I dont eat gluten free but my son may have celiac so may have too andI agree!! We dont eat a lot of processed food but I find cutting all out is not affordable and wish eating healthy wasnt so dang pricey! I feel for you as you have to eat that way.

So called poor man food is sooo unhealthy n mostly fat's n salt... it's pig food.

I can't think of better investment than our body n mind.

Compair cost of healthy foods to medications n Dr appts n lab test n time off from work.
Right, the investment is not so costly after all.

It is best to buy less of something else or do without something, so that we can eat health, n be healthy, n live healthy as possible, n live longer.

During winter, I use frozen veggies n frozen fruits n canned beans. They cause me to bloat.So does grocery store brought luttace n pkag salads. When I eat these foods I always half to take a Gas X capsule followed by pep- tal- bis- ma ( sorry about the spelling ). Except for seafood I don't eat meat. I can not digest store brough meats. fish at store r pkaged n ship in salt n presevitives ...Plus store meats includeing fish was raise w growth hormons etc...
Deer meat being the leanes.

Again the best investment that we can make is in our health.

I agree!
I usually spend so much time scouring the grocery flyers and trying to get the best deals. It is so expensive to eat healthy!

I have a family of five. We've also started paying off my hubby's student loans for the last six months or so. Just paying the minimum amount has taken a toll. I guess the same applies here... to better yourself and to educate yourself is quite pricey. lol

Anyways, I do my best to save where I can. In the summer and autumn, I usually frequent the farmer's market and take advantage of all the bounties and prices! There's nothing like fresh local produce to add some flavour into your meals.

In winter I bring in flowers n I also have pots of dirt in kitchen. In winter I plant veggies in kitchen pots. I set the pots onto of leaff size plastic bags.
This evening I harvest 1 of pots of potatoes.
In same pot I replanted a potatoe.
In another pot I have a green bell pepper plant. I also have 2 beef tomatoe plants.
For winter, I have mini veg n herb garden in kitchen.
I even freeze the potatoes. I cube the potatoes n barly cook n freeze. Think about so called tv dinners as will as frozen vegs in grocery stores. Theres nothing that can't be frozen.
In spring thru to mid June. I fish n freezze the fish. I always bag 3 trukeys. Deer season, I bag 120 lbs of deer meat n freeze. ya I gather meats n vegs to get me thur winter n into spring. For fall n winter supply,I also stock up on coffee. I always buy coffee sweet n low paper products ... when on sale.Deer meat being the leaness.
Turkey meat is far healthier than beef n beef stake burgers.
I fill frezzers w meats, basically for guest n certai neighbors.
Oh I almost forgot. I have a lemon tree ( right now it's only 8" tall) n potted pink grapefruit plant.
You might want to have inside small garden.

Every $ saved, helps.
I have always used couponds. My pantry's 3 refg n 4 freezer stay stocked at very low cost for food.
My laudry rm is stocked/packed full of laudry deterg's conditioners clearning n paper products.
I basically have a veg supply n enough supplys to get me thur the winter n then some.
I only use coupons on stuff that is on sale. n I just about get deli/bakery foods for free w use of couponds.
I'me retired so I have extry time to gather n file couponds. Some stores double couponds :)
I enjoying bakeing goodies.
Yrly when I go to mountains for fall festible, I buy apples to make pies turnovers apple sause jelly fried candie apples. also stock up on jars of Honey.
For winter inside veg garden. fill pots w dirt. bu produce that have seeds. dry seeds, put dry seeds between paper towels, put in crisper - over night, keep seeds in refg.. lay seed starter out n water. wait until 2 to 3 dys to plant. I lay paper w seeds in paper flat in potted dirt, n cover w dirt.

that's a good idea about an indoor garden, unfortunately for someone like me it isn't really an option: four pets, one bedroom apartment, little free time. maybe some day when i have a bigger place it'll be possible.

i guess that as more people begin to opt for healthier food choices in the grocery store, the less expensive it will become (i hope).

and thank goodness for rice cookers!

