Healthy and sustainable living is a trend on the rise. More and more Americans today are adopting a healthier lifestyle to improve wellness, help the environment, and just overall feel better. And a healthy lifestyle starts with healthy eating. In the past, Americans were all about the quick and easy meal. After all, a cheeseburger and soda from McDonalds was a staple in the average diet. Many people today are substituting the grease with healthy and clean eating today. It’s definitely one trend that is here to stay.
We all know the benefits of eating healthy and nutritious foods, but we also know it can be tough on the wallet. Fresh and organic foods can be double the price of processed foods, making it very difficult to fit it into our budgets. But if you are committed to healthier living, there are definitely tips and tricks to help you eat well for less:
Buy What’s On Sale
This might be too obvious but it has to be said: buy what’s on sale. Sure, you might prefer chicken but go for the turkey if your supermarket is having a super deal on turkey one week. Most markets rotate what fresh produce and meat they have on sale weekly so you’ll still be able to enjoy a variety of different foods. You also might discover new foods that you’ll end up really liking.
Stock Up Now and Freeze for Later
You might want to stock up now if you come across a great deal on a particular food item. You can prepare it and freeze portions for later on. It actually makes your life a lot simpler because you only have to cook once and have meals handy that you just need to defrost. Otherwise, you can freeze most meats and many vegetables for months, until you’re ready to use them.
Shop the Local Farmers Market
Local farmers markets can be a hit or a miss. Some can be very expensive, but you might be able to find a better deal at a farmers market than a regular supermarket depending on where you live. Plus, the produce is also fresher. You just have to shop around and know what to buy where. If you go to a farmers market at the end of the weekend when they’re ready to pack up for the week, you might be able to find discounted items and deals.
Check Out Ethnic Supermarkets & Shops
You’ll probably be able to find ethnic supermarkets or shops if you live in or near a city. These markets are usually considerably cheaper than a large chain supermarket (and fresher as well). Venture into one of these markets and see what they have next time you’re up for an adventure. You might also come across different delicious foods you’ve never cooked with before.
Plan Your Meals Weekly
One of the biggest things you can do to save money on food is meal plan weekly. Sit down once a week and plan out your meals for the week ahead. Use your supermarket circular as guidance. Then go out and buy what you need. When you have everything planned, it’s much easier to save money by getting only what you need. Nothing will go to waste.
Eating well can definitely cost a lot – sometimes even more than eating out. But with a little bit of extra work, you can still enjoy healthy meals at home without having to spend a lot. You’ll definitely feel and see the benefits.
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What if nothing is on sale because every shop in site is closed because of the recent outbreak of COVID-19
and with the food not consumed, put in the freezer, but think some vegetables can be pickled or dried. These are no energy consuming.
Another tips and tricks: learn the wild plants and collect it. Some can be used for tea/tisanes, some can be condiments, some are a component of a dish etc.
buy local and season products. The price is cheaper.
Find a producer. Try to discuss, to create a connection, to understand how the vegetables are produced etc. Try to negotiate a package and reduction.
Start the weekly menu with these ingredients.
Grow yourself some products. Start with condiments in pots, expand step by step. Grow cheap (I am doing the compost, collect the seeds, share with neighbors, read books, reuse water etc.)
I have been trying to loose weight with diets many times and failed. The problem with allot of the diets are that the food you need to eat in the diets are always expensive. Thanx for this awesome post.