#46 How can I eat a healthy diet when I’m on a budget?
Ohh we ll know that eating a healthy diet is essential for our physical and mental well-being.
However, it somehow has become a trend that you have to eat organic super healthy superfoods, that are imported from the furthest place from your home and have to be featured in at least 3 mangazine articles as a special gift from god before it counts as healthy.
This is why so many people think that eating healthy means spending a lot of money on expensive foods, supplements, and meal plans. In today's world, with cost of living expenses rising it is common to assume that you have to give up the healthy eating as it is often associated with this hefty price tag.
The good news is that eating healthy doesn't have to be so complicated nor does it have to take all the money from your bank.
Here at thriving lifestyles we have a little guide, and as always like to incurrage you to get good at the basics too = before going and spending on that 1% item that will make little to no difference in your overall health. And today I wanted to dive into that conversation and explore some options on how you can with a little bit of planning and creativity, create a nutritious diet all while staying in balance in your books and on the bank account.
Here Are Some Clever Ways to Eat Healthy on a Budget
#1 Plan Your Meals
Planning your meals is an excellent way to save money and stick to a healthy diet. Knowing how much you need of each ingredient will save you from food waist and the thing that I hate the most, the food going bad in the fridge before I get around to cooking it. This includes make a weekly meal plan based around staple and affordable ingredience, then create a shopping list, and perhaps the hardest part stick to it while you are in the store. You can download my template that I use for planning my meals HERE .
By meal planning, this will help you include plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins and you can, depending on your budget sprinkle some superfoods in there and treat yourself to chia seeds, goji berries ect. and mix them in with your regular granola or your overnight oats.
#2 Cook from Scratch
Cooking from scratch is not only healthier but also more cost-efficient than buying pre-packaged meals. When you buy pre cooked meals, you are both paying for labor of someone else doing it and several of profit margins along the way. The only food that is CHEAPER buying it ready is food that is made from extreeeeeemly cheap ingredents that is very questionable if those are good for you. Even though you are not a master chef, commit to the learning process and get good at the basics by challenging yourself to buy raw ingredients and cook them at home to save money. Once you are kinda good at cooking, for your pallets you can level your game up by:
#3 Buy in Bulk
Buying in bulk is a great way to save money in the long run. Stock up on pantry staples such as rice, beans, lentils, nuts, and seeds. These foods are inexpensive and can be used in a variety of dishes. Buying the bigger package of chicken, fish ect when you know what quantity you need for you and the family for the week / month without risking having to throw it away. Another trick you can use is to
#4 Buy Frozen Fruits and Vegetables
Frozen fruits and vegetables are just as nutritious as fresh ones and are often less expensive. Despite what you might think, they are actually in someways healthier than the fresh fruit and veggies, as they have been harvested closer to their optimal time, and washed, chopped, frozen and packed before they were shipped across the ocean to you. This also makes them convenient since they can be stored for a long time, often are pre chopped and washed and can be used in a variety of recipes.
#5 Use Leftovers
Don't let leftovers go to waste. Repurpose them into new meals or freeze them for later use.
#6 Use Cheaper Cuts of Meat
Cheaper cuts of meat, such as chicken thighs and beef chuck, can be just as flavorful and nutritious as more expensive cuts. They also tend to be more tender and flavorful when cooked slowly.
#7 Substitute Meat with Plant-Based Proteins
Plant-based proteins, such as beans, lentils, and tofu, are often less expensive than meat. They are also lower in saturated fat and higher in fiber.
#8 Avoid Processed Foods
Processed foods are often more expensive and less nutritious than whole foods. Drinking water, and limiting your intake of processed snacks, sugary drinks, and pre-packaged meals will be good for your waistline and your wallet.
Look, These are just some of the helpful tips I share my clients that you can choose to live by.
I know you wont walk away and implement all 8 straight away but I do hope this has been a tiny inspiration and perhaps shown you that healthy eating on a budget is possible.
Like everything else its a series of skills that you can practice and become better at. You know what they say. If there’s a will, there’s a way.
And while you are just wrapping up this thing, where do you think you could grab a low hanging fruit? something that you can intigrade easily into your routines and habits, something that could save you some time, effort or money or even better all three of those?
Just get started on that one today, and don’t worry about the rest, tiny steps forward.
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Cheers,
Coach Eik
