too. He stole a lot of money using 10 creditcards, the banks and IRS are after him big time and now he's trying to sell his house which is under a trust cause he's getting scared. This guy is a criminal first class so don't think he's all so good, he may know how to invest on the market, but he plays an unfair game.
DutchGirl13131313 10 months ago
The farmers market is the best way in my city to save money on produce. Thanks for the tip on Arugula!
whatabouttrish 1 year ago
Lorax: Have you seen "Killer At Large" yet? Its a very good documentary about our messed up food supply and fast food chains.
crazyleg2006 1 year ago
@crazyleg2006 I have a huge tolerance for depressing and pessimistic documentaries but I have to confess that I couldn't get through that one. The amount of self deluded willful self-destruction displayed by the subjects of that film was just depressing.
drmodestoesq 1 year ago
farmers markets,ethnic markets when they have sales and for m relationships with people they welcome the business,natural foods over named brand supermarkets healthy food is an investment..growing is another topc easier said than done still a good bet.
brightlightbabe 1 year ago
recycle ,eat poo
ramjam25 1 year ago
Lorax, you're an environmental engineer or something, aren't you? Please weigh in on the oil spill. Is this the end of the world?
zufelt2 1 year ago
@lorax2013 thanks for approving my response vid!
centervilletn 1 year ago
Many folks don't realize that 4 oz (to 6 oz) of boneless meat or fish is a serving. Going to a butcher or fish market and buying just what you need (instead of what the prepackaged stores want to sell to you), is actually economical. For meats with bones, figure at least 8 oz. I rarely freeze meat or fish - it loses too much quality. Frozen veg, on the other hand, are often a bargain - stock up at sales.
MzProgressive 1 year ago
@MzProgressive people also buy the "reddest" beef they can find...buying brownish beef is usually cheaper and better because the beef has been 'aged"...and beef to be good really requires some fat..."marbling'used to be a sign of quality beef AMA got involved...
centervilletn 1 year ago
Farmers' Markets! Quality is always economical. Learning how to cook is not a long process if you know some simple rules: meat and fish will overcook and lose nutrients if exposed to temperatures of over 350 degrees F. for very long. I set my oven at 350 and place lightly buttered filets or small steaks (dressed w/soy sauce & choped garlic) in the broiler. Figure on 20 min per pound. Add a fresh steamed veg and a salad ~ and voila!
MzProgressive 1 year ago
@MzProgressive Er, that's fish filets. Try wild caught salmon dressed with a classic Teriaki sauce: Fresh chopped garlic, powdered ginger and soy sauce - a quick sniff should tell you if one ingredient is overpowering the others, and adjust. Set your oven at 350 degrees and place it in the oven or broiler at that temp. People who normally wouldn't touch fish, tell me they love my salmon. Cooked over a wood charcoal fired Weber grill, (and covered), it's fabulous party food.
MzProgressive 1 year ago
@MzProgressive you send me fresh salmon and ill send you vegetables! i wish we had salmon here...we have catfish, bluegill and bass...and some trout.....people should buy a 12 dollar fishing pole and try catching their own dinner occasionally.
centervilletn 1 year ago
Great vid- accurate statement about ethnic markets- I'm going to try that.
briansmobile1 1 year ago
cooking excellent food only needs 3 things
1) get good highquality recipies
2) stick to the recpie (dont experiment)
3) buy meat on in shops where a whole bunch of people buy the meat ( thats the only place its going to be really fresh) :)
CoNiLa2 1 year ago
I think we can easily see the consequences of people in this country not eating healthy reflected in their bodies. Its effect to mind is less visible. Today, I planted 4 green kales and 3 cherry tomatoes although I have to use pots because I live in a townhouse. One suggestion I have is using local farmer's markets as much as possible. Once you start buy fresh produces from farmer's markets, it is hard to go back to a super market unless I am forced to due to the end of growing season here.
nocoincidence59 1 year ago
@nocoincidence59 I totally agree with you on the Farmers Markets advice. Quality is always economical, in terms of flavor and nutrients, if not always, the price. Buying foods in season will always save dollars.
