Good Food Eat Well: Cheap and Healthy
You can cut food costs by eating more meals at home and by making sure they feature some of the healthiest foods from your supermarket , foods like whole grains, fruit,vegetables and beans.
Packing your lunch, snacks, drinks and other meals is less expensive and way healthier than eating out.
Make it a habit to cook at home, rather than eating out at the last minute.
Generally, you can feed an entire family of four for the same price as buying food for one or two people at a restaurant.
By cooking yourself, you also gain the benefit of knowing exactly what is in your food.
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Fruits and vegetables are a source of dietary energy (calories), they provide key nutrients at a reasonable cost.
For starters, don’t be afraid to buy frozen vegetables in the freezer section of your local grocery store (or even canned vegetables such as tinned tomatoes).
Sure, I love fresh vegetables, but since frozen veggies are picked and then frozen at peak ripeness (and thus most nutritionally dense), they are often a better value while being edible for months longer.
Fresh fruits, berries and vegetables are usually in season only a few months per year, and are sometimes rather expensive.
Supermarket Guide: Food Choices for You and Your Family (The Nutrition Now Series)
Quick-frozen produce is usually just as nutritious. It is cheaper, available all year and is usually sold in large bags.
Frozen produce is great to use when cooking, making smoothies, or as toppings for oatmeal or yogurt.
Furthermore, you gain the advantage of being able to take out only what you’re about to use. The rest will be kept safe from spoiling in the freezer.
You will find that if you take advantage of healthy foods on sale (especially buy one get one free deals), many foods that are listed here will suddenly become a great value!
Some foods are way cheaper in less processed form.
For example, a block of cheese is cheaper than shredded cheese.
Whole grains, like brown rice and oats, are also cheaper per serving than most processed cereals.
Whole foods are often less expensive than their processed counterparts. You can also buy them in larger quantities.
You would be surprised to see how much you may be paying for soda, crackers, cookies, prepackaged meals and processed foods.
Despite the fact that they offer very little nutrition and are packed with unhealthy ingredients, they are also very expensive.
So, You Think You Eat Healthy?: Transition from bad foods to good
Many packaged or processed foods contain high levels of hidden sugar.
They may be easy to prepare but too much sugar causes rapid swings in energy and blood sugar, and can contribute to many serious health problems such as Type 2 diabetes.
Hidden sugar may be listed as corn syrup, molasses, brown rice syrup, cane juice, fructose, dextrose, or maltose.
Avoid foods such as instant mashed potatoes, white bread, canned soups , refined white pasta, and sugary cereals.
Satisfy your sweet tooth with naturally sweet food such as fruit, peppers, and sweet potatoes.
Healthy carbs (sometimes known as good carbs) include whole grains, beans, fruits, and vegetables.
Healthy carbs are digested slowly, providing long-lasting energy and keeping blood sugar and insulin levels stable.
Unhealthy carbs (or bad carbs) are foods such as white flour, refined sugar, and white rice that have been stripped of all bran, fiber, and nutrients.
Unhealthy carbs digest quickly and cause spikes in blood sugar levels and only short-lived energy.
By skipping the processed and unhealthy foods, you can spend more of your budget on higher quality, healthy foods.
50 Things to Know About Saving Money at the Grocery Store: What Your Grocer Won’t Tell You
When it comes to saving money at the grocery store, planning is essential.
Use one day each week to plan your meals for the upcoming week. Then, make a grocery list of what you need.
Also, make sure to scan your fridge and cabinets to see what you already have. There are usually a lot of foods hidden in the back that can be used.
Only plan to purchase what you know you’re going to use, so that you don’t end up throwing away a lot of what you buy.
Once you’ve planned your meals and made your grocery list, stick to it.
It’s very easy to get sidetracked at the grocery store, which can lead to unintended, expensive purchases.
If you go to the grocery store hungry, you are more likely to stray from your grocery list and buy something on impulse.
When you’re hungry, you often crave foods that aren’t good for you or your budget.
Try to grab a piece of fruit, yogurt or other healthy snack before you go to the store.
Cooking large meals can save you both time and money.
Leftovers can be used for lunches, in other recipes or frozen in single-portion sizes to be enjoyed later on.
Leftovers usually make very good stews, stir-fries,and salads. These types of food are especially great for people on a budget.
Most stores offer generic brands for nearly any product.
All food manufacturers have to follow standards to provide safe food. The generic brands may be the same quality as other national brands, just less expensive.
However, read the ingredients lists to make sure that you’re not getting a product of lower quality than you’re used to.
Remember: If your goal is weight loss, the majority of your calories should come from fat and protein, NOT carbohydrates/grains!
Try having one or two days per week where you use other protein sources, such as legumes, eggs or canned fish.
These are all very inexpensive, nutritious and easy to prepare. Most of them also have a long shelf life and are therefore less likely to spoil quickly.
