Eating Healthier on a Budget

Trying to balance life’s pressures and healthier lifestyle habits (like eating healthier) can be a daunting task with looming economic forecasts. With the right approach, though, you can execute a well-planned strategy to remove unhealthy eating habits while maintaining and/or improving your financial resources. The key is to have a plan that will help you stay afloat while facing the financial challenges that probably won’t go away any time soon.

It’s no secret that making better decisions can be challenging, especially when you consider the tempting and affordable menu items offered at your favorite restaurants. The restaurant industry makes it hard for people to consider and conform to healthier habits. Even with the state of the economy, the various restaurants manage to offer great specials - a BBQ Bacon Sirloin Burger with an upgrade to a combo to include a small fountain drink and a small fries for free – all for less than $6.00. Or, an eight piece chicken dinner mixed with legs and thighs, for $5.99, and the option to add two large sides and four biscuits for an extra $4.00. When you consider it all, restaurants make it hard for you to make the right choices. But, you can do it.

It’s important to understand that a continued cycle of unhealthy food items will wreak havoc at some point in your life. The main things your favorite restaurants offer are menu items that contain a cargo load of calories, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, and sodium. Not to mention that they are laden with chemicals. All of which will have you on a road to heart disease and an array of other health problems. You’ll find that if you plan your daily meals and snacks, you can do a much better job of redistributing your dollars to eat healthier. You don’t have to fall victim to the fast food industry’s attempts to lure you in with their elaborate portrayal of cheap and tasty food items. The only requirement is that you must be willing to put forth some effort. With simple ingredients, not requiring a lot of fuss, you can make your favorite foods healthier while staying within your economic guidelines. If you reduce or eliminate your purchases of unhealthy foods like those fast food items, along with soft drinks, candy, chips, pastries, specialty coffee drinks, and other high-calorie items – you can invest in those healthier vegetable and/or fruit options like a whole orange or container of blueberries during the week. Shopping at food stores like Walmart and Sam’s typically offer better prices. Their price for a box of brown rice, a package of whole-wheat pasta, a box of whole-grain cereal, or a loaf of whole-wheat bread are better than those typically found at smaller grocery and convenience stores. Other options might include buying fresh fruit and vegetables from your farmer’s market. And remember, when vegetables are too expensive, frozen is the next best thing.

If you eat out for lunch everyday, set a goal to bring your lunch at least three times a week. If you typically eat frozen dinners for lunch or dinner because they are cheap, STOP! Many of the frozen dinners, as well as the pre-packaged items like lunch meats and hotdogs are high in sodium which can be a stepping stone for heart disease. Take the time to plan your healthy meals. Once you’ve figured out what your daily meals will consist of… stick to them when you reach the grocery store. Based on your meal selections, for instance breakfast, you could plan on having a bowl of whole-grain cereal with low-fat milk and fresh fruit, or a slice of whole-wheat toast with a carton of low-fat yogurt and fresh fruit, or a bowl of homemade oatmeal with low-fat milk and fresh fruit. As you think about meals you and/or your family can eat for lunch and dinner, consider meals that can last a couple of days like spaghetti, a stir-fry, tacos, and jambalaya – all of which can include a host of vegetables like zucchini, squash, and broccoli. Start to analyze and implement a strategy to redistribute your dollars to eat healthier. A well thought out plan will be crucial to your success.