We all want things that are cheap

We all want foods that aren’t expensive. (Those of us that are on a budget that is.) When we think of cheap foods our minds automatically gravitate towards unhealthy foods. Usually when we see $2.70 in our wallet, we make our way over to a fast food restaurant. By heart we know exactly what that $2.70 entitles. Who is guilty of this? I know for a fact there are quite a few people out there that have this way of thinking!  So for those that are “balling on a budget”, here are some tips to eating healthy without wiping out your wallet.

Buy whole foods. Unprocessed foods are cheaper and way healthier than processed foods. For those of you who watch “Restaurant Impossible” we all now Chef Irving hates processed foods. He looks down upon restaurants that receive their ingredients out of a box. His praises go out to those who get their foods fresh.  Buying whole foods gives you total control over the ingredients you put in your meal.

Buy cheap proteins.  To build and maintain muscle, you need 1g protein per pound of body weight per day. Consuming a meal that has whole protein within helps fat loss seeing as protein has a high thermic effect compared to other foods. It’s recommended to keep the steak and salmon for special occasions and instead buy:

-Eggs

-Milk

-Whey

-Mackerel

-Tuna

-Hormone free chicken

-Cottage cheese, etc.

Buy fruits and vegetables while they are in season. Buying fruits and vegetable in season can lower the cost and add to the freshness! “What if I don’t use them all right away?” If this is one of your concerns, buy some that still need time to ripen. They won’t go bad as quickly.

Stay away from convenience foods. Now by this I mean frozen dinner foods: vegetables that are pre-cut, grits, oatmeal, and instant rice. These foods will cost you more than if you were to make them from scratch! Bring out your inner chef and cook with fresh ingredients!  

When you are on a tight budget, preparing appetizing healthy meals might seem a bit daunting. You might shy away from making delicious and healthy foods due to the hole it’ll burn in your wallet. Being able to overcome the obstacle that is a budget depends on your shopping skills and access to different types of foods. Play with the idea of using coupons. Cooking on a budget is always easier with a little planning, creativity, and work. Just consider this: eating healthy comes with so many rewards- better health and more money. Come on now, we all want more money! Where there is more money there is certainly effort that is worth exercising! Eat healthy and save money; always a great combo.