If you can like me and Brendan my husband it is a great idea to grow your own produce!
We find seeds are very cheap to buy. With some time and effort like us, you may be able to grow your own herbs, fruit such as strawberries ,carrots, tomatoes,lettuce and onions and many more delicious vegetables.
Having a continuous supply at home saves you money at the store.
Home-grown produce also tastes a lot better than the store-bought varieties. You can also guarantee that it is picked at the peak of ripeness.
There are several online retailers that offer healthy foods for up to 50% cheaper.
By registering, you get access to daily discounts and deals.
What’s more, the products are then delivered straight to your door!
Avoid buying diabetic and dietetic foods. These foods can be very pricey and you don’t need them to follow a healthy meal plan. You can eat healthy foods at lower prices and still manage your diabetes.
The following list of foods are ideal choices for weight loss,lower in calories, yet packed with nutrition.
They are also commonly available, budget friendly, familiar to most, and liked by many. Their flavours and textures mesh well for tasty food combinations!
1.Kale
Cost Per Serving (1 cup): 60cents
Why kale is so good for you: Kale is an undisputed superfood. A single serving (1 cup cooked) has ten times the daily value of bone-healthy vitamin K. It also has three times the daily value of vitamin A which help your vision.
Kale also contains properties that may protect against cancer and help our bodies detoxify.
Kale stands up to dressings without getting soggy , in fact, many culinary pros actually recommend dressing your kale ahead of time for better flavor.
So, you can make kale salad on a Sunday and still be eating good on Tuesday. Homemade kale chips are also super-easy to make (roast pieces in a single layer in the oven) and will satisfy a potato chip craving .
Sauté kale and beans with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Then top with Greek yogurt. Drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice and season with a little more salt and pepper.
2.Cabbage:
Premier Seeds Direct CAB26 3g Cabbage Savoy Winter King Seeds (Pack of 1200)
A sister food to kale and leafy greens, from antioxidant to fiber to vitamin C, cabbage is both affordable and nutritionally dense. Cabbage is extremely versatile (soup, salad, stir fry, or sandwiches), and it has some superfood cancer fighting qualities as well.
3.Broccoli:
Premier Seeds Direct ORG176 Broccoli Green Sprouting Organic Seeds (Pack of 1000)
Whether fresh or frozen, broccoli provides an excellent price per nutrient value.
4.Spinach:
Suttons Seeds 178210 Spinach F1 Amazon Seed
Rich in both minerals and vitamins, fiber and protein, spinach should be your go-to choice for salads over cheaper but nutritionally deficient greens like iceberg lettuce.
5.Carrots:
Premier Seeds Direct CAR22 Carrot Resistafly F1 Finest Seeds (Pack of 1000)
Carrots are one of my favorite nutritionally dense snacks. Crazy amounts of vitamin A, good carbs, and a little bit of everything else, carrots are a solid choice to supplement a salad or soup.
6.Watermelon:
Watermelon Keg Tapping Kit | Make Your Own Fruit Keg Dispenser
“Isn’t it mostly water?” Well, yes. But as it turns out, since watermelon is so cheap, it is an incredible value per nutrient.
Packed with lycopene (antioxidant), vitamins A and C, potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus, watermelon is a wonderful and easy to eat nutritional deal.
7.Bananas:
Banana King Loose Bananas – 2Kg
Bananas are a great source of carbohydrate. Bananas are super cheap and provide you with tons of potassium. They can be added to oatmeal, eaten as a snack, or as a dessert.
Bananas are constantly being touted as a great source of potassium, which is a key nutrient for keeping your heart and kidneys running smoothly. They are also good sources for antioxidants like vitamins A, C, and E.
Bananas can be a great option for dessert. Freeze a banana and mash it down and add a cinnamon sprinkle on top. It’s like a banana ice cream!
8.Plums:
Plum Greats: Delicious Plum Recipes, The Top 95 Plum Recipes
Packed full of great micronutrients like vitamin A, K, and C, plums are an excellent source of fiber and carbohydrates.
9.Pears
Although pears possess a good amount of natural sugars, they are another great source of fiber and vitamin C and usually even cheaper than plums.
10.Eggs
The Perfect Egg: A Fresh Take on Recipes for Morning, Noon, and Night
An egg is one of the most nutritious foods you can eat. It contains all nine essential amino acids and is rich in iron, phosphorous, selenium, and vitamins A, B12, B2, and B5.
Toss hard boiled eggs in a salad, scramble eggs in a stir fry, or prepare a regular breakfast staple, eggs are usually too cheap to pass up.
11.Canned Tuna and Sardines:
John West Tuna Chunks In Brine 10x155g Cans
Canned tuna and sardines are superb value and an awesomely lean protein source.
Check out other canned fish, such as salmon, for some variety.
