Cooking Healthy On a Budget
Preparing meals at home can be good not only for your health but also your wallet. There are many ways to make healthy eating more affordable.
5 Tips to Eat Healthy on a Budget:
- Shop smart. Before you head out to the grocery store, plan your meals for the week and create a shopping list. Be prepared to be flexible and look for items on sale. Buy more fruits and vegetables, and less meat. Replace meat with beans, which are more cost effective, in burritos, tacos, soups and pasta dishes. Compare Nutrition Facts labels to pick the healthiest options.
- Buy in season. Fresh fruits and vegetables are usually the most affordable when they’re in season. Try checking out a farmers market they are another great option to get fresh discounted produce. Stock up and freeze the extras.
- Befriend the freezer. Frozen fruits and vegetables are picked at peak of freshness then frozen to lock in nutrients and taste. And they are easy to prepare — just heat and eat. No peeling, cutting or coring is needed.
- Go whole. Look for whole grains such as whole-wheat bread and whole-grain pasta, brown rice, sorghum and quinoa. Whole grains provide a nutritional bang for your buck and they keep you fuller longer.
- Cook once, serve twice. Save some effort in the kitchen by cooking a double portion of a meal. Store the extras in airtight containers and put them in the fridge or freezer.
