Healthy Eating on a Budget
Who says you can’t eat healthy foods on a budget? This has been the chief complaint of many people who wants to eat healthy but couldn’t. Is eating healthy really that expensive? Well, some foods are truly expensive, like fresh yogurt and some fruits like kiwis and strawberries. Look on the bright side, there are other foods that are healthy but are easily accessible and cheap.
The problem with healthy eating is that you have to prepare it yourself. Why? Restaurants and fast food chains do not serve healthy foods or healthy alternatives. One reason for this is that it is easier to deep fry chicken, rather than mixing up sauces and chopping vegetables for your healthy garden salad. Grease and oil also help in making the food easier to prepare, and they greatly enhance the flavor of the food. These are the main reasons why fast food chains only serve greasy food.
How to eat healthy on a budget? It is easy. First, you have to know what healthy foods are. Then, you must incorporate these foods into your daily diet. Come to think of it, healthy foods are in plain sight and are readily available, not to mention accessible. The following foods can be found in your local fresh market: fruits, vegetables, nuts, beans, lean meats, and other natural foods, as these can be very cheap.
Making these healthy and delicious at the same time it is all about how you prepare the ingredients. Avoid deep frying and using a lot of unhealthy oils, and avoid using sauces that are high in sugar and salt. It is how you cook the food that makes it healthy. Also, eating a lot of fresh fruits and veggies that are readily available in the market is one of the ways to eat healthy.
The secret in buying fresh fruits and vegetables that are cheap is to make sure that the fruit or vegetable you are about to buy is natural and in season. If the fruit or vegetable is in season, you can make sure that it is natural with no fertilizers added, since the fruits or vegetables are in the prime of their growth. When these foods are in season chances are the market will be filled with them. With the law of supply and demand the prices are going to drop like a rock. It is just a matter of choosing the one that is in season, and you are in for healthy, delicious and cheap meals.
The following are some foods that are healthy, cheap and delicious.
Brown rice – if you eat white rice, then brown rice is a healthier alternative. It may be a bit more expensive compared to white varieties, but brown rice contains more fiber, which will keep you full longer.
Whole wheat pasta – this is a very good alternative to pasta, and it contains added fiber.
Whole wheat bread – white bread has about as few nutrients as you can think of, but the whole wheat varieties contain more protein and fiber. There is also not much different in taste compared to white bread.
Frozen vegetables – frozen vegetables are not much different than fresh ones. The nutrients are still there, and the protein and fibers are still present.
Follow these tips for healthy eating on a budget.
