Do you spend more or save more with Traditional cooking?

[aba]

Right now we have basically a natural/organic-where-possible kitchen while making a conscious effort to be frugal.  I am wanting to move to a more traditional/local diet, and am wondering if that tends to be more or less expensive.  I could see it going both ways.  Thing is, we're pretty frugal right now, so I'm thinking it will be a bigger expense.  Not that it's not worth it, but just wondering....

[SuburbanHippie]

Previous to eating WAPF-style, I was a couponer.  I spend way more on food now that I eat healthier, but I figure that it will save me thousands in doctors bills in the future (hopefully!).

[la mamita]

I think it might depend on how much meat and dairy your family is used to eating. Those seem to be the costliest items as far as TF diets, although I haven't priced coconut oil. Then again non-local organic meat & dairy are also pretty expensive as well. But, making your own kombucha, yogurt, kraut, kefir, grain products, and buying local vegetables & fruits in season can be very cost efficient. Also, trying to eat more plant proteins & eggs instead of meat, especially beef & pork, can make a huge difference.

[prancie]

we spend a lot more, but it's worth it.  no doubt.  it cured my depression and anxiety in under a year.

[BabyFireFly]

It's more costly for sure, which is sad....

I find myself planning alot more before I shop and incorporating in ordering directly from the farms in our area - that and buying in bulk.

[rjruiz_415]

I dont know. I went from buying all crap, to all organic food and organic junk (read- boxed meals, snacks, ice cream, yogurt, cookies, etc...), to only organic whole foods. I have a freezer stocked with beef and chickens from a local source, so aside from the meat I have, we spend 125-175/week on groceries. Depending on whether or not I am missing a spice or two, or if I am needing to buy my monthly supply of coconut oil... We are a family of 5, kids are 5,4,and 1. I *know* we spent more than that when I was buying all crud, and even when I was buying organic, but still packged stuff... SO, to me, it is not really that much more expensive.

[tinuviel_k]

I know I spend more. My raw milk costs double what organic pasteurized milk costs, for instance. Fresh organic veggies cost more than dried starches like rice. I save money on meats by buying bulk (1/4 cow, 1/2 lamb, etc), so that works out. But if I didn't have a huge freezer I would be spending a lot more money on meat.

[maudi]

I spend more on meats and dairy, but I save by buying produce from the farmer's market. We are pretty frugal as it is, so if I didn't eat traditional foods, I think I would end up using coupons and such for processed food, or I would eat more fast food too. I think it can even out, but I'd say I spend more eating Weston A. Price style. Especially with the cost of Cod Liver Oil!

[velcromom]

Meats & dairy are more expensive but I make up for it by getting my grains and legumes in bulk quite cheaply, and buying everything else in bulk or making it myself instead of buying it premade. I wouldn't be able to do as much organic as I do if it weren't for my bulk purchases thru the co-op.

[SandraMort]

I definitely spend a lot more.  I don't eat strictly TF but the rest of my familly doesn't at all.  It wouldn't shock me to learn that my food is as much as theirs all put together, since they eat a more starch centered diet.

[BubblingBrooks]

We spend less. But we hunt and fish, so our freezers are full of wild caught salmon, moose and bear.
And now we garden as well, and this year, hope to store enough for the year.
We also run a milk co-op for a local farmer, so we get our milk paid for.

Our food budget is dispersed into the chicken coop, goat barn, seeds and hunting licenses, along with the gas money needed to hunt and fish.
The rest is spent on gluten free grains ( celiacs ) raw coconut oil, spices and the like.

[wasabihoneybee]

I think it depends. I agree with La Mamita that the amount of meat you eat will change the answer to this question. But to make your own granola . . . for example . . . and eat oatmeal it most likely will even out.  Beans and rice are not so different, but if you get into raw milk . . . I don't know, I think then i becomes moral v.s. cost :  )