MzProgressive 1 year ago
come take a look at my garden..i have about 100 dollars in what you see growing there. eating well is a matter of an hours work a day..if you arent willing to invest in your health your priorities need to be reevaluated
centervilletn 1 year ago
@centervilletn Your vegetable garden is impressive!!! Is Nunnelly in TN? It is wonderful that you have a plot of land to do all these.
nocoincidence59 1 year ago
@nocoincidence59 Nunnelly is in tennessee about 50 miles west of nashville. Its only my 3rd garden...its not near as difficult as folks think.....ive had a great time learning how to grow my own food.
centervilletn 1 year ago
@centervilletn Your garden cost $100 because it's HUGE!!! How many families are you feeding with that? 3-4? LOL!
MzProgressive 1 year ago
@MzProgressive the most expensive item in the garden was the potatoes...45 cents a pound for seed potatoes...and i bought 50 lbs...everything else was 3 packs for a dollar at the dollar store...except for the sweet potatoes...18 plants for 12 dollars and okra...10 dollars....there are 4 of us..and i have 4 sisters and two brothers and my parents live nearby too...
centervilletn 1 year ago
Wow. That was pretty informative. My grocery bill is always ridiculously high because I shop at those chain supermarkets, and their markup on organic foods and produce is crazy. Usually I just suffer and pay because I'm afraid of consuming the meat here. I'm definitely going to attempt growing herbs and veggies. Thanks!
Jenna83184 1 year ago
@Jenna83184 If you shop the chains, only visit the departments on the "outer walls" of the market - fresh fruits and veg, dairy, meats. Seasonal items will always cost less, and taste better. Avoid going up and down the aisles where you will find "prepared" foods designed for profit over nutrition. Find a Whole Foods Market for grass fed or grass finished beef, and wonderfully fresh fish. Shop the chains for your cheaper staples.
MzProgressive 1 year ago
@MzProgressive thanks
Jenna83184 1 year ago
Great video, thanks for sharing :)
FreeUpYourMind 1 year ago
I suspect a large factor in people falsely believing eating healthy is too expensive is the fact that the majority of what they are currently eating contains added fructose (HFCS) which blocks the satiety signal to the brain. They're eating much more than they actually need which is skewing their perception of cost.
Real meat is the only thing that can be a problem to acquire inexpensively given the limited supply and federally distorted market, but buying in bulk and co-op purchasing helps.
theapc816 1 year ago
Note that all prices given below are not in actual dollars but rather in Federal Reserve Notes, i.e. Federal Reserve promises to pay dollars. It's not likely that the Federal Reserve will actually ever make good on its promise to pay dollars to the bearer of these debt instruments so they naturally trade at a steep discount to their face value. Currently one real dollar can be traded for almost fourteen dollars face value of Federal Reserve Notes. FYI a dollar is 371.25 grains of fine silver.
gnayler 1 year ago
Parts of other food plants can also be saved, recently I have planted celery parts that I saved, as well as bok choy and I even took part of the bottom of a romaine lettuce and planted it and I noticed recently that it is growing well in the little 2 inch pot I planted it in. I have found that it's also really easy to start lettuce from seeds and they grow super fast. It really is possible to feed two people 100% organic food for a very reasonable price if you know how to shop and be smart.
gnayler 1 year ago
Yet another great idea is to save parts of certain plants for your garden. For example I save onion sets by eating the layers of onion one by one and then I plant the sets in the center in my garden and voila fresh green onions to add to my salads and hash browns. You can do the same with garlic although it is a little more difficult to peal a garlic clove to save the baby inside it can be done and if planted it will grow and produce spring garlic which is also great for salads.
gnayler 1 year ago
Another great way to save money is to buy in bulk. I bought a lot of organic food in bulk (flour, rice, pinto beans, black beans popcorn, split peas, lentils, millet, rolled outs, rye etc.) just before the big food price increase in the summer of 2007 for less than $1 per pound in most cases and I still have most of it and it is still good for emergencies and/or everyday eating, Some items can still be had at or near $1/lb, for example I bought 25 lbs of organic pinto beans recently.
gnayler 1 year ago
I totally agree with you that it is a myth that you can't afford to eat healthy food. I challenge anyone who actually believes that to keep track of how much you pay per pound for the food you eat now. I would guess that most people are paying much more than they realize for food on a per pound basis because most people go to restaurants and/or eat packaged foods frequently. The fact is that if you are willing to eat simply you can afford healthy food, I only eat organic and I am very poor.
