Tinned Vegetables Cheaper?

[TayL 0]

My fiancé's ability to feed himself healthy foods is a matter of some doubt. No, not some. A great deal of doubt. He claims that I won't be able to feed us healthy foods for cheap and that my eating habits will bankrupt us because I refuse to eat tinned vegetables. I personally think he doesn't know where to look for healthy foods (I'm one of those people who likes to cook everything from scratch).

This has been a matter of debate between the two of us for awhile. He says that if I can feed us healthy foods affordably, he'll have no issue with changing his diet to accommodate me, since I'm changing my country of residence to accommodate him. I keep telling him that I can feed us healthy foods affordably. He thinks I'm being silly since I won't eat tinned vegetables (I think they're gross and flavourless) and therefore won't be able to afford food.

Is he right or is he just clueless? Will I have to wait until I have my EAD for us to eat healthy foods? (Yes, we're a ways off from this point, but I'm one of those freaks who likes to plan everything out WELL in advance.)

[LorriQ 0]

My fiancé's ability to feed himself healthy foods is a matter of some doubt. No, not some. A great deal of doubt. He claims that I won't be able to feed us healthy foods for cheap and that my eating habits will bankrupt us because I refuse to eat tinned vegetables. I personally think he doesn't know where to look for healthy foods (I'm one of those people who likes to cook everything from scratch).

This has been a matter of debate between the two of us for awhile. He says that if I can feed us healthy foods affordably, he'll have no issue with changing his diet to accommodate me, since I'm changing my country of residence to accommodate him. I keep telling him that I can feed us healthy foods affordably. He thinks I'm being silly since I won't eat tinned vegetables (I think they're gross and flavourless) and therefore won't be able to afford food.

Is he right or is he just clueless? Will I have to wait until I have my EAD for us to eat healthy foods? (Yes, we're a ways off from this point, but I'm one of those freaks who likes to plan everything out WELL in advance.)

I'm going to vote for clueless.

It may cost on the intial pantry stock, but the amount saved weighs out in the long run. Processed food may look cheaper, but you do get what you pay for! And some of those instant/processed things ARE NOT CHEAP. How many pie crusts can you make from one bag of flour as opposed to the cheap knock-off instant yuck!

Right there with you on doing it from scratch! Save the money you'll spend on medical bills for the bad diet !

Fresh veggies are always better! And you will get more than one meal buying fresh!

[TayL 0]

This is what I thought. As long as you use up all the perishables you buy, it should be cheaper. The price difference can't be THAT huge between here and the US, I don't think. I mean, I make all my bread from scratch (admittedly using a bread machine, but if it makes nice bread without having to really work at it, why wouldn't I?). I make pies from scratch. I make cheesecake from scratch (yes, a luxury item). I often make my pasta noodles from scratch, though I wouldn't do it without my pasta roller so I may cheat when I first move down, cause "my" pasta roller is really my mother's and, even though she NEVER uses it, I think she won't let me take it out of the country. I make biscuits, cookies, scones, muffins, all soups other than tomato.... yeah, you probably see where I'm going with this. I can't see how this can possibly be more expensive, and it'll keep me busy when I'm sitting home without an EAD, right?

[The_Dude 1,142]

My fiance (Mel) and I are going through something similar. However, my inability is compounded by my lack of skill in cooking. I understand your point of view, as well as your fiance's. I think in the long run, you are right though. It's worth sacrificing a bit if you are on a tight budget to eat better. As my fiance says "I love you, but what is the point of all this if you don't plan on living a long life with me?".

If you are talking about getting all organic vegetables from farmers markets or farm co-ops, then it is going to cost a lot more. If you are simply talking about getting the produce from the market, then its not that much more than the canned stuff.

[TayL 0]

Organic vegetables don't matter to me. It's that they're fresh. In a pinch, I'll settle for frozen, because not so much nutritional value is lost from the vegetables when flash frozen and steamed. But the canning process seems to me to make the vegetables mushy and flavourless, adds too much salt and I suspect that a lot of the nutrients are leached into the fluid that the vegetables are packed in--the fluid that you don't eat!

[Toronto Guy 0]

I have a similar worry about moving to the states. Every time I visit I find there is no choice and no way to find healthy food - especially since I travel through Virginia, North Carolina, and Kentucky. On one particular trip, I gained 5-8 pounds from eating off-the highway meals. I couldn't find a single vegetable anywhere. Health stores seem far and few between , whereas, in Toronto, there is a health store on every other block and choices galore. Is home cooking really the only way in the U.S.? Why hasn't the health food craze become as popular there as it is in Europe and Canada? Is it a mentality thing? Is it a commercial thing? Both perhaps? I've never seen so many fat people in a Wal-Mart before - I really feel like I'm in a foreign country! ;-)

[to_hope 0]

My fiancé's ability to feed himself healthy foods is a matter of some doubt. No, not some. A great deal of doubt. He claims that I won't be able to feed us healthy foods for cheap and that my eating habits will bankrupt us because I refuse to eat tinned vegetables. I personally think he doesn't know where to look for healthy foods (I'm one of those people who likes to cook everything from scratch).

This has been a matter of debate between the two of us for awhile. He says that if I can feed us healthy foods affordably, he'll have no issue with changing his diet to accommodate me, since I'm changing my country of residence to accommodate him. I keep telling him that I can feed us healthy foods affordably. He thinks I'm being silly since I won't eat tinned vegetables (I think they're gross and flavourless) and therefore won't be able to afford food.

