In these tough economic times, it is hard to eat healthy because it is inevitably more costly than eating junk. Many of us are students or young professionals who have no money to spare for healthy food. I have some simple tips to help. Sure you can live cheaply on a diet of soda, bologna, white bread, and chips but you aren't going to live very long or very well. There are ways to eat healthy without emptying your wallet. I don't eat organic. Right now it is far too expensive for me as I really don't have a steady income at all, I am a student. The following are things I currently do to eat healthy and get a lot of good calories for cheap. Keep in mind I am a poor graduate student! A lot of eating healthy is just cutting out money spent on useless calories like alcohol, sugary junk etc. Put some money aside to buy healthy stuff...
#1 Frozen and Canned foods! Fruits and veggies in a can are cheaper than fresh produce and often have more nutrients because they are frozen or canned immediately. This preserves the nutrients. Fresh fruit is great but if you get it too late a lot of the nutrients are lost as it spends days traveling and sitting on the shelf. Put some frozen fruit in a Shakeology smoothie, it is awesome. Buy a can of navy beans and throw it on a salad.
#2 In Season Shopping! If you shop for fruits and veggies when they are in season there will be a large quantity of them to choose from
#3 Tap Water Don't buy bottled water or flavored waters when you are at a super market. Just drink out of a tap, or if you have to, buy a Brita Filter. Tap water saves you a lot of money and there is research now that shows that some tap waters have extra minerals in them that promote health.
#4 Buy Multivitamins! Take your vitamins, as many of our parents and grandparents used to say! It is important to take a multivitamin every morning. It is a simple and cheap way to get your daily dose of essential vitamins and minerals without having to buy tons of veggies and fruits (though those are important too).
#5 Ditch Some Condiments I know condiments are tasty, but sometimes I will look in a friend's fridge and see 4 different bottles of salad dressing that are completely unnecessary. Get one bottle of salad dressing and a bottle of some Simply Heinz (no HFCS).
#6 Plan Ahead, Buy What You Will Eat Don't buy things that you aren't going to use or going to finish, this is a no brainer. Make sure if you get fruit, veggies, breads that you are going to eat them. Have a plan about what you eat and when you eat it. For the truly obsessive, you can make out a menu of meals for the week and shop accordingly.
I know eating healthy isn't easy, it is hard to make the adjustment to non fatty/sugary foods, but you will be happier and healthier for it. Don't use the money excuse to prevent yourself from eating well. There are cheap ways to eat healthy. Get in touch with me if you have any questions or comments!
CoachZoso
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