How To Avoid The Increased Costs of Food and Get Healthier Too

With the costs of food going up, reports of food shortages and rationing, and of course not to mention the cost of transportation... how do you stay healthy and keep from breaking the bank?

Recently I've noticed in most of my area grocery stores, an increase in the costs of many foods. However, it hasn't been across the board. I've noticed prepared/processed foods go up. I've noticed some produce go up. Of course, they're rationing rice at Sam's Club and Costco!

Overall, food prices have increased 75% since 2000, and jumped significantly between 2007 and 2008. Bread has increased 14% over last year alone based on the 200% increase in the cost of wheat since 2000. Milk is also more expensive now over last year's prices.

And you'll notice that processed foods like bread, rice, pasta and other foods made from wheat will continue to increase along with milk and other dairy products. And since most processed foods contain wheat and/or dairy of some form, the costs of packaged and processed foods will continue to rise.

So how do you save and gain your health?

Simply by concentrating your diet on mostly whole, fresh vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds. By avoiding processed foods, not only do you avoid the increased costs, you also get healthier by giving your body the natural nutrients it craves and avoids clogging your system up with processed foods.

Another thing I noticed is that although food costs in most grocery stores have increased, the cost of produce at our local farmers market has gone down, in some cases as much as 50%. I can now purchase just picked, organic, locally grown lettuces, celery and other greens at half the price found at Whole Foods or other grocery stores selling organic produce in my area.

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