Day 926 Cost of doing business

 

What should I snack on? It’s a question we all face daily, and it often leads us to choose less-than-healthy options. While shopping, I was drawn to some delicious, fresh cherries, and I thought they would be the perfect snack for the day. However, when I saw the price tag—$9.50 for a small bag of cherries—I couldn't help but wonder why we’re often so shocked by the cost of fresh, healthy options.

The reality is that most people don’t blink an eye when spending $6 on a bag of Doritos. And while those cheesy nacho chips are undeniably delicious, they offer little to no nutritional value. We are outraged that  the price of a dozen eggs has skyrocketed, due to the current bird flu, creating a decline in egg production. Yet, when you stop and think about it, a dozen eggs packs a hefty punch of protein and might just be the perfect snack. Shouldn’t each egg be at least as expensive as a candy bar?

We all know that a cup of coffee can cost over $5, yet we expect fresh, healthy produce to come at a much lower price. It’s almost as if we’ve grown accustomed to the idea that healthy eating should be cheap. But when you really think about it, fresh fruits, vegetables, and proteins aren’t just grown—they take time, effort, and resources to produce. Tim and I often joke that if we were to calculate the actual cost of raising our chickens, housing them, providing bedding, feed, scratch, and, of course, the time we invest, each egg would cost around $20.

But, despite the high price tag, I didn’t give in to the temptation of Doritos, candy bars, or other snack foods. Instead, I happily paid for those sweet cherries. Throughout the day, I snacked on them here and there, savoring their freshness and sweetness. As I ate, I couldn't help but imagine all the work that went into growing those cherries, from the farming to the harvesting, and ultimately getting them to me, fresh, ripe, and ready to enjoy.

There’s a common shopping theory for those looking to eat healthy: Stick to the perimeter of the store. That's where all the fresh and nutritious options are. The aisles in the middle are typically filled with processed, sugary, or salty nonsense. Still, I’ll admit, I sometimes find myself wandering down those aisles and picking up chips, chocolates, and other temptations. But there's no need to complain about the cost of produce. The price of those Doritos keeps climbing too, and there's no “nacho cheese flu” to blame, that's just the cost of doing business.

As consumers, we ultimately get to decide what’s worth our hard-earned money and what isn’t. For me, I’ll continue to try and choose fresh, healthy snacks—like those cherries—because I know that the price reflects not just the product itself, but the work that goes into making it available. When we start valuing the effort and resources behind our food, we might just find ourselves more willing to invest in healthier choices, even if they come with a higher price tag.