gnayler 1 year ago
@gnayler I got such a kick out of people saying that organic is expensive when I made the switch that I began to wonder how much they spend on food. I would ask them how much they spend on food a month. None of them really knew. One female coworker (age 35) said "$100 a month" So I asked her how often she ate out. She said "5 times a week" LOL, I remember her complaining that she doesn't know where all her money goes.
rayme4raw 1 year ago
Yet another way I save money is by brewing my own kombucha at home. Organic Kombucha sells for $3+/pint and I make it for literally pennies per gallon. I haven't calculated exactly what it costs but one tea bag and a cup of sugar are the only inputs I have to purchase for one gallon of kombucha so it's safe to say that with organic fair trade sugar costing only $1.05/lb that it costs me significantly less than $1 per gallon which is at least 20 times less than it costs in the store.
gnayler 1 year ago
Another way that I save money is by participating in a CSA program. My mother has a share at a local organic CSA which provides a big box of fresh produce every week for reasonable cost, and the best part is that I can go harvest basically as much extra greens (cilantro, chives, kale, sorrel, rosemary, thyme, lemon balm, sage etc.) as we can eat. I pick several huge bags full of greens every week so that I can make multiple salads daily to feed myself and my fiance.
gnayler 1 year ago
I save money on my grocery bill while eating healthier by buying directly from the producer items which they have a hard time selling to other people. For example tomorrow I will be picking up 50 lbs of organic potato seconds for $0.50 per lb or $25 for a big giant box of potatoes that will last at least 2 weeks if I ate potatoes for every meal for me and my Fiance. To cook the potatoes I go directly to a local organic meat shop and purchase back fat for $0.98/lb which I render it into lard.
gnayler 1 year ago
@gnayler cooking is a snap I simply shred the potatoes with a cheese grater, heat up some lard in an iron pan on my woodstove or my barbecue (which I fire with coals I harvest from the woodstove as well as apple wood pruned from my trees), and drop the shredded potato into the pan and that makes for some tasty healthy homemade organic hash browns. And the cooking time is very short once the pan is heated it can cook very fast.
gnayler 1 year ago
@gnayler I also cut out the eyes from the potatoes (and I get all the best varieties like purple, red, butterball etc.) for planting in my garden. Potatoes are easy to grow as far as I can tell. The ones I planted this year appear to be doing quite well.
gnayler 1 year ago
@gnayler Where do you buy lard? In the northeast, it's practically non-existent. But I suppose some nice no-nitrates bacon fat would do? Sounds yummy!
MzProgressive 1 year ago
The cheapest & healthiest is juicing with 1 solid meal
@3PM. 4 apples, 4 lemons, 4 cucumbers, 2 bushels of kale,
2 red cabbages, 2 bushels of parsley, organic.
Make enough at one time for a week, store in
freezer, dilute as needed for blood sugar.
Eat wild sardines with light steamed
greens once a day. After awhile your on the last
belt loop.
danger0usknowledge 1 year ago
Sounds like you might've read Pollan's books... Great video, Loren. Starting a garden this year. Hoping the initial investment of lumber (doing raised beds) and plants (still have much to learn about sprouting) pays off... Would estimate the investment at 200 bucks at this point. (If food prices go way up this could pay off a hundred fold.)
mooseythejuiceman 1 year ago
great video!
jchahine 1 year ago
My wife is big on getting only organic foods. It makes things more expensive. I will say that eating grass fed beef is so much better.
If you want to save money on meats, buy a good size chest freezer and then buy a quarter cow from a farmer. You can do this with chicken and pork, too. Having several months of meat in your freezer feels really good.
shawnesy 1 year ago
We're saving by moving out of the urban areas and into a rural zone, learning about permaculture, cob building, natural health and hygiene as well as doing away with technology that's not crucial. We figured having land, a mortgage-free home, fresh free food, free spring water and solar power later on, was by far the best way to save and live to the fullest.
plumevine 1 year ago
Healthy food is cheap until you get to meats, which become expensive quickly if you want to get grassfed beef or free range chicken etc
tgz1000 1 year ago
If you have some dirt, having a garden is grand! My family's been growing lettuce and tomatoes for years. It tastes the best right out of the garden, and it's cheaper too!
riethc 1 year ago
Cooking - MOST of it - is pretty darn easy. Short of baking which is more exacting.
ccm800 1 year ago
@ccm800 Funny - I find baking is easier, just because you simply follow the recipe. Cooking is more of an "artform."