Is he right or is he just clueless? Will I have to wait until I have my EAD for us to eat healthy foods? (Yes, we're a ways off from this point, but I'm one of those freaks who likes to plan everything out WELL in advance.)

If you can afford to eat fresh veggies in Canada, you will most likely be able to do it in the USA. Of course, it depends on what the cost of living is like in your area. I am currently in the GTA and moving to Michigan; food is cheaper all around there! So while I find it cheaper to buy tinned or frozen here, I look forward to eating more fresh fruits and veggies once I'm there!

[Sprailenes 47]

That is one area where I will always refuse to cut back: the way in which I feed my family. Like you I refuse to use anything processed and try to do everything from scratch. But there are ways to do it and save quite a bit: buy local, farmers markets are great, join a community garden or even start one up, OR you could even make friends with a gardener and split the costs of keeping a vegetable garden. There are ways to do it. Kudos to you!

[Dakine 26]

Easy if you live in Hawaii as you can grow your own year round. Also buy at decent prices at weekend "flea markets".

[angie007 0]

I agree to Kayl...i'd rather eat something fresh than canned and processed foods...we won't notice it but our body will pay off...

When it comes to budgeting my fiance leaves it all to me..he gives me his month's earnings and it's all up to me...even when we're apart,he sends me his cheque here in Canada and I deposit it to our joint account...

So,when it comes to grocery budgeting....I rule...he likes it that way

[~Nini~ 2]

Healthy eating is not impossible in the US - my husband and I are adamant about eating healthy, even if it means spending that little bit more to ensure that the food we eat isn't full of chemicals or processed to an inch of its poor life. We shop at the nearby farmer's market, buy local produce, etc. Another suggestion is a CSA farm share - my sister-in-law's family and us decided to split the cost of a share this year and we were buried every week with tons of produce. Even if you don't decide to go that route, I do think it's just as cost-efficient - and more healthy! - if you buy fresh produce. Plus, I find such joy in preparing food that hasn't already been prepared for you already

[LorriQ 0]

Organic veg is always more expensive - but you can get local veggies and decent produce at the large grocery stores as well. Health Food Stores are dotted all over, depending on population and marketability in the area. I agree tinned/canned veg is flat, tastless and vita-less. I spend less on fresh veg as compared to the canned. Like I said- you get more than one meal outta the bulk purchase as opposed to the one can per meal deal. (Love the Farmers Market - great deals abound!)

I found produce more expensive in the UK than over here. I don't know the cost anywhere else.

[Jenni and Bo 0]

I've looked into this already a bit for Bo and I. He is the type that can eat anything and it doesn't show *not yet anyway, that's what i keep telling him*, but he is up for changing his diet to accommodate me. I have stomach and digestive issues, so I HAVE to eat healthy, or I am miserable beyond words.

We are lucky that the state Farmer's market is less than 7 mins from our apartment, so I will be doing a lot of shopping there. As well, when prices start to go up in the winter, I will revert to frozen veggies. Eating like this is a bit more, but I make up for it by not needing the meds I would need by eating ####### all the time

It's hard for SO's that are used to eating one way to go into a different dietary direction at first. When Bo and I first met, the man rarely touched a veggie unless it was a potato. I've gotten him to add veggies to everyday things so that he can still get them but he won't notice as much (ie: in pastas, eggs in the morning, etc). He's starting to come around

[TayL 0]

I've looked into this already a bit for Bo and I. He is the type that can eat anything and it doesn't show *not yet anyway, that's what i keep telling him*, but he is up for changing his diet to accommodate me. I have stomach and digestive issues, so I HAVE to eat healthy, or I am miserable beyond words.

We are lucky that the state Farmer's market is less than 7 mins from our apartment, so I will be doing a lot of shopping there. As well, when prices start to go up in the winter, I will revert to frozen veggies. Eating like this is a bit more, but I make up for it by not needing the meds I would need by eating ####### all the time

It's hard for SO's that are used to eating one way to go into a different dietary direction at first. When Bo and I first met, the man rarely touched a veggie unless it was a potato. I've gotten him to add veggies to everyday things so that he can still get them but he won't notice as much (ie: in pastas, eggs in the morning, etc). He's starting to come around

I'm lucky. Other than potatoes, there are two vegetables that my fiancé'll touch: spinach and tomato. The rest of the vegetable family he gives me this sound like "I dunno what you're thinking, but that is NOT food." The idea of there being a meal without meat is absolutely shocking to him. He'll eat refried beans, but imo, that doesn't count as a "vegetable" per se. More a meat alternative. He said he'd eat more like I do, though, for my sake. So I'm hoping that I can convince him vegetables aren't out to get him. Though, he's never seen a vegetable that wasn't tinned, I don't think, so that may be all his problem is. I'd hate veggies too if all I got was tinned vegetables!

[MrsCat 6]

Easy if you live in Hawaii as you can grow your own year round. Also buy at decent prices at weekend "flea markets".

I second that. We don't have a garden but buy all our fruits and veggies once a week at the local farmers market. It saves a bundle from the grocery store and everything is local.

Canned anything here in HI is outrageous. A can of Chunky soup is $3.50. Yup - just a can.

With the left over turkey carcas, I am going to make broth and boil the sucker for a few hours today. Hubby thinks thats nut, but I love home made soup with real broth. Plus it beats the heck out of paying $3.50 for one bowl.