Eating Healthy on a Budget
Have you ever noticed that eating healthy costs a whole lot more than eating high fat or processed foods? Celebrity Chef Jamie Oliver made an entire television series – Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution - out of this very issue. The entire premise of his show was to demonstrate to people in “
How do you do that on a budget, though? You can always find coupons for macaroni and cheese in a box, frozen pizza, Goldfish crackers, frozen dinners that are packed with salt, and the like. Have you ever seen a coupon for a crown of broccoli or a pint of blueberries? Most likely you haven’t, but here are some ways to eat healthy foods without spending a lot of money.
Fresh Produce
Spring and summer are a great time of year to eat healthy, because more fruits and vegetables are in season, which makes them more affordable. Don’t limit shopping to your local grocery stores, though. The Dallas Farmer’s Market is an affordable and fun place to shop for produce, raw honey and all kinds of fresh and organic foods. It’s also a great way to support local agriculture. Farmers literally set up tables and booths to sell their produce, and if you’re willing to haggle, you may just come away with an even better deal. Many other cities in the area have their own farmer’s markets, as well. Some farmers sell to the public directly from their farms. Type in your zipcode at LocalHarvest.org to find one near you. Of course, if you have the time and the desire, the cheapest way to get fresh produce is to grow your own garden. Frozen Fruits and Vegetables
Frozen produce is the next best alternative to fresh produce, because it’s frozen just a few short hours after being picked fresh and still has most of its nutrients. The key is to get plain, frozen vegetables. Fruits should say “no sugar added” on the package and should not contain any type of syrups. Vegetables should not contain cheese sauce or butter. Stores like Aldi and Wal-Mart regularly sell frozen veggies for under $1, or you can get them on sale for that price at other stores. Stock up. You can use frozen vegetables in almost any dish that calls for fresh veggies.
E-Z Meals
Take the guesswork out of eating healthy. For just $5 a month, you can get a subscription to E-Z Meals, which provides you a menu for every day of the week, as well as a grocery list with prices listed for specific grocery stores. You choose the budget you want to spend. E-Z meals does the rest. Just print your list and shop. There are also trial menus on the site so you can try before you buy.
Eating healthy on a budget requires some planning, but it can be done.
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