MzProgressive 1 year ago
I love INTPs. They be the smartest. Good info, thank you very much.
OhVeryNice1 1 year ago
Few tips for saving money on your grocery bill:
1) Plan ahead - when you write down 3-4 days ahead what you're going to prepare for dinner, you avoid buying something you don't necessarily need.
2) Cut the meat out of your diet. - It takes creativity at first, but you'll get the hang of it after a while. I personally eat meat occasionally, but it doesn't feel like being robbed when paying a little extra on greener piece of meat. It's still cheaper than eating industrialized meat every day.
tarjuccia 1 year ago
@tarjuccia lol, "greener" piece of meat...
riethc 1 year ago
Some really good tips,,,,,,Great.
gerry2345 1 year ago
You can eat cheap with the macdonalds dollar menu!
neanam 1 year ago
@neanam But who would WANT to! Yech! I have avoided "factory" hamburgers since the Mad Cow scare ... you can't throw 250 beef cows in one hopper and expect to not have one that isn't healthy. Also, premade patties are often "filled" with soy (read: GMO soy), and other additives. No thanks!
MzProgressive 1 year ago
Those are some good ideas. Thank you.
penguinistas 1 year ago
Parboiled rice is perhaps the cheapest nutrition per calorie there is.
I have three eggs for breakfast with grape juice, and consume a half liter of soy milk for lunch. Only takes 60 seconds to drink, so I dont even have to sit down.
Teller3448 1 year ago
we love your videos! always great subjects!
coastalcpm 1 year ago
Wild sardines are cheap and one of the healthiest, safest fish
foods around. Put 5 in a soup w/miso, onions, burdock,
sliced and ground ginger & horseradish & anything that's laying
around. (Good idea to separate solids from liquids when storing.)
The soup can last 3-4 days. Adult Carp or large red snapper
soup with the above is healthy & medicinal but expensive.
As you can see I don't know how to cook either but, in soup form,
these can be made to last.
danger0usknowledge 1 year ago
@danger0usknowledge Sounds great! Thanks!
MrMoodang 1 year ago
You forgot a big one: go to your store on foot or bike. It saves on gas, you can't take too much useless junk food back with you, it's easier to profit from the special offer of the day AND you get needed exercise and prepare your body for the next round of food.
NaomiClareNL 1 year ago
We have our own grain mill, and mill the wheat as we need the flour.
Buy your wheat by the 25lb sack. Big savings.
instead of soda, drink mint tea,or a blend of mint, chamomile, and yarrow tea.
The only cost is the dirt, water, and seeds, or tap a birch tree for its sap in the spring, it is sweet and taste like a birch smells.
Look for ways to buy in bulk and make many meals. We save the carcass of our salmon after the fillets come off to make salmon soup stock for a second meal of chowder.
ursushoribilisron 1 year ago
@ursushoribilisron I would love to know where you buy that wheat! Also - would you give us your recipe for Birch Beer???? (I was crazy for it as a kid! And my Grandpa used to buy it from a supplier that made it naturally ... it was clear!)
MzProgressive 1 year ago
yay immigrants pride
ohnoyoudidntx 1 year ago
Coupons!
macwild1234 1 year ago
I saved money on my grocery bill by moving to Argentina!! But then again inflation is pretty intense down here, so I'm not too sure where things stand. Mom and pop veggie stands are great down here. when I was in Houston I shopped at the Farmer's Market and got great produce prices. Just moving away from meat toward veggies helps cut costs dramatically.
EdgeRetro 1 year ago
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Barbie20152009 1 year ago
You are right Loren, in order to eat healthy and not expensive one should learn to prepare the meal. Or perhaps one shouldn't be lazy and prepare the meal ;)
Try to plan the menu for the whole week, then go to shop only for items you will need.
Also, eating healthy doesn't mean eating a lot.
