Healthy Eating On A Budget
We all know that we should eat healthier but with ‘healthy’ recipes often including more and more exotic ingredients, it can seem like an expensive chore.
However, here’s some simple and effective tips to keep both your bank balance and waist line in check!
Write a shopping list
Draw up a weekly meal plan, incorporating ingredients you already have, write a shopping list and stick to it. It sounds overly simple but planning meals in advance will ensure you have everything you need to prepare well balanced meals as well as helping you to avoid those unhealthy impulse purchases which dent your bank balance and derail your healthy eating.
Waste nothing
The average family with children throws away almost £60 of good food every month. Plan your meals in advance and then be strict about buying only what you actually need. If necessary, freeze any unused food, meaning that you have got a freezer which is stocked up with healthy meals for those days where you’re short of time and may otherwise be tempted by fast food options.
Eat leftovers for lunch
Cooking extra portions for your evening meal so that you can have the leftovers for lunch the next day saves time and money, and can be a healthier option than the traditional "mayo-laden sandwich, crisps and soft drink desk-lunch" option. Any extra portions can be frozen for another day, adding to your freezer stash.
Buy frozen
It’s a well known fact that we should all be eating more fruit and vegetables in order to stay healthy. However, purchasing large quantities of fresh fruit and veg can soon add up. So instead, purchase them frozen. It is a myth that fruit and veg must be fresh in order to be good for you.
Frozen products come pre-chopped and ready to use and are just as good for you as fresh ones. Frozen vegetables are picked at the peak of freshness and then frozen to seal in their nutrients. Not only are the frozen varieties cheaper, it also means you avoid any wastage.
Cook with pulses
Pulses, such as beans, lentils and peas, are some of the cheapest foods on the supermarket shelf. These pulses are low in calories and fat but packed with fibre, vitamins and minerals. Use them in dishes to replace some of the chicken or meat, such as a chilli con carne with kidney beans or a chicken curry with chickpeas.
Eat smaller portions
Try eating smaller portions by saying no to a second helping or using smaller plates. You’ll have more left over for lunch the next day and your waistline will benefit too. If you really are tempted by a second helping, wait at least 10 minutes after finishing your first. This gives your stomach time to register that it is full and so you’re unlikely to still feel that you want another portion. Try weighing or measuring out staples such as pasta and rice when cooking to stay in control of portion size and reduce waste.
Cook from scratch
According to a study,one in every six meals is eaten out of the home. Of particular concern are hot food takeaways, which tend to be high in fat and salt, and low in fibre, fruit and vegetables. Cutting back on takeaways could save you up to £800 a year and inches off your waist! Preparing and cooking your own meals is generally cheaper than buying a takeaway or a ready meal, and because it’s easier to control what goes in to your dish, it can be healthier.
These are just a few simple and easy ways to eat and stay healthier, and to show you that healthy eating does not have to be an expensive chore.
However, here’s some simple and effective tips to keep both your bank balance and waist line in check!
Write a shopping list
Draw up a weekly meal plan, incorporating ingredients you already have, write a shopping list and stick to it. It sounds overly simple but planning meals in advance will ensure you have everything you need to prepare well balanced meals as well as helping you to avoid those unhealthy impulse purchases which dent your bank balance and derail your healthy eating.
Waste nothing
The average family with children throws away almost £60 of good food every month. Plan your meals in advance and then be strict about buying only what you actually need. If necessary, freeze any unused food, meaning that you have got a freezer which is stocked up with healthy meals for those days where you’re short of time and may otherwise be tempted by fast food options.
Eat leftovers for lunch
Cooking extra portions for your evening meal so that you can have the leftovers for lunch the next day saves time and money, and can be a healthier option than the traditional "mayo-laden sandwich, crisps and soft drink desk-lunch" option. Any extra portions can be frozen for another day, adding to your freezer stash.
Buy frozen
It’s a well known fact that we should all be eating more fruit and vegetables in order to stay healthy. However, purchasing large quantities of fresh fruit and veg can soon add up. So instead, purchase them frozen. It is a myth that fruit and veg must be fresh in order to be good for you.
Frozen products come pre-chopped and ready to use and are just as good for you as fresh ones. Frozen vegetables are picked at the peak of freshness and then frozen to seal in their nutrients. Not only are the frozen varieties cheaper, it also means you avoid any wastage.
Cook with pulses
Pulses, such as beans, lentils and peas, are some of the cheapest foods on the supermarket shelf. These pulses are low in calories and fat but packed with fibre, vitamins and minerals. Use them in dishes to replace some of the chicken or meat, such as a chilli con carne with kidney beans or a chicken curry with chickpeas.
Eat smaller portions
Try eating smaller portions by saying no to a second helping or using smaller plates. You’ll have more left over for lunch the next day and your waistline will benefit too. If you really are tempted by a second helping, wait at least 10 minutes after finishing your first. This gives your stomach time to register that it is full and so you’re unlikely to still feel that you want another portion. Try weighing or measuring out staples such as pasta and rice when cooking to stay in control of portion size and reduce waste.
Cook from scratch
According to a study,one in every six meals is eaten out of the home. Of particular concern are hot food takeaways, which tend to be high in fat and salt, and low in fibre, fruit and vegetables. Cutting back on takeaways could save you up to £800 a year and inches off your waist! Preparing and cooking your own meals is generally cheaper than buying a takeaway or a ready meal, and because it’s easier to control what goes in to your dish, it can be healthier.
These are just a few simple and easy ways to eat and stay healthier, and to show you that healthy eating does not have to be an expensive chore.
