When you decide to change your eating and start living a healthy life, there are a lot of potential obstacles. First, people are worried about the food. “What can I eat? Will it taste good? Will I have to eat nothing but kale and cardboard for the rest of my life?”
Then, people get a chance to look at my recipes and they calm down a little. I mean, my guacamole recipe proves that healthy eating can also be super delicious (and I don’t mind bragging 😉).
Later, people get worried about time. “Will I be stuck in the kitchen all day? Will I have to spend days at the gym? Will I have to spend my every waking moment weighing foods and counting ever calorie?”
And again, people see some of our meal plans and calm down. Sure, I’ve got a couple recipes that take a few hours to make – but that’s only when the slow cooker is doing all the hard work!
After our members know the food will be good, easy, and fast, they head to the grocery store and encounter their last obstacle:
Price.
Now, I’ll be honest with you, eating healthy can seem expensive. Buying organic meat and produce costs a lot more than buying boxed mac and cheese and frozen dinners.
And sometimes, people think the cost is too much.
“I can’t pay this much for groceries every month. It’s too expensive.”
I completely understand if you feel that way.
But, how much would you pay to wake up every morning without aches and pains?
How much would you pay to enjoy every moment with your family without feeling tired or left out?
How much would you pay to feel absolutely awesome, inside and out?
I’m not asking you to spend money you don’t have. In fact, I’ve talked about ways to save money on groceries a lot and I’ll keep talking about it because it’s so important that everyone is able to get the healthy food they need, no matter how much money they have.
But I am asking you to change your mindset around money. Because the money you spend on healthy food, might be a lot less than you think.
Sure, a grocery bill full of organic foods will seem a little high the first time around. But that bill doesn’t show you all the other money you’ll be saving.
When you cook healthy meals, you tend to eat out or get fast food much less often. So, your organic beef might be $10, but that’s a main course for at least two people. Compare that to any dinner out for two. Even at a fast food place, you’ll usually spend $20 and a restaurant will set you back $40, at least.
The pricey grocery items are still so much cheaper than the alternatives. And they’re so much better for your body and health.
In the past, how much money have you spent on coffee? I know I used to have a cup every morning and felt like I needed it to start my day. I didn’t want to feel sluggish or tired and I was happy to pay a little bit for something that would give me the energy I needed.
Sure, that cup of coffee gives you energy for the next few hours, but it does nothing to help your energy overall. You know what does work long-term? Organic food.
When you eat organic, you’re getting rid of all the toxins and chemicals that have been clogging up your system. Plus, you’re eating whole, healthy foods that give your body the nutrients it needs to function properly.
Now, organic food won’t give you a quick burst of energy like coffee, but over time, it makes a world of difference. Recently, Naomi told the community how healthy eating made her feel:
“I have energy to keep up with my kiddos, and the clearest skin I've ever had. My moods are more stable, too. I seriously thought it was going to be a battle after having two kids, but I am doing great!”
Eating whole, delicious foods makes you feel good. The cheap, processed food won’t.
So, when your bill is a little higher than usual, you’re not just paying for food. You’re paying to feel good. And I know that’s something I’d happily pay for!
When my mom was struggling with diabetes, she was in and out of the hospital. They gave her all this “diabetes-friendly” food, which was really just processed junk full of fake sugars and completely devoid of nutrients.
After I came up with a plan to lower her blood sugar through whole, natural foods, she started to feel better. The 40 pounds she thought she’d never lose started to melt away and her blood sugar almost completely stabilized.
As for the hospital trips? My mom had to see the doctor less and less and hospital trips were few and far between.
Why am I telling you this? Because healthy food kept my mom out of the hospital. It made her healthy and active again. And it added years to her life.
Now, I’m not saying that a perfect diet will keep you out of the doctor’s office forever. But it does make a difference.
And if I have to pay a little more today to live a long and healthy life with my family, I’m fine with that.
In the end, the little bit more you spend at the grocery store today will save you time and money in the long run. The healthy choice you’re making now will pay off in the long run.
And trust me, your family will thank you for making that choice.
