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Notice:::
The articles presented are provided by third party authors and do not neccessarily
reflect the views or opinions of HealthStatus.com, Inc. They should not be construed as medical advice or diagnosis. Consult with your physician prior to following any
suggestions provided.
Eating healthy when money is tight:::
by Tony Robinson
It is an unfortunate fact of life that many high nutrient, low
fat, low calorie foods are expensive, while many nutrient free,
calorie dense foods are cheap. This can make buying and cooking
healthy foods for yourself and your family quite a challenge,
particularly when the food budget is limited.
With some advance planning, however, it is still possible to
create a week full of wonderful, nutritious meals, not matter
how small your food budget. The key is to plan ahead, shop
smart, and make the most out of the foods you buy.
Planning those meals In today's busy world, meal planning often
means calling out for a pizza or hitting the drive through on
the way home. This type of lifestyle has helped to fuel the
epidemic of obesity the country has been experiencing. There is
a better way, however. Simply taking a few minutes a week to
plan your family's meals can make a lot of difference, both in
money saved and nutrition gained.
Advance meal planning is a must for any shopper on a budget.
Writing down your meal plans, including the ingredients needed
and expected preparation time, will help you plan what to buy
and how to cook. For those with especially busy schedules,
planning meals that can be cooked ahead of time and reheated is
a huge time and money saver.
Fortunately, many healthy meals, such as vegetable casseroles,
pasta dishes, meat dishes, seafood entrees, fruit salads, etc.
are great as leftovers. It is easy to see how advance meal
planning can save you time. Many working mothers, for
instance,
will make an entire week's worth of meals on the weekend, then
heat each day's meals up as the week unfolds. This is a great
strategy for creating a healthy and varied menu the whole family
will love.
Hitting the grocery store Now that you know what meals the
coming week will bring, its time to hit the grocery store in
search of the perfect and most healthy ingredients. Before you
hit the grocery store, however, be sure to check the pantry.
Keeping well stocked pantry, and restocking when staples such as
canned vegetables and fruits go on sale, is the cornerstone of
any healthy eating budget.
After you have gone through the pantry and noted the items you
need to buy, it is time to check the sales flyers for your local
grocery stores. Most major grocery store chains include sales
flyers in the local newspaper, so be sure to check there for
sales on the items you need for your meals.
Going to the grocery store armed with a shopping list is the
best way to save both time and money. The grocery store contains
many temptations, and most of them are both unhealthy and
expensive. Sticking to the list is the best way to stay within
your budget while providing yourself and your family with
wholesome, nutritious food.
Don't forget to include fresh fruits and vegetables on your
shopping list. Keeping fresh fruits and veggies around for
snacks is a great way to eat healthier.
Preparing the meal After everything has been purchased, the
pantry has been restocked, and fresh bowls of fruits
and
vegetables are arranged for snacking, it is time to start
creating that meal on a budget. As we said before, making meals
in bulk for later use during the week is a great strategy for
working women, and for those who are pressed for time. Taking a
few hours to mix the ingredients and prepare the food can save a
lot of time in the long run.
Of course for those on a budget saving money is just as
important as saving time. One of the most important ways to save
money while still eating a healthy diet is to stock up on those
essentials you always seem to run out of. Try keeping a notepad
on the refrigerator or near the sink. Every time you run out of
a certain food, write it on the notepad. You will probably
notice a pattern emerging after a week or two. So the next time
your local grocery store runs a special on one of those things
you always need, but it in bulk and keep a good supply on hand.
Buying in bulk is a great way to save money on many different
kinds of healthy foods. Many people automatically think that the
local warehouse club store is the cheapest place to buy bulk
items, but this is not often the case. The weekly specials at
the local grocery store often beat those warehouse club prices,
often by a large margin. So be sure to shop around and
comparison shop often as you put together those healthy meals.
About the author:
Tony Robinson is a webmaster, international author and fitness
guru. Come check out his website at
http://www.1stbetterhealth.com
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