Sometimes I wonder if eating healthy food can make you feel happier. I mean I’m sure it’s good for your health in the long run and that should be your goal for eating healthy – for long term health and hence happiness.
But there are opportunity cost of starting this new habit.
The main one is your cost of living will go up as healthy food are generally more expensive. Why does it always have to be that way? Earlier during lunch I ordered grilled fish and vege, the total amount I had to pay was RM30. I can get a plate of rice with a variety of dish (with chicken, beef, vege, egg etc) for only RM15 or even less. Fruits are expensive too. Mixed fruits selling at supermarket can cost up to RM5-8. So all in all, I would have spent almost RM40 just for one meal. It’s crazy.
I don’t think twice when it comes to buying healthy food for my son. Every week I’ll buy him the strawberries, apples, bananas, not only because it’s good for him but he just loves eating fruits too. But for us adults, I’m not sure. Does it really matter? Am I willing to increase my expenditure just to make me feel good about eating healthy? Or it really does make you feel good. I would like to think that it’s the psychological effect that’s playing with our mind.
Take for example eating organic food vs. non-organic food. Can you tell by consuming organic food you can increase your life expectancy by x number of years?
How do we find the balance between spending more for healthy food vs. just living to eat? Should I be consciously choosing my food by tracking the ingredients and the amount I take?
Dayana Omar 