Barbie20152009 1 year ago
I'm thinking of making how to videos on exactly that. I've been living on unemployment for over a year now, and I've learned how to cook whole foods from scratch, buy in bulk and garden. I've also lost weight.
shelly8510 1 year ago
Some of my favorite cheap, healthy and delicious meals:
BREAKFAST; Oatmeal and raisins; with one egg and dash of hot sauce.
LUNCH: PB&J, with a chunk of cheddar cheese and a apple or banana.
DINNER1: Small portion of broiled western style pork ribs prepared Thai meat salad style; with broiled vegetables such as carrots, beets, onion, potato with sauce of drizzled olive oil, apple cider vinegar, salt and herbs,
DINNER2: Fish soup from wild salmon fish heads from butcher.
BEVERAGE: Green tea.
MrMoodang 1 year ago
@MrMoodang a friend of mine here was showing me a similar breakfast - raw oats mixed with shredded apple and a bit of hot milk and sugar or honey to taste. Really easy and quite filling.
EdgeRetro 1 year ago
@EdgeRetro Sounds great! I'll give it a try. Thanks!
MrMoodang 1 year ago
I save money by growing my own herbs and some vegetables, and i also get free fruit from the forest and my garden.
daveashe 1 year ago
You can look for deals on seasonal and perishable items such as fruits, vegetables, and meats. If there is an over supply or a danger of items going bad then stores often lower the prices significantly to get them off the shelves. For example, let the stir-fry you plan to make depend on whatever fire sale meats and vegetables are available.
Also, even storable foods go on huge sales at times. For example, two or three times every year my favorite cereal is 2 for 1.
silverfyi 1 year ago
Humm, you have done really good videos in the past, however this is not one of them ! The reason ppl go to get food at higher prices is because everything is under one roof which is a major advantage even if it costs more, it's a massive time saver and time = money. " Secondly, growing your own food is not economical for the time that it takes to got and dig the stuff out of the ground takes more than it's worth in advanced countries. Until a paradigm shift in the west this will continue !
lasercat10cc 1 year ago
@lasercat10cc Even though two different supermarkets have the same item, they can be cheaper in one store compared to another, and vice-versa. You may save time by buying everything in one shop but you are working to make the money which is time - also if you have a few stores within walking distance it won't take that much longer to do this.
daveashe 1 year ago
@lasercat10cc @lasercat10cc Wow, you totally missed the point, huh? It's not about the economy of time , it's about maintaining a good diet. Who says nutrition has to be easy? American's are lazy as hell. So lazy in fact that we're being poisoned to death with processed foods and the reasoning is, Oh, well, it's a huge time saver, and ummm, yea, it's economical...poison is not so bad if it shaves a few minutes off my day" What a lame argument. Why the hell is everybody in such a hurry????
HigherPlanes 1 year ago
This is another great video!
mindround 1 year ago
I save nearly 60% on my grocery bill by shoplifting :)
2JOHNNYT 1 year ago 8
@2JOHNNYT That is wrong, but so funny.
mindround 1 year ago
20 lb bag of rice = a month's worth of stir fries. All you need is some salt, an onion, and a potato each evening.
chris3443 1 year ago
@chris3443 I hope that's not WHITE Rice! Otherwise, you may as well eat wall paper paste.
MzProgressive 1 year ago 3
Thank you for bringing this up. People forget the local farmers and are so conditioned to purchasing all their items at the local supermarkets and Walmarts. There are some Local Harvest/ Farmers Markets that will actually provide vegetables and fruit at great discounts and also do co-op programs so you can get your produce for free. Some of them will deliver them to you on a bi-weekly plan.
pongman 1 year ago
I eat healthy and don`t care how much it costs.
pentelesoikoon 1 year ago
The more nutrient dense your food is the less you need to eat. I know that after decades of eating empty calories that the cheap stuff doesn't satisfy your hunger and you keep going back for more. Cheap is not cheap when you need twice as much just to keep your stomach occupied or distracted. Also reconsider what constitutes a meal for example 5-8 organic apples can be breakfast on the go for about $3.00 for a bag of 10 organic apples. Same for a lot of fruit.
rayme4raw 1 year ago
Food shouldn't be cheap, in the 80's people spent 20% of their income on food, today's it's about 10% but they are buying cheap junk. So true about gardening, most of the cost of gardening is upfront the 1st year and really cheap after that. Certain herbs, vegetables & fruits are so easy to grow that it's ridiculous. I love mint for contained areas. Tomatoes in a self watering container are so low maintenance.
rayme4raw 1 year ago
@rayme4raw
10%? LOL then u have a lot of income!
