Take THAT, Budget Myth!

Healthy eating is so important to me that when I see it changing lives and breaking down misconceptions, I literally get choked up. For real, I get goosebumps and want to cry. And I still have a frog in my throat after reading this great-news alert from Fresh From Florida.

The Florida Department of Agriculture has effectively removed the argument that fresh produce and unprocessed foods are too expensive for families on a fixed income or low food budget. Even on food stamps, you can purchase the healthy foods necessary to prepare a week's worth of meals and snacks for four people.

That's $140 a week in Florida justsoyaknow.

Their own Chef Justin, who you can frequently see on their blog, was tasked with the following:


1. Spend no more than $140.
2. Buy little to no processed foods.
3. All grains must be whole wheat.
4. Sugars and salt must be kept to a minimum.
5. Follow the USDA nutritional guidelines for recommended servings per day.
6. Have enough food for breakfast, lunch, a light snack and dinner for seven days.


Not only did he get the job done, it was under budget, proving once and for all that eating healthy is a choice we make. You don't have to eat organic, you don't have to buy expensive brands, and you don't have to be a foodie and create anything spectacular. In fact, his shopping list and recipes are included in the report so you don't even have to come up with ideas of what to do with all of it.

So there you have it! Proof that the children who go to school with Hostess cupcakes in their lunchboxes and come home to enriched macaroni product don't have to continue down that road to childhood obesity.


Thanks to the FL Department of Agriculture, we can instead get on the path of education, so when we all head to the grocery store we can do it armed with the knowledge of how to fuel our families with fresh, healthy foods that will enrich our lives.


...and not break the bank. As a cheapo miser, I like that part a lot.

So what are you waiting for? Get healthy!