Have you ever wanted to start a healthy lifestyle, but were turned off by the costs? In our culture, you either eat well because you're wealthy, or eat poorly because you're poor.

As an aspiring Dietitian, I like to think of ways everyone regardless of income can have access to quality foods. Many health enthusiasts rave over Whole Foods and Trader Joe's. But what about wholesome foods for working class people who can't afford to shop at these places? Stores like these market towards a specific crowd (vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, etc.), which leaves out all the rest of us who want to be healthy without paying so much for so little. I shop for groceries at Walmart because I’m still a college student - and yes, I get that Great Value brand. If you do it wisely, you can walk away with a cart full of nutritious food for $100 or less that’ll last a month. Some items to keep on your shopping list if you want nourishing but cheap foods are:

-eggs

-non-dairy milk (soy, almond, coconut, and rice milk don’t spoil for months)

-rice/beans

-pasta/sauce

-nuts/seeds/dried fruit

-frozen meats/veggies/fruit

With this list, you can buy the cheapest brand and you’d still have your carbs, fats, proteins, vitamins, and minerals. In terms of fresh produce, I find that tomatoes, onions, carrots, apples, and citrus fruits stay edible the longest.

Everyone would love to buy the best and healthiest foods, but that’s not a reality for most of us. This needs to change, because it’s a basic human right to eat well and live well. In other countries, wholesome foods are a norm. Example: a falafel in Israel is $3, want a drink? That’s $5. Meanwhile, I just bought a falafel here in Tallahassee for $9 – not including the $3 drink. That being said, my vision for the next generations is to establish more local markets and food stands into daily life, everywhere you go. Farmers markets and food trucks shouldn’t take place only on weekends, or be a monthly “event”.

I’m on a search in Tallahassee for good, affordable food. Just this weekend I spent $29 on two vegetarian dishes. To put that in perspective, that’s 65% of my phone bill. We live in a culture where eating healthy is a treat… and I don’t believe it has to be.

Let's take back control of our health. If you want to talk more about food and what we can do to revolutionize our food culture, message me!

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