With the prices of all commodities rising every day, one may be forgiven for thinking that eating healthy is expensive. Though it is true that doing so and avoiding cheap junk foods can get costly, there are many options by which these costs can be significantly reduced without compromising on nutrition and health. Outlined below are a few strategies that can help you eat healthy on a low budget.
Quench your thirst with water - Drinking water instead of various sodas and other beverages available in the market is both a cheaper and a healthier option.
Eat whey – Whey is the cheapest source of protein available. A 10lb bag costing $50-$70 can last for as long as 4 months. It is also a perfect ingredient for a post-workout shake.
Buy frozen vegetables – These can be purchased
at a discount if bought in bulk and can last for long periods in the freezer.
Several pounds of frozen vegetables can be bought for a few dollars, much less
than what you would spend in buying fresh vegetables, particularly those out of
season.
Eggs – Eggs are not only cheap but they also
serve to be an important source of protein and are easy and quick to prepare.
Fish oil – Omega-3 fatty acids benefit the body by lowering cholesterol, decreasing body fat and reducing inflammation. Fish oil serves to be an inexpensive source of Omega-3 as compared to fatty fish.
Avoid branded food – Branded food items are more expensive and at times less healthy. Buying generic food is a more economical option.
Use multivitamins – To compensate for the vitamins that are lost due to pesticides present in fruits and vegetables, you can buy either organic food or multivitamins. The latter is an inexpensive option and costs about $10 a month.
Bulk buys – Stock up on foods in bulk. Though you have to make a bigger payment at the time of purchase, buying food in bulk is much cheaper in the long run.
Don’t buy food at work – By waking earlier, eating a proper breakfast and then preparing a healthy snack for work, you can avoid wasting money in buying food at work.
Buy everything from one grocery store – One
particular grocery store may not have the cheapest options for all food items
but sticking to one store instead of searching for discounts in multiple shops
saves time as well as precious car fuel.
That eating healthy isn’t expensive can be
understood if you look at the USDA’s Food pyramid. Most of the foodstuffs at
the bottom of the pyramid (i.e. the ones that should be eaten most) like
grains, legumes, fruits and vegetables cost less while those that at the top
(i.e. food that should be avoided) like red meat, fats, dairy products and
processed food cost more on a per pound basis. Hence, in addition to being good
for the body, eating healthy can also be easy on the wallet and incorporating
the aforementioned tactics in your daily life would significantly reduce food
expenditure without adversely affecting overall health.