The Recession and Your Health

In these tough economic times it's only natural for people to cut back and save wherever they can.  Obviously saving money is a good thing, even when we aren't in a recession, but at what cost?  It seems like many people unwittingly sacrifice their health in order to save a few bucks.  I bring this up because of a commercial I saw the other night for an international discount chain department store.  It is meant to convince the consumer that shopping at their store for certain nutritious breakfast items instead of eating breakfast at a fast food restaurant will save them a few hundred dollars per year.  The items that were used to illustrate this so-called nutritious breakfast weren't so healthy for you, especially when eaten in combination and frequently (as suggested by the commercial).  The store's idea of a daily nutritious breakfast included scrambled eggs, full-fat pork bacon, Pillsbury Grands Biscuits, and Nestle's Chocolate Milk.  In another breakfast commercial for this store they use Jimmy Dean Sausage & Cheese on a Croissant Breakfast Sandwiches, Sunny D, and Yoplait Original Yogurt; while another commercial geared toward children's breakfast used Toaster Strudels, yogurt and soy milk.  None of these breakfast combinations could be considered nutritious with the high amount of added sugar in some and saturated & trans fats in others.  Many of the unhealthy choices are less expensive than the healthy ones - forcing many people to try and save money by slashing their grocery bills.  This is also one reason that people with low-income have higher obesity rates.  Another thing that may be forgone in a recession are gym memberships without an alternative form of physical activity taking it's place.  Forgoing the healthier options in the grocery store and giving up your gym membership without a less expensive alternative in place to save money can actually end up costing people more in the long run because it can lead to poor health and an increase in prescription drug consumption and health care costs associated with weight-related illnesses.  It's just not worth it to sacrifice your health during a recession in order to save a few dollars - it is definitely possible to find healthy, yummy, low-cost food and get plenty of physical activity without stepping foot in a gym!