Better Living Staff Writer
There’s no
denying that America has an excess of unhealthy, inexpensive food options. Have
you ever tried to eat $20 worth of food from Taco Bell in one sitting? I don’t
know anyone who has successfully completed that challenge. But eating healthy
on a budget can also feel like an impossible challenge. Here are a few tips to
help you eat healthy without dipping into your retirement:
Purchase fruits and vegetables that are
in-season: Vegetables and fruits are the most fresh and inexpensive during
their peak seasons. Buy a lot of them and freeze what you don’t eat. When
possible, shop your local farmer’s market. Farmer’s market season is almost
here, friends. I get as excited about that as I do Christmas!
Learn to love leftovers: By packing
your leftovers for a workday lunch, you can save about $45 a week. And participants in Better Living's 10 weeks to
10lbs lighter program have stripped away over 58lbs in 6 weeks by planning
ahead and eating pre-portioned meals out of containers. Leftovers do require a
little bit of planning ahead. Meal planning and sticking to a grocery list are
two things that lead to leftover success. It only takes 2-3 recipes to keep you
on track for the week.
Don’t
grocery shop hungry: Going
to the grocery store on an empty stomach leads to impulse buys. If you want to
avoid the calories and cost of check-out line snacks, make sure you’re feeling
satisfied when you walk in.
Make your beverages at home: Resist the
urge to stop for a soda or latte by taking a cup of fresh home-brewed coffee or
tea with you when you leave the house. I also like to keep a stainless steel
bottle of ice water in the car with me so I’m not tempted to buy a beverage
when I get parched.
Cook with beans: Beans are an
inexpensive replacement for meat. Plus they are full of fiber and protein, and
have almost no fat.
Prep it yourself: Don’t pay for someone
else to chop your veggies or cook your chicken. Food that is not pre-prepped is
usually fresher anyway, and it really doesn’t take that long to cook a chicken
breast.
Get a crockpot: Crockpots are great for
cooking cheaper cuts of meat like shoulder roasts, and for cooking hearty
inexpensive soups. For about a $30 investment, you can save on time and money.
Money is no
excuse to eat cheap, processed foods. Invest in yourself. Spend some time
learning how to eat right without going broke.
For more
information on healthy eating on your budget, contact Better Living at (734)
747-0123.
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