There is a large percentage of people in the United States who do not eat a nutritious diet. We are more apt to buy the unhealthy options for numerous reasons, but one of the big ones is the pricetag. Frozen meals and boxes of Kraft mac and cheese have a very pleasing price tag. The fact is that a lot of people cannot afford the healthy options that are sold in grocery stores. It costs more money to buy a bag of apples than it does to buy a bag of potato chips. Healthy diets are being encouraged, but no amount of encouragement will change the price of these foods. Some people want to eat a healthy diet but they simply can’t afford to.

How about we make people feel like they can eat healthy without emptying their wallets? If people felt like they could make the commitment to eat healthier without basically being broke, they might be more willing to make this life change.

This is why it will forever annoy me that healthy food is more expensive than junk food. It takes less than five bucks to get a double cheeseburger, fries, and a soda from McDonald’s. However, if someone wants to get a salad from Panera they are looking at more like eight dollars. Three dollars may seem like a minor difference, but we all know that every dollar counts.

I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease about six years ago. This meant I needed to cut gluten out of my diet in order to help me feel better. It is a hard task, a lot of things we eat have gluten in them. I am also a second year college student, and some of the gluten-free alternatives that are sold in grocery stores are kind of pricey. This diet change that I had to make is what really opened up my eyes to the price difference in these foods.

Since nothing is going to be done overnight about this issue, we have to adapt for now. Here are some ways that you can commit to eating a healthy diet and save money, too.

Coupons can be very helpful. Take advantage of any coupons you find. Every penny you save is helpful in the long run.

Grow your own food! It may be a little bit costly to start with, but it will pay off after a few harvests. Growing your own also ensures that you know exactly where your food came from. If you have the space and are willing to put in the time, it is a good option for fruits, veggies, herbs, etc.

Buy local from farmer’s markets. If your town has a farmer’s market, I highly encourage you to check it out. Sometimes the produce there is cheaper than grocery stores and it is farm fresh! Farmer’s markets are one of my favorite things. They are full of locally grown fruits and veggies.

Here’s hoping that one day it will be easier to eat healthy because the prices of these foods will drop dramatically. Let’s raise the price of a bag of chips and frozen meals and lower the prices of fruits, veggies, and other healthy options. Like I said, it will not happen overnight, but hey, a girl can dream.