Eating Healthy On a Budget
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Eating healthy on a budget is never easy. When you walk through the grocery store and hit the organic/all natural aisle those prices could send shivers up your spine. So what happens - we compromise and spend less and rationalize that our second and tertiary choices are still enough to make the grade. I'm not a nutritionist, and I definitely do not play one on TV. I am a gym rat though and with beach season coming up a lot faster than you think, I've started to get serious about what I've been putting into my body. What I want to share with you are some of the tips and tricks that I use to eat healthy and save a few bucks a long the way.
1. When you stop eating out and start preparing your meals you save a ton. No surprise here. Cooking for yourself is more than just saving money, you are controlling what and how those meals are prepared. For me I try to go the minimalist route - with as little seasoning and additives as possible. When you start and stick to a diet you won't believe the amount you save on impulse buys at the grocery store as well. I am definitely a person that falls victim to the shopping hungry syndrome - my plan keeps me in line!
2. Find local vendors. Not far from my house in Springfield, MA there is a fruit and vegetable store called Inter Produce. All they sell, year round, is fruits, veggies and some dairy. It is the most inexpensive and at a pretty good quality level. When you are starting to eat healthy you know that it's all about upping the protein, lowering the carbs and sugars, and increasing those leafy greens. The same thing goes for your meats too. Odds are a local butcher can give you a better deal than a supermarket - but hey if you find sales in larger places by all means stock up. Stocking up on tupperware is probably not a bad idea either.
3. Supplementing. If you are a gym rat like me then odds are you supplement your diet a bit. I am constantly changing it up. I just came across HCG and am taking a look at their HCG Drops. There are a few staples though like a good quality protein and multi vitamin. Look for sales and items that are "close dated". Close dated doesn't mean set to expire before you can use it, it means companies have to reduce prices because it's coming to the end of its shelf life. I've been able to grab supplements for up to 75% off because of this close dating.
4. Having a plan. Just like with your finances having a plan with your diet is imperative. It's not always fun pre planning your meals but that's why you have to include a little substitutable variety. I love adding stuff like salmon, almonds, and quinoa to meals for the protein and carb substitution. A plan will also help you focus your spending. You can always hit up the HCG Diet if you don't feel like you can create an adequate one on your own.
5. Talk to people. If your budget allows for it a trainer is never a bad idea - just check out what Sam had to say about his experience at the Financial Samurai. Trainers can help with diet ideas and point you in the right/healthy direction for supplementing. A friend of mine Maria just turned me on to some great stuff over at Team Beach Body. People like Maria are great to bounce ideas off of and to get advice from.
6. Don't discount the super discount stores. Love them or hate them, places like Wal-Mart, Costco and Bj's are great for picking up all the non-perishables. Almonds, rice, and quinoa can get really expensive at the grocery store and at the rate of consumption for me it makes sense (and cents) to buy in bulk. You need places like this to help keep you on budget and on that diet!
7. If you are paying for a gym membership make sure you are using it! I use Planet Fitness because they are inexpensive and suit my needs just fine. It makes me sad to see people pay for premium memberships to big health clubs and never use any of the extras - if you are going to spend the money at least get the full utility out of your purchase, otherwise it's just a bigger opportunity cost.
Hopefully you picked out some helpful stuff here. These are just a few of the things I do to try to get ready for the summer. My diet is really simple: protein shake in the morning with oatmeal, snacks like 12 almonds and fruit every three hours between meals, lots of chicken and salmon, and for carbs sweet potatoes and quinoa. I try to throw something green like asparagus into every meal too.
Leave in comments how you save money in your efforts to get ready for the summer beach season!
Budgeting, Healthy Eating, Savings in Budgeting 
Reader Comments (4)
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