Let’s face it: Healthy eating can be a buzz kill for your
wallet if you're not careful. Here are some tips that ensure you won’t break the bank while you’re
accomplishing your goals.
Price Shop
Snoop around all your local grocery stores to compare prices for your favorite items. Making a few stops may lead to big savings if you can afford the extra time. Tip: Using your bike for transportation (with a basket) will help you save on gas as well as burn a few extra calories between stores J
Snoop around all your local grocery stores to compare prices for your favorite items. Making a few stops may lead to big savings if you can afford the extra time. Tip: Using your bike for transportation (with a basket) will help you save on gas as well as burn a few extra calories between stores J
Buy in Season
Loading up your cart with fresh fruits and vegetables, though admirable, can be a costly endeavor. Unfortunately for us, processed foods are often extremely cheap thanks to government subsidies of corn and soy, the main ingredients in most junk and packaged foods like chips and cookies. Fresh produce is expensive to grow and ship, and will put a sizeable dent in your wallet if you are trying to get in your daily servings of greens. If you’re strapped for cash, try to only pick fruits and vegetables that are in season as they will not have to be shipped halfway around the world to get on your plate. Top picks for every season:
Loading up your cart with fresh fruits and vegetables, though admirable, can be a costly endeavor. Unfortunately for us, processed foods are often extremely cheap thanks to government subsidies of corn and soy, the main ingredients in most junk and packaged foods like chips and cookies. Fresh produce is expensive to grow and ship, and will put a sizeable dent in your wallet if you are trying to get in your daily servings of greens. If you’re strapped for cash, try to only pick fruits and vegetables that are in season as they will not have to be shipped halfway around the world to get on your plate. Top picks for every season:
Spring: Asparagus, broccoli, green beans, spinach,
strawberries, oranges
Summer: Bell pepper, cherries, corn, eggplant, grapes,
peaches, plums, tomatoes, watermelon, zucchini
Autumn: Sweet potatoes, pumpkin, apples, squash,
cauliflower, cranberries, pears, pomegranate
Winter: Clementines, grapefruit, dates, kale
Choose Frozen
While fresh is best in terms of overall nutrient content and taste, frozen fruits and vegetables are a good alternative that can save quite a bit of money, especially when buying in bulk. Frozen produce still retains most nutrients, and freezing will also prevent rapid spoiling. Buy frozen spinach to use in veggie omelets, broccoli florets in stir fries, and frozen berries for smoothies.
While fresh is best in terms of overall nutrient content and taste, frozen fruits and vegetables are a good alternative that can save quite a bit of money, especially when buying in bulk. Frozen produce still retains most nutrients, and freezing will also prevent rapid spoiling. Buy frozen spinach to use in veggie omelets, broccoli florets in stir fries, and frozen berries for smoothies.
Organic or Not?
Organic refers to particular farming practices that are gentler on the environment and lead to reduced pesticide residues when compared to conventional methods. Organic also tends to be much more expensive. Proponents of the organic movement are concerned with the potential effects pesticide residues may have on our health, though studies show no harmful effects on humans. (it should also be noted that certain pesticides are still used on organic produce, and neither organic nor conventional foods exceed government standards on pesticide residues). You can still buy organic while shopping smart if you are concerned about potential risks. Conventionally grown produce with a thick outer skin like bananas, watermelon, avocados, and squash will absorb a minimal amount of pesticides, while our thinner skinned fruits and veggies like strawberries, apples, and potatoes are more vulnerable.
Organic refers to particular farming practices that are gentler on the environment and lead to reduced pesticide residues when compared to conventional methods. Organic also tends to be much more expensive. Proponents of the organic movement are concerned with the potential effects pesticide residues may have on our health, though studies show no harmful effects on humans. (it should also be noted that certain pesticides are still used on organic produce, and neither organic nor conventional foods exceed government standards on pesticide residues). You can still buy organic while shopping smart if you are concerned about potential risks. Conventionally grown produce with a thick outer skin like bananas, watermelon, avocados, and squash will absorb a minimal amount of pesticides, while our thinner skinned fruits and veggies like strawberries, apples, and potatoes are more vulnerable.
Plan Your Meals/Food
Prep
Avoid eating out by planning and prepping your meals ahead of time for the week ahead. To keep things interesting, scope around some healthy food blogs and try a tasty new recipe every week. Cook large portions that you can divvy out throughout the week to give yourself a home cooked meal every day without the expense of ordering out.
Avoid eating out by planning and prepping your meals ahead of time for the week ahead. To keep things interesting, scope around some healthy food blogs and try a tasty new recipe every week. Cook large portions that you can divvy out throughout the week to give yourself a home cooked meal every day without the expense of ordering out.
Ditch the Apps and
Zerts
If you do go out to eat, save money and calories by being faithful to your main course. That means hands off the mozzarella sticks, the wine bottle, and don’t you dare let the cheesecake tempt you with its homemade butter crust. You’re stronger than that. But if you’re going to cheat, just make sure it’s with a hotter, younger cheesecake that’s way out of your league.
If you do go out to eat, save money and calories by being faithful to your main course. That means hands off the mozzarella sticks, the wine bottle, and don’t you dare let the cheesecake tempt you with its homemade butter crust. You’re stronger than that. But if you’re going to cheat, just make sure it’s with a hotter, younger cheesecake that’s way out of your league.
Choose Generic
This one is pretty self-explanatory. You’ve probably noticed that brand name everything is more expensive. You’re paying for the label, not the content so switch to generic everything wherever possible. Except Nutella. Never buy that imitation crap. Although that’s not on your grocery list anyway because unfortunately Nutella is not considered a vegetable.
This one is pretty self-explanatory. You’ve probably noticed that brand name everything is more expensive. You’re paying for the label, not the content so switch to generic everything wherever possible. Except Nutella. Never buy that imitation crap. Although that’s not on your grocery list anyway because unfortunately Nutella is not considered a vegetable.
