$100 To Healthy

This is a Challenge Worth Taking!

I know some of you had seen this on my Facebook page. I decided to move it over here, too. :-) 

For those who may read it and do not know me, I try to keep us eating healthy as much as possible. It's not 100% (we still do the occasional fast food meal and a pizza), but I've been trying to cook and make more things at home when we can. It's saving us calories, money, and in our small city the variety for restaurants (fast food and otherwise), is slim so eating out all the time would be boring, anyway. 

I also work from home for a company that is based out of my state, so I'm able to do some food prep in the morning before I begin and over my lunch break. I realize this isn't possible for everyone, but for us it works. :-) I also try to take some time on Sunday evenings to do food prep for the next few days and ensure that dishes are done so we're ready for the work week. This is what works best for us! 

Now, onto the post!

(Actual picture of all items listed below)

At some point in the last few weeks, I was watching a show where people were giving excuses for not eating healthy. A common complaint was that "eating healthy is hard because it's so expensive." (I don't remember which show this was - Probably something on OWN. lol).

There have been times when I have rung out at the cash register and gotten a total that was much higher than I expected. I'd get home and feel like I didn't really buy anything with the money I'd just spent. Over time I've decided to cook more at home and make things myself from scratch instead of always using pre-packaged options. The savings have been tremendous in both calories and dollars.

I decided to turn this into a challenge for myself...

Using only $100 I would see how much healthy food I could buy at the grocery store and make it stretch to the maximum amount of meals possible.

Below is a list of the items that I purchased tonight at the store. My total receipt came to $107.12 with tax, and the $6.47 I spent on toilet paper. Total of food purchases came to $100.26. I used 0 coupons. 

Are my choices perfect? No. Realistic for a family of 3 with two adults working full time? Absolutely. I will also note that the items on this list are usually items that I buy at some point during the month. I didn't go out on a limb to get these or pick things that we won't eat. 

Here is my list of everything that's on the table: 

1 bag 10 lbs. Russett Potatoes - $3.77

1 jug Simply Apple Juice - $3.38 

1 gallon 1% Milk - $3.63

1 package thin sliced pork chops - $3.63

1 boneless pork roast - $5.59

1 beef tip roast - $6.50

1 package Tennesse Farm's breakfast sausage links - $2.98

1 package thin sliced bacon - $2.98

4 individual Simply Orange Juice ($1.48 each) - $5.92

1 container Pure Olive Oil for cooking - $4.78

2 jars Pasta Sauce ($1.50 each) - $3

1 container (64oz) V8 low sodium juice - $2.78

1 Ranch Salad Dressing - $1.66

1 Oil and Vinegar Salad Dressing - $1.50

1 head Romaine Lettuce - $1.48

2.68 lbs Green Grapes  ($1.27/lb) - $3.40

1 container of fresh pre-sliced button mushrooms  (8oz) - $1.94

1 package Wide Egg Noodles - $1.34

1 dozen eggs (large) - $1.78

1.76 lbs Anjou Pears - 4 count - ($1.57/lb) - $2.76

1 cluster fresh Italian Parsley - $0.88

1 cluster fresh Cilantro - $0.74

1.51 lbs Granny Smith Apples - 4 count ($1.57/lb) - $2.37

3 Limes ($0.32 each) - $0.96

1 package shredded carrots - $1.68

1 package with 2 celery stalks - $1.38

3 Lemons ($0.44 each) - $1.32

1.86 lbs Bananas ($0.52/lb) - $0.97

3 Cucumbers ($0.48 each) - $1.44

2 Bell Peppers ($0.94 each) - $1.88

5 Kiwi ($0.34 each) - $1.70

1 Large Sweet Onion - $0.85

1 Pineapple - $2.98

1 package whole carrots (1 lb) - $0.88

1 Avocado - $1.88

2 cans Jumbo pitted Olives ($1.17 each) - $2.34

2 cans no salt added diced tomato ($0.68 each) - $1.36

1 container Chicken Bouillion cubes - $2.00

1 package (3 servings) Boboli pizza sauce - $1.97

1 64 oz jar of Claussen pickle halves - $5.98

Total: $100.26

Item Count: 64

Average cost per item: $1.57

At minimum, I estimate the above can make:

9 breakfasts (for one)

6 lunches (for one) 

7 dinners (for three)

and at least 15 snacks (for one).

Borrowing a few things that we already have in the pantry and the freezer, I can up that to easily 4-5 more meals in each category to stretch this even further. 

So... I find this challenge successful and the whining 'debunked.' It may take a little bit of time to cut up an apple, peel a banana, and chop up some herbs, but being healthy while on a budget is entirely possible. 

Any challenge takers? I'd love to see what anyone else can do!