Most individuals would readily agree that eating healthy foods yields great and lasting rewards–especially since an individual who eats healthy foods normally feels and looks better. And while some individuals are under the impression that eating healthy means spending a considerable amount of money on food, the truth is that eating healthy can often be less expensive than eating unhealthily, primarily because one can feel satiated with smaller quantities of nutrient-rich food. That said, eating healthy is not entirely cheap, and those with tight budgets may wonder if it’s possible to truly eat healthy without spending a lot of money. Luckily, it is.
Eating Healthy on a Tight Budget
It can be easy to be drawn to inexpensive fast foods simply because they are inexpensive and fast. However, they are often full of empty calories, excessive carbs and high sugars that leave the individual feeling tired and weak. Healthy foods can have more flavor and nutrients, leaving the individual feeling satisfied and energized. It is well worth it to search out and make healthy foods a part of your regular diet, even if it means one has to work with a tight budget. Following are some tricks for how to eat healthy without breaking the bank:
1. Buy fruits and vegetables when they are in season. Fruits and vegetables that are in season are always less expensive than those that are not in season, and they often are fresher and taste much better as well. This means that it may be best to plan one’s meals around availability of in-season foods, but this can be well worth it when one begins saving a considerable amount of money while still eating well.
2. Buy frozen fruits and vegetables. Frozen fruits and vegetables can be natural and organic, and are often far cheaper than fresh fruits and vegetables. Furthermore, they won’t spoil as quickly as fresh fruits and vegetables, which means that you can stock up for months without fear of wasting money or food when you fail to use it immediately.
3. Eat more vegetables and less meat. A simple walk through the vegetable and meat sections of your local grocery store will quickly demonstrate the fact that the former items are far less expensive than the latter. Furthermore, one does not actually need to have immense amounts of meat in order to gain the protein they need, as many vegetables have very high protein counts. When buying meats, one should steer toward grass-fed beef, organic, free-range poultry and wild-caught fish, which can drive the price tag up even further, and therefore such purchases can be well-balanced with many high-fiber, non-starchy and healthy fat vegetables.
4. Shop at warehouse stores for bulk buys. The interest in healthy foods and healthy eating has spread far and wide, including into warehouse stores where bulk buys can save an individual a considerable sum of money. It is extremely helpful, however, to make a list prior to shopping at a warehouse store so that you don’t get steered off course with the many bargain deals available. It is also helpful to make a detailed and specific meal plan so that you can ensure that whatever you buy in bulk will not spoil prior to use.
5. Eat food that are rich in fiber. Fiber can slow the process of gastric emptying, balance an individual’s blood sugar, curb cravings and cause a rapid feeling of fullness. This essentially means that an individual who eats foods that are rich in fiber is more likely to eat less often and in smaller quantities, which means that less food must be purchased. Some examples of fiber-rich foods include avocados, lentils, nuts, seeds and leafy green vegetables.
Initially, trying to eat healthy foods on a budget can seem quite difficult as the individual tries to consider how they can purchase all the natural and organic foods at the high prices they are usually offered at. However, embarking upon this journey can soon open the door to many new ways that one is able to stretch their food budget as far as possible, without denying themselves the good foods they want and need.