24
Oct
Healthy Eating on a Budget
On a tight budget, it may be tough to eat healthy and nutritious foods. But a balanced diet which supplies healthful nutrients is vital to good health. Eating healthy is not easy, as oftentimes we don’t have time to seek out healthy meals. It is much more convenient to heat up an instant food frozen dinner or grab a burger with fries from the closest fast food joint.
Organic foods and meats do not come cheap and food from health food stores and restaurants are likely to be expensive. Be aware of meats which contain hormones, antibiotics and pesticides. Even though it sounds tough, we can still eat nutritious healthy foods without putting a huge dent in our budget. How?
Here are some tips to get in nutrients in our body
- Read your local newspaper for weekday bazaars which oftentimes carry organic home-grown foods which are cost effective and nutritious.
- If you have a backyard, it is a good idea to grow your own vegetables and fruits. Fresh and frozen vegetables are better than consuming the canned variety.
- Read food labels carefully and understand key nutrient claims and content.
- Shop in stores which use unit pricing.
- Say NO to food from vending machines. Nutritious snacks and juices are generally cheaper in grocery stores.
- Comparing foods, brands and pricing in different grocery stores is a good idea.
- Avoid buying food when you are hungry as you end up buying a lot of unnecessary junk foods. It is a good idea to have a grocery shopping list ready in advance to avoid impulse buying.
- Staple foods like rice and flour can be purchased in bulk. Bulk buying of food that doesn’t go stale quickly saves cost and ensures a good bargain price.
- Make use of sales and food coupons to purchase healthful foods in quantities you will consume and not waste.
- Limit purchase of sugary snacks, convenience foods and alcohol as they are expensive as well as unhealthy.
- Don’t get fooled by fancy advertising labels which read “natural”, “organic” or “healthy”. They can be expensive and low in nutritional value. Check the food label for nutrient composition.
- Beware of meal replacement formulas and any food label which promises instant good health or instant weight loss.
- Do not substitute balanced meals with vitamin-mineral supplements. Always seek advice from your health provider before doing any such thing.
- Say NO to pickles, olives, relishes, fancy ingredients which are low in nutrition and expensive.
- Find local restaurants which are inexpensive and serve nutritious meals.
