"How do you buy diet foods or specific suggested extremely lean meats and other foods when you are on a fixed income? Example: It is more cost effective to feed my family spaghetti or hamburger helper than it would be to buy salmon and asparagus for the entire family, just because it is better for me..."

My answer:

Eating healthily is CHEAPER than eating "normally". If you saw what types of foods elite athletes consume (and remember that these people need to cover all their bases because they compete at extremelly high levels) you would think that they are destitute. Eggs, rice, tuna, fruits, vegetables, nuts and milk among other things. And there's no need to buy salmon or "lobster". Buy cheap fish. Good nutrients can be found in very cheap foods.

Not to mention that people who don't eat healthy meals will have several expensive bills to pay sooner or later like lost days at work, surgeries for heart attacks or knee and lower back problems, self help classes because of bad self-esteem, all kinds of gimmicks and magic pills etc. I wonder how "cheap" cheap food really is...

Also, you don't have to eat exactly what the entire family eats (I covered this question earlier). And, if you really need to buy something special for you, don't think that you have to buy food for the entire family - focus on yourself.

You may think that this sounds "selfish" - but you need to think about it. Many people try to "help everyone around them" while they aren't even able to take care of themselves. FOCUS on yourself and do what needs to be done so you are in good shape - physically and mentally.

Then, you will be strong and able to help your family and everyone else you like. If you ignore yourself, it won't be long before you won't be able to help anyone (yourself or others). I'm convinced that losing weight is a mental issue above everything else. Once people "get it", they lose weight like crazy.

I have one last thought on the subject I need to add: Most people have no trouble spending money on sweets, junk food, cigarettes, alcohol, new fancy clothes etc. But, as soon as you tell them about doing things that will improve their health, all of a sudden they think about money. Weird.