I spend about 40% at least on food!
Phyle9 1 year ago 2
@Phyle9---I spend less than 10% actually but its only me, but my god--%40?? you must have two assholes.
malangsob 1 year ago
@malangsob 40%, he/she didn't state income, whether is was before or after taxes or whether he/she buys cheap food or organic nutrient dense food. My parents will spend $600 a month on mediocre food but it's only 10% of their gross pay and they eat out a lot and they will throw at least 25% of it away. They spend more on medication. They are a walking advertisement that what the average American considers healthy food will only have you paying more on meds.
rayme4raw 1 year ago
@Phyle9 The average American, yes, but I'm not in that income bracket. I spend about 25 to 35% of my income after taxes on food, but organic nutrient dense food is not cheap. Cheap food was never cheap because it was so deficit in nutrition I just ate double. Cheap food is subsidized by the federal govt (corn, wheat & soy), the cheapest food for the calories is the dollar menu at fast food chains (see Nickel & Dimed book).
rayme4raw 1 year ago
beef is great for us. My question is does it matter what cut. I typically always get ground beef because its cheaper then steak. But if its much more beneficial for steak id consider upgrading. Keep in mind I like fat in my diet so it doesn't matter how lean one is
ExplicitContent81 1 year ago
@ExplicitContent81 The fat is not the problem but the way the animals are raised. Apart from ethical issues, do animals need growth hormones or eat things not in their natural diet? Go with grass fed beef.
NaomiClareNL 1 year ago
@NaomiClareNL You didnt read my question at all, I know organic grass (finished) beef is the best, grass fed is the next best and fat is very good. and no anti biotics or hormones, obviously.
My question was is there any benefits to steak over ground beef???
ExplicitContent81 1 year ago
@ExplicitContent81 I've worked in a meat department so I roughly understand the concept of fat... ground beef actually LACKS a significant amount of benefits, because for one, particularly ground *chuck* (normally fattier chunks of meat, commonly the cut of meat "chuck" which is arguably one of the fattier cuts) - if you want leaner, go with ground round (or 90%).
That being said, ground chuck needs to be well-cooked to at least a brown/pink center. Steak, if it's fresh, might do well at rare.
Schloonktapooxis 1 year ago
@ExplicitContent81 Also, while the fat is necessary in your diet and should just be cooked with a steak, keep it in moderation. Round steaks, in general, lack most of the benefits a sirloin steak has, and while tenderloin (filet mignon) may be delicious, it's overly expensive and probably should only be bought as a whole.
Burger shouldn't really be cooked to rare because ground chuck is mixed with other cuts of meat that have been exposed to the air, meaning more bacteria hazards.
Schloonktapooxis 1 year ago
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ExplicitContent81 1 year ago
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ExplicitContent81 1 year ago
@Schloonktapooxis I understand that some steaks have more CLA and Omega-3s then others.
My question is... Does ground beef lack any benefits that most steaks have in regards to nutrients????? such as vitamins, CLA, Omega-3s, ect...
ExplicitContent81 1 year ago
@ExplicitContent81 Ground chuck is difficult to know (and ground round as well) because several cuts of meat are mixed to create the beef itself. It gets nutrients notably from sirloin/chuck cuts (which is, to my belief, the most nutrients and vitamins as well as protein in general) vs ground round which gets its nutrients and vitamins from round cuts and leaner cuts in general, meaning less benefits.
Keep in mind, you need to cook burger... so vitamins + benefits get cooked away usually.
Schloonktapooxis 1 year ago
@ExplicitContent81 Ground beef loses some of the B vitamins because of greater exposure to air. Just cook it sooner after purchase than later.
MzProgressive 1 year ago
@ExplicitContent81 Actually, fully grass fed is the "best" and grass finished next best - if you're looking at health benefits over fat content. My local supermarket gets grass fed Australian beef every few weeks, and at their price, I do stock up. Paying what amounts to $4 a pound for Filet Mignon (a whole tenderloin) is worth freezing some, which I normally wouldn't do - but hey, it's hard to wreck filet mignon! :)
MzProgressive 1 year ago