At dinner last night, Sherry and I were talking about the changes in our lives since taking back our health and going Paleo, and one of those that may seem prohibitive to people who are wanting to eat well is the cost.

The truth is that getting grass-fed, free-range, or organic foods costs more than their regular counterparts. Whether you are compelled ethically or by the quality of the food and the lack of chemicals/drugs in the foods, the reality remains that these foods cost more. However, Sherry and I also noted that since going Paleo, we have been making and eating more of the meals we eat throughout the week ourselves, and due to that, we are no longer spending large amounts of money eating lunches and dinners at restaurants. When looking at our budget, we found that even with the increased cost of ingredients, we find ourselves each eating, on average, only one lunch and one dinner at a restaurant a week compared to five lunches and three to five dinners at restaurants per week. With each lunch averaging $12-20 and each dinner averaging (per person) $20-40, you can see how that adds up quickly. Multiply that by two for us, and it’s a staggering amount of money spent at eating establishments.

I understand that some people are on fixed incomes or have tighter budgets. My son falls into the latter category due to the oil slump. This makes buying the more expensive organic foods prohibitive. He complained to me that he couldn’t eat well because it was cheaper to get the $1 menu items at McDonald’s, or the two meal deal for $10 at Burger King. It’s hard to argue with him on that point; cheap food is easier to acquire, takes no effort, and satisfies empty stomachs. However, I pointed out to him that by buying non-organic ingredients and making his meals, even if the cost was a wash, the quality of  the food would be better for his health. After looking at how much money he spent per week eating fast food versus how much money he would spend buying ingredients to make his own food, it came out pretty close, but even non-organic homemade food is far better for your health than anything from McDonald’s, Burger King, or Taco Bell.

There are ways to minimize the cost of the organic food. One of those is to shop locally. There are literally hundreds of farms around Houston (and I’m certain, around the area you live in), and there are many farmer’s markets that sell produce from these smaller farms. There are markets that open only on the weekends for these small farms where you can buy some really tasty and healthy organic vegetables, fruit, and even meats at a decent price. You’re also supporting your community, and these small farmers who toil the earth to bring you healthy foods.

Another way is to buy in bulk. There are coops available online that allow you to buy a share of a larger order and these companies will ship to your front door a package full of meats, vegetables, eggs, etc. At Paleo f(x) this year, we met at least a dozen such companies that were little more than family farms who do business online and deliver their organic, grass-fed, and/or free-range products weekly for a very fair price. It’s hard to argue the cost savings or the quality of these services.

In the end, if it’s your health you’re wanting to take care of, then you have to remember that our bodies are machines made up of the nutrients from the foods we eat. Cells can’t make new cells without material to build on, and that material comes from our foods. The better quality foods we put into our bodies, the better quality our cells will be, which in turn makes them hardier and more resistant to disease and other ailments. Our bodies, as machines, work more efficiently when the foods we eat aren’t out of balance with the energy requirements of the body. Eat well and you feel well. It’s a crazy simple concept that has worked well for my wife, for me, and for many of the readers of this blog. I honestly think that if you give Whole30 a try and follow it with Paleo, you will feel better, your body will be healthier, and if your weight is an issue, that will decline as well. I can’t guarantee anything, but the results everyone I know who has done this so far has been overwhelmingly positive.

In other words, ditch the added-sugar junk foods and anything with grains and high-carbs, make a plan to eat well, and execute that plan. Yes, it’s going to cost some money, but so did that XBox, that sewing machine, or that set of tools in the garage. You wanted those things and made way in your budget for them. Make way for your health and budget for it. You’re worth it, right?