Counting calories ends with spending more for less

Not even a week into a diet and I am already realizing  just one package of Double Stuffed Oreos, with a giant glass of whole milk in a frosted glass is cheaper than eating apples and reduced fat peanut butter.
Recently my wife went to the doctor and had her cholesterol and lipids (whatever those are) checked.
Given her past medical history and her family’s medical history, it was no surprise that both were found to be almost four times the level that they should be.
The doctor suggested a few things to her, including exercise and a diet that limited her fat and above all red meat in-take.
Neither of us are considered over weight, even though with the quality of cooking that my wife produces I should have gone up at least three pant sizes by now.
Nonetheless, I decided that it would be easier for my wife to get her “vitals” under control if she was not tempted by “bad” foods in the house that I am accustomed to eating.
We recently started exercising at a friend’s house. She does her Zumba thing and the men go to the basement to throw the iron around.
We have really enjoyed this part of the new lifestyle. A sense of accomplishing something comes to mind every time we leave their house.
The part that really gets to me is the diet. I have finally found the root to poor diets during a recent outing to the grocery store.
We all know where to find the healthy foods. We all have been taught that the “simple” foods are found on the outsides of the store. Pulling too much from the middle only results in a cart full of unneeded calories.
We know this but who can afford it? I have to wonder, as a consumer, who is reaping the benefits of high prices that we are paying.
Before watching what we bought, my wife and I spent about $100 every two weeks. When we came out of the store it took 10 minutes to put all the groceries in the car.
Most recently however, we went shopping and kept in mind the nutrition label.
After calculating each product and checking the amount of fat and cholesterol found in each box or package, we made our way to the check-out.
The less-than-half-full cart took no time to empty onto the counter. After everything was tallied, the monitor read, $78.28.
With a deep breath, I swiped the card, knowing that my blood pressure was climbing higher and higher each moment that I thought about the entire situation.
Can you believe how expensive eating salad and chicken can be, even with the coupons and buying the store brand?
Taking into consideration the world’s economy, people are forced to stretch the dollar as far as it will go.
I would really like to know who is making the extra money on produce, I know the farmer has not received any raises. Who is benefiting from charging more for healthier foods?
Shouldn’t we be promoting good health instead of making extra money on it.
I am no expert on the subject, but it seems that someone is making a killing off of healthy foods.
All I can think about is...Farmers Market, can’t wait for you to open.