How is the Recession affecting your Food Budget?

[Lisa Newton]

Unless you've been living on a desert island, everybody around the world is being affected by the global economic downturn. Are you still eating healthy on a budget? Or are you having to choose between different alternatives?

Let's discuss............

[Phyllis Dwyer]

I've been very care full when I go shopping. I still eat the same, but buy things that are on sale. I check all the prices. I also started buying store brands instead of name brand items. If there is a sale on things I eat I double up. I also only buy what I need, nothing extra.

[Melissa]

I'm sad because my favorite farm stand closed for the season this weekend. Being able to shop there made a huge difference in both cost and quantity. I think sticking with what is seasonal will be more important this year.

[Doris Herrmann]

In the past I've grown most of our vegetables and spices. Unfortunately, Hurricane Ike destroyed my last crop of tomatoes and peppers, strawberries, all my spices and my fall vegetables. We're still not able to get in fall veggies to cook so I'm relying on stuff from the store.

I find my own organic fare was a much better quality then what I can get right now, so I'm having to compromise and eat foods that are non-organic. I forgot how much fresh tomatoes can cost.

I've had to use non-organic food and we've eaten more frozen then fresh since I can't can anything. I'm not looking forward to a fall of tomatoes that taste like cardboard.

Doris

[Summer]

I'm trying to make a weekly menu and shop more often. I'm buying less during each shopping trip so that I know I'm only getting what I need for the next couple of days so as to not let anything go bad. The fewer bananas I buy each time, the fewer that have a chance to go bad...

[Yvonne Fitness Diva]

Not so much, truthfully. So far, my salary has been able to bear the brunt of these rising prices, and as long as I keep a good schedule, I've got no worries. I'm one of the lucky ones in that way; there's no lack of work where I am as a trainer and fitness instructor. God Bless New York City for that! Things get tight, I just pick up another client or another couple classes. It's a blessing and a gift, and I so realize that.
I do, however, feel for those who don't have such options and opportunities in their jobs. I remember years ago before I became a fitness pro having to budget all my spending down to the last dollar. I also lived on absolutely no credit, so there was no playing around. I learned very well how to ration, and also to find the places where food and goods were the least expensive.
If hard times ever really came my way, I'd know how to reclaim that old mindset. It would be a bit painful, but I'd do what I had to do! Don't we all? :)

[David]

Yvonne,

I'll bet that now you've got a whole lot more clients available should you choose! Not to make
light or fun of those on Wall Street in NYC that lost their jobs but just stating the obvious fact
that they did.

As well as a lot of others. A good way to keep your positive energy high in tough times is to
work out.

In my darkest moments, as I recollect, I remember swimming more and more to get me through
my difficulties in life and it always worked.

[David]

I've not been that affected b/c I'm a very picky eater and noticed long ago that the quality at most restaurants
was for want. A lot of my favorite restaurants meals really turned out to rather distasteful to say the least, also.

For example, I used to frequent a nice place in town where I enjoyed their pasta. Last couple of times they
changed both their noodles and ingredients so much so, that I thought I was eating wood. :(

As well, I enjoy my own cooking better than almost anywhere else. It's also a good way
to control the kinds of food that I consume--obviously!

Be that as it may, I'm sure that everybody has to be more careful about their meal purchases--whether
at the store, or eating out.

[Passionate Green]

Lately my grocery bill has been getting bigger and bigger. Just this week I set a new record: $221 for one week's worth of groceries for three people! Honestly, I don't plan on cutting back.

I look at it like this: you are - quite literally - what you eat. I buy mostly organic foods and avoid high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, preservatives, and artificial additives like the plague. I can do without getting my hair cut, buying new clothes and makeup, and many things ... but I can't do without healthy food!

[Susana]

I totally agree with you! My family's health goes first, especially without having medical insurance :=(

[Aran]

Paradoxically we have changed our supermarket allegiance from the biggie - Tesco, to the rival discounters Lidl, which is a German company. I have always preferred European foods ( having spent a fair bit of my childhood living in France) and much of the produce contains less additives and other chemicals, so not only is it much cheaper it is much healthier. I think that the nutritionists at the major supermarkets here in the UK think that the major food groups are Wheat, Fat and Sugar!

[Joe S]

I've noticed that lean meat and veggies (my main food sources) have really gone up in price in the past few months. It really hasn't effected what I buy yet. In general like everyone else there are a million ways I can save a buck that doesn't include taking healthy items out of my grocery cart. I enjoy shopping sales so I'll grab the flyers of my neighborhood stores and chery pick the best sales to complete my shopping.