Nutrition is one of the most important things you can do for your body. It’s also, however, one of the most expensive aspects of life. The good news, though, is that eating a healthy diet doesn’t have to be outrageously expensive. If you’re willing to cook at home and take advantage of sales, you can eat a nutritious diet without breaking the bank. Here are some helpful tips:
1. Remove temptations. Get rid of high-calorie, low-nutrition choices in your house and workplace. If they are not there, you won’t be tempted to eat them.
2. Get a list of healthy foods from your local supermarket or health-food store and create a menu for the week that includes only those items. You’ll probably find that the total amount you spend is less than you would have spent eating junk food anyway.
3. Look for sales and coupons for fresh produce at your local supermarket or health-food store and stock up on sale items like fresh berries and vegetables.
4. Avoid processed foods and convenience foods as much as possible, even if they are cheaper than whole foods or fresh produce because they often contain unhealthy ingredients like sugar, salt and hydrogenated fats that can lead to obesity and other health problems (and make life more expensive in the long run).
5. Eat healthier by replacing just one meal per day with a healthy alternative like salads, yogurt, or vegetable soup.
6. If you do splurge, go for healthy fats like olive oil, avocado, nuts, and seeds. A little butter will do you good, too. These foods are full of the good stuff that keeps you healthy and strong while they fill you up without filling you out.
7. Learn how to cook from scratch with wholesome ingredients and recipes that don’t need drastic calorie-cutting to fit into your overall plan for healthy eating.
8. Get active and find fun ways to exercise so you can burn calories without feeling like you’re on a diet or depriving yourself.
9. Eat less meat and more plants. There’s still a place for meat in your diet, but it’s not as prominent as it once was. Meat is expensive, so try to cut back when you can. Instead of buying a full steak, buy ground beef or turkey instead. If you’re going to splurge on meat at least make sure you’re getting grass-fed or pasture-raised options.
