Living in Italy- the cost of food
This weekend, I will continue with the Healing series, but I have some data points I would like to share here, because I think it’s very interesting.
About three months ago, I started using Pear Budget software to track my half of our budget. I haven’t been doing a very good job since we left the States of keeping track of where our money goes, and I love Pear budget!! Anyway, I have been surprised to note that we actually spend a LOT less on food here than we did in the States.
In round numbers, Yoginis, we spend about $300 less per month here. And Rome? EVERYTHING is expensive here.
I was talking with my husband about this last night and marveling at the change. The differences in what we eat are minimal, but significant enough to add up.
1. You can’t find convenience food here, ie; frozen meals, snack bars, etc. Italians? They eat real food. Now our family does too.
2. In that same vein, the only produce that is available is seasonal produce (so we gorge on asparagus when it’s available in the springtime) and, you can’t really find a lot of frozen foods. The end effect being we have almost nothing in our freezer (unless I’ve made it).
3. The food that you find really is sourced locally, for the most part. The items that are imported are more expensive, but, you would expect that, right? And the stuff that is local is so great, there is no reason not to buy it.
Amazingly enough, I can’t seem to recall if local foods in the States are more or less expensive. My recollection is that they were more expensive, because they are from smaller farms. Is this right?? With the economic situation, are you finding yourselves cooking more meals from scratch? Because I now have the numbers from our budget and spending to prove that eating fresh foods is a lot less expensive- at least here. AND to boot, the food that I make now is better- I used to think my meals from organic, canned beans and frozen, organic veggies were pretty tasty, but I’ve seen the light.
October 2nd, 2008 at 2:38 pm
[…] Nona at Everyday Yogini had an interesting post about food prices in Rome vs the US. Unlike in the US grocery stores, […]
October 3rd, 2008 at 5:34 am
I’m in the UK and about a year ago we transferred our shopping over to a local organic delivery scheme. We now eat organic, local, seasonally and I cook nearly everything from scratch. We spend sooo much less on our shopping I cannot tell you. And yet everyone always complains about how expensive fresh organic food is. *shakes head*
October 3rd, 2008 at 9:30 pm
Oh, I remember shopping in Florence, fondly. While local, sustainable foodstuffs are becoming more and more common in the US (I’m now working for such a grocery store), it’s hard to change habits.
Italians have tiny refrigerators and vegetable markets in every neighborhood, so we did groceries every day (or every other day). Each food item has its own store (butcher, bread, cheese, etc), so shopping and planning meals was a daily event.
Americans want to shop once a week and get it over with. People prioritize dinner after soccer games and work, so it needs to be fast and easy. I’m not sure how we will move past that mind-set, but I think it’s behind of all the obesity we’re seeing. (and processed convenience foods)
Local food tends to be more expensive because it isn’t subsidized like factory farms and the farms tend to be worked by individuals or small families, so the labor costs are higher. It’s a superior product, but it doesn’t get much help from the American government.
Oh, it’s a complicated subject…
October 4th, 2008 at 3:37 am
Brenda, I was always a once a week shopper when we lived in the States. But I tend to think that is because the places I shopped weren’t in my neighborhood, but I had to drive there- destination shopping. Don’t you think that is a factor in our shopping habits?
Here, my family shops on average 3 times per week. I don’t think I spend any more time on shopping and cooking than I did in the States. It’s just a change of mindset, really.
I agree that local foods in the States are more expensive because they are not subsidized. I think that this is going to be a huge paradigm shift for our nation in general- the idea that we are entitled to cheap energy, cheap food, cheap housing, etc… the true cost of life is starting to catch up with us. Subsidizing, in the long-run, is not helpful for anyone (as you mentioned, obesity and disease)- or the planet.
Rachel, that has been my experience, too. The idea that eating local, fresh foods from scratch is more expensive is just not true. I would challenge any family to try it for a month and see for themselves. Do you spend less/more time cooking than you did previously?
October 5th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
I was amazing at the lack of “snack” type of foods in Italy. They really focus on fresh, yummy meals.
October 10th, 2008 at 11:15 pm
I was just talking about this the other day! Since moving to Utah, our weekly grocery bill has gone up by about $50. And I am buying more fresh produce at the local markets then ever before. So I’d have to say it’s definitely more expensive here to go organic and/or locally farmed. At least, that’s been OUR experience. (Not that I’d change it, well, maybe I’d change the tomatoes this year… blech.) Oh, and we LOVE Pear Budget…
October 13th, 2008 at 11:26 am
Hey Nona,
I think you can actually eat more cheaply in the US if you eat more locally. I have had a farm share at a CSA (community-supported agriculture farm) for 8 years, and my food costs are significantly lower from June - November as a result. I really don’t buy any other produce during the growing season. We just buy staples to support the fruits and vegetables. We don’t eat out as much either because we have a fridge full of veggies to contend with.
If you go to the farmer’s market, you can still eat more cheaply, but you have to stay away from too many specialty items (expensive cheeses and jams, or even early tomatoes that are expensive b/c there are so few).
All that being said, I am NOT defending the way the US “does” food - it’s really sad overall! I’m happy there’s growing awareness though.
October 20th, 2008 at 10:31 pm
HI Nona!!!
It’s so wonderful to be back at your blog again…things have been so busy, and I haven’t been able to do my jog around the blog circle as much as usual!! It’s good to be here again.
It’s funny to read this post. This weekend my sweetheart was terribly sick. On Sunday, I asked him what he wanted to eat and he said “steamed veggies”. I’m one of those shoppers that go to the super market every other day. I buy mostly all fresh–once in awhile frozen, and the only thing canned are the beans! So when I went yesterday to buy some fresh veggies:broccoli, carrots, green beans, and peppers, I added them up in my head then went to look to see how much the same veggies would cost frozen. It’s cheaper to go that way. But, I just can’t get over the idea how long they must have been sitting in a frozen state. I’m silly that way. But yeah–it costs more to buy the oranges that grow in the farm behind my home (no joke)–then it is to buy the regular/non local oranges. Go figure!! Don’t tell anyone…but we usually steal the ones that hang over the fence into the “public” sidewalk!!! That’s a deal!
Just recently a man in the check-out line before me made a comment that his produce probably has more frequent flyer miles then he does!
What’s the world coming to!!!!?!?!?!
Peace & Love.