When you think about it, the fact that eating healthy food is actually more expensive than chemically processed junk is baffling. Eating healthy food everyday can be a challenging task when you are on a budget – this is because a home-cooked meal made from organic, off-the-farm raw materials is probably four times the price of ramen noodles. Especially when you are on a budget or are a financially constrained family of four, eating right can be a difficult task. However, if you are smart, there are a few tips and tricks that you can abide by to healthy on a budget:
1. Plan Your Meals In Advance
You should always plan your meals well in advance if you are looking to save some money. Every weekend you should plan your meals for the next week in advance. Doing so will help you make a detailed grocery list. Making an unplanned trip to the grocery store can be a bit heavy on your pocket as it often involves buying junk and processed foods unnecessarily. With a meal plan and a grocery list you can avoid buying unnecessary items.
2.Try Preparing Meals At Home
It is a no brainer, but cooking at home is obviously cheaper than buying takeout or ordering from your local restaurants. The amount of money you spend at a restaurant for a dinner for 2 people can be enough to cook for a family of four lunch and dinner both. An alternative to cooking everyday is cooking meals on the weekend for the entire week and freezing them. When you cook at home you are aware of what exactly goes into your body and makes you more conscious of what you consume.
3.Whole Foods Over Processed Foods
Certain whole foods come cheaper than their processed versions, and in such cases it is recommended that you opt for and purchase the whole version. For instance, in cheese, a block of cheddar will be cheaper than a shredded and packed form of cheddar. Also, whole oats are cheaper than instant oats. The former are also much more healthier than their instant version.
4.Use Leftovers Wisely
You should never discard your leftovers if they are in good shape. You can always use your leftovers wisely and for other purposes. For instance, if you grill a whole chicken one night and have half a piece of chicken breast leftover the next day, you can make a sandwich out of it. If you don’t want to use it the next day, you should preserve food for later use.
5.Shop For The Season
Fruits and vegetables that are produced locally and are in season, are generally cheaper than produce that is shipped from elsewhere and not in season locally. Not just that, it is also much cheaper. Additionally, you should try and shop from the farmer’s market as the produce there is locally produced and often organic.
It is absolutely possible to eat healthy on a budget, and if you follow the above mentioned tricks you will be following a healthy lifestyle that’s easy on your pocket in no time.
Author Bio :
James Allison is the Head of Public Relations at a renowned blogger outreach agency. He helps his team find good bloggers and connects with them to maintain long-term and good relationships.