Admiral, those are some great ideas!
I used to have a vegetable garden at my old house and it was great. I've moved into a new house last year and am trying to plan out a garden for this spring! It's a lot of work getting that soil just right... now I'm getting excited about gardening again and can't wait!

Unfortunately, I live in Canada and I cannot plant an indoor veggie garden in the winter ;(
I also buy in bulk when things are on sale and always have a supply on hand.
As I mentioned, I go to the farmer's market and buy bushels of tomatoes, peppers etc and freeze them to use in the winter. I get great prices and think ahead to the colder months.

Speaking of cold... It is bitterly cold here. Much colder than last year. Of course, last year winter skipped Canada! But seriously, I find it really cold for the past two weeks. I can't even relax at the end of the day and watch some tv without moving because the 'air' is colder to where I may stretch my arm. LOL!!

Shy. I had to pull out elect blanket n small portable heaters.
I guess I need to start bakeing n useing the laundry drier to help add heat.
I'v started useing the hair drier to warm up after I towel off after steping out of shower.
Before I pulled out elect blanket I would use hair drier to somewhat heat the bed sheets.
This morning I saw 1 of my elderly neighbours getting ready to have yard sale. Will later today I'm going shopping to buy him n his wife some winter cloths. I assume that thier set income don't alot for new warm coats n shoes.My budget is on budget but dang it's far to cold to be w/out.

Bananna. maybe in window cell you could have luttace n herbs. By 1 of my dog kennels in kitchen I have medium size pot w what we call here " new potatoes " They are small potatoes n don't need alot of space to grown in dirt.
I like potatoe soup ( I put shreed carrots in my soup), new potatoes cooked in w green beans.Baked potatoe wedges. I use shake n bake to make potatoe wedges.
This past fall I forgot to plant kale in my outside garden to have this winter.
Kale is mostly protein. Kale plants take up a lot of space.So this winter I'm useing canned kale.
I just finish having 20 oz of water so off to kitchen for 1/2 cup of coffee.
I can't stand taste of water so I add sweet n low. sometimes I also add lemon slices.I also like lemon juice that comes in plastc bottle. the bottle is yellow w green lid n it's shaped like a lemon. Sometimes I sub the so called reg papper w lemon juice.

Will , off to kitchen. I soo like everyone here but as the wks go by I hope that we see less n less of ea other as in weight loss.

I've suffered these same symptoms, i suffered for years from chronic diarrhea, headaches, and fatigue, My Dr told me it was probably a combination of not enough sleep, stress, and hormones. I am grateful to see someone have a bit of an answer and I will check this out. I hope that others can provide some insight to your quesiton. Good Luck!

I know it really sucks and I wish that they would make good foods cheaper. I shop at ALDI and it helps alot but too I also save money as far as not having to see a doctor as often and not spending out money on medications.

I have been thinking about limiting my gluten intake also. Whenever I eat a bread product, I can fall into a deep sleep in about 15 minutes. Is that one of the signs? I also have chronic headaches.

Problem is that I'm a total bread addict. I don't eat many vegetables or beans. Any suggestions what kinds of foods I should eat?

I have checked out the gluten free items in the store, and you're right, the prices are outrageous. I don't have the money for that. Even the fruits and vegetables are high priced!

As usual, it's harder (and more expensive) to do the right thing than it is to do the wrong thing! ugh!

good luck to everyone :)

I totally agree with you! It feels as if we get punished for doing the right thing! This isn't just true for gluten-free diets--it's true for trying to eat healthy in general. I notice that whenever food is lower in calories, sugar, or fat, the price is higher. If I go for the generic store brand of something, which is cheaper, there is always more sugar, high fructose corn syrup, sodium, and hydrogenated oils (trans fats). I'm a senior on a very small social security income, so it hurts. But I still spend more if it means being healthy.