We could all use a few tips to help us eat better and save more money. Read on for some quick tips that are healthy and budget-friendly.
(1). Preplan your meals.
If you preplan your meals for a week, or even a month, you will eat healthier and save money. You will make better decisions in a focused fashion, and will not resort to temptation at the end of the day when you’re tired.
Pretend you are an elite athlete. Plan your nutrition accordingly. Eat for your own performance and energy.
(2). Construct your food list to avoid food waste.
In the US alone, 40 percent of food purchased goes to waste. This shocking statistic should be a wake-up call when it comes to the financial impacts on the average family’s budget. This percentage could be the difference when it comes to a college education for a child or an emergency fund. So, with that in mind, make the time to plan out uses for your food. Start with what you already have now. Dust off the slow cooker and make soups. Get creative.
(3). Make a bigger batch of main meals and use leftovers for lunch.
There are many weekdays when you simply do not feel like cooking and make poor choices by eating out or ordering in. Double up on those recipes of foods you love to eat and have them ready to thaw in the morning and reheat at night.
(4). Take a picture of your fridge and freezer contents shopping with you.
Trust me when I say this works. You won’t waste your money by repurchasing the same items that you forget you already had in the fridge.
(5). Buy seasonal.
Buying and eating seasonally means that you are purchasing local or regionally grown foods when they are naturally in season. This means your food is not only cheaper but has more nutrient value, as it does not travel far to make it to your table. This is a win-win for your health and your wallet.
(6). Buy less meat.
Eating meat is linked to many health issues, including obesity, cardiovascular issues, and hormonal cancers like breast cancer.
Meat is also very expensive, so this can free up a good portion of your weekly budget. Replace it with nutrient-dense vegetables that are in season.
(7). Use a coupon app.
By planning and restricting yourself to items that are on sale, you will save a lot. However, just because there is a coupon does not make it a necessity for you. Be wise to this and stick to your lists.
(8). Host potluck dinners to avoid restaurant bills.
When you eat out, you eat more, consume more sodium and additives, and have a liquid bill that in many cases equals or exceeds your food bill. Potluck dinners are a chance to try and exchange new food ideas and to center the evening around company, without creating additional financial pressures.
(9). Drink more water throughout the day.
Next time you want a snack or have the munchies, have a glass of room temperature water instead — you might find that you were just dehydrated.
(10). Eat dinner off a smaller plate.
For some people, this simple task of going from a 9-inch to a 7-inch plate makes it easier to make wiser food choices. This, in turn, propels weight loss and promotes more conscious eating.
(11). Make your own beans and pulses from dried varieties.
For the most part, canned foods are laden with sodium and other hidden chemicals. A bag of black beans can create many meals, and the beans can even be frozen — another way to have convenience food on hand.
(12). Learn how to make bread this year.
Want a fun science project for the whole family? Make a sourdough starter. You will have delicious and healthy bread and a house that smells divine!
(13). Organize your kitchen and pantry better to see what you actually have.
This is life-changing. Rather than repurchasing the same dry foods and spices again and again, you’ll find a treasure trove in your own cabinets.
(14). Use up things that are expiring first before replacing them.
First enact #13. Then take it once step further and organize all the stuff nearing expiry to the front of the cabinets (and get rid of the expired foods, too!).
(15). Chew your food more.
Most of us swallow food without savouring it. Chewing food properly helps the body release digestive enzymes in the stomach that help to break down food. This allows it to be more easily converted into energy and helps you feel fuller faster.