The Mediterranean Diet: Too Bad It Costs More to Eat Well

This is so true. I does cost more to eat healthy. Healthy eaters typically invest in organic foods, hormone free foods, herbs, supplements, vitamins, minerals, probiotics, workout equipment, shakes, and various therapies to compliement their healthy eating habbits. Too bad the food industry isn't more geared towards eating clean and healthy.

Jennifer Loganathan of NY 6:35PM December 20, 2009

In Greece, at least the rural parts, the people grow and make much of their food themself. They have goats, which can live off the arid lands, and birds - but not chickens usually - which they use for milk, meat, and eggs. The goat milk is milk, but also makes cheese and yogurt. There is also fish available if you know fishermen, and you can trade eggs or meat or yogurt or other things for fish. Also, if you have land, you can grow olives, which can be for eating or for pressing for oil. There is grapes grown locally, which can make wines. In markets in towns and villages, you can get fruits or vegetables that cannot be grown locally, or are out of season.

Also, you did not mention flat bread! Flat breads are smaller and of diffrent flour than Americans bread. For breakfast and lunch, you can often have goat cheese, olives, and flat bread. Sometimes you have fresh fruit from the tree, also.

Honey is also important, and it is healthy too. It is used to complement flavors though - not like in America where much (most!) of the food is too sweet from much added white sugar.

People in Greece also drink red wine and water, and not the kinds of drinks found so much in American and Western countries. There is soda, but it is for special occasions, not all the time.

Finally, the family cooks its own food. There isn't pre-made or cooked for you food as much as there is in the other Western countries. People don't rely on fast food or restaurants.

athene of MO 7:48PM October 21, 2009

This article does not bring up the fact that the Western based diet (high meat and dairy diet) is subsided by our taxpayer money. The reality is the meat and dairy industry gets billions of dollars to keep their prices low and in comparison healthier foods get 10% of subsidies in the food industry. So if you calculate the amount of your tax money is going to lower the price of that Bologna sandwich, it probably be a better comparison. Probably the healthier diet will win hands down.

Also we need to think about the cost in medical bills as a result of a bad diet. We do not need Health Care Reform to fix our country, we need Lifestyle reform.

Nate1980 of AZ 4:23AM October 21, 2009

The main difference in the price of food in this article seems to be that in both the breakfast and lunch of the Mediterranean diet, the subject is eating nothing but prepared foods. I myself have a very healthy diet and cook all the meals that I eat during a typical weekday. It requires me waking up an hour earlier, but I save a lot of money, eat well, and enjoy what I'm eating. I don't think that it costs more to eat healthier, but it certainly takes more effort.

Hans of CA 8:09PM October 20, 2009