Canned tuna and salmon are excellent sources of vitamins B6 and B12, magnesium, potassium, selenium, and anti-inflammatory omega 3 fatty acids. (So are other varieties of canned fish, like sardines and anchovies .)
And, salmon is one of the best food sources of vitamin D, a nutrient that’s crucial for our immune function, bone health,and mental health.
12.Legumes: Beans, chickpeas, lentil !
Legumes (especially when purchased in bags), are one of the best price per nutrient values out there. Legumes such as beans work great in a salads, soups, or even dips.
Providing copious amounts of both protein and carbohydrates, legumes offer great value !
Be wary though, nutritional value will vary depending on your specific legume of choice!
Lentils are super-high in minerals like thiamin, folate, iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc, and manganese. This is important because minerals help carry out nearly all our body’s enzymatic processes, including energy production, and we can only get them through food.
Lentils’ high fiber content helps digestive function and keeps blood sugar levels stable. And, with 18g of protein per cup, you can use them in place of meat and still feel satisfied.
Put lentils in a food processor with olive oil and spices of your choice to make a healthy dip/sandwich spread.
Or, use lentils in place of meat to make vegetarian meatballs. Lentils are delicious in salads, too!
Try a Mediterranean-inspired one with tomatoes, olives, mixed greens, and canned tuna.
Make an easy lentil soup by pureeing lentils with Greek yogurt and thawed frozen veggies. Season to taste.
13.Oats:
Mornflake Gold Scottish Jumbo Oats 1.5 Kg (Pack of 5)
Oats are incredibly cheap, provide ridiculous amounts of both carbohydrates and protein, and fulfill other micronutrient and mineral requirements such as thiamin, folate, magnesium, and phosphorus.
Oats help keep your blood sugar levels steady and could be the reason why oats seem to keep people fuller longer than most other cereals.
You can blend them into smoothies, soak them overnight with berries, or combine them with your Greek yogurt.
Oats are simple to make, can be prepared a variety of ways (sweet or savory), and can be bought and stored easily in bulk!
14.Avocados
Grow Your Own Avocado Tree in a 2L Pot 80cm Tall
Avocados are a great food , both calorically and nutritiously.
Although they may appear costly, avocados can be an incredible price per nutrient value.
Avocados contain healthy fat and protein, and they’re packed with lots of vitamins and minerals. In fact, they have more potassium than a banana, and high doses of vitamins C, E, K, B6, and folate.
Put them in salads, on sandwiches, or eat them plain ! When your local grocery store puts avocados on sale, be sure to stock up!
15.Sweet Potato
A better nutritional value than normal potatoes (plus a lower glycemic load), sweet potatoes are a great source of carbohydrates, dietary fiber, and incredible amounts of vitamin A.
Sweet potatoes are packed with vitamin C, B6, and potassium.
Carotenoids, the compounds that give the potatoes their orange color, are powerful antioxidants that can help strengthen our eyesight and boost our immunity in addition to protecting against aging.
Dice up some sweet potatoes for breakfast home fries. They’re also delicious roasted (try them topped with toasted nuts or pomegranate seeds). Or, you can simply bake them (a shortcut: Pierce the skin a few times and microwave on high for 5-8 minutes) and eat with your favorite toppings.
16.Olive Oil:
Iliada PDO Extra Virgin Olive Oil Tin 1 Litre
One of the best ways to add good fat without cholesterol or sodium is olive oil. Add extra olive oil to salads and legumes.
17.Frozen Mixed Berries
The Berry Bible: With 175 Recipes Using Cultivated and Wild, Fresh and Frozen Berries
Berries are low in sugar, high in fiber, and one of the best food sources of antioxidants. But, if you can’t get to a farmer’s market, frozen fruits might be your next best bet.
Thaw the berries and mix with Greek yogurt.
Use as a topping on oatmeal, pancakes, or granola.
18. Apples
Low in sugar and high in soluble fiber, green apples help fill you up and stabilize blood sugar levels. As an added bonus, they can also save you from bad breath. That’s because the tartness in the apple stimulates saliva, which helps to break down bacteria in your mouth.
The flavour of a green apple can be used from breakfast to dinner. Green apples are great in juices and smoothies, and they’re also delicious sliced into salads. Or, try sautéing or roasting them and serving with chicken.
Chop up an apple and mix it with kale and lentils. Toss with a dressing made from vinegar (preferably apple cider), olive oil and Dijon mustard.
19.Almonds
Buy Whole Foods Almonds Whole 1 Kg
Almonds are extremely versatile. Toss them into your morning oatmeal, or into a salad.
Toss some almonds into a salad with fresh berries and kale for a little extra kick of protein.
A lovely man contacted me by email whose name was Elmer.His wife has Type 2 diabetes and he has done a lot of research online about diabetes.
He recommended the following articles what do you think?
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