Take Care
How to Eat Healthy on a Budget Sister Racquel “Clásica” Henry When it comes to eating healthy, one of the most common complaints I hear from people is that they can’t afford the cost. As someone who was once living on a part-time salary, with no roommates to split any of the bills, I can sympathize. However, I’ve learned that although it may be difficult and require a little effort, eating healthy on a budget is still possible. I’ve compiled a list of methods that have helped me on my personal health journey.
1. Look for sales. It sounds like a lot to do, but you have to check the circulars. Keep up with the weekly deals. Many grocery stores have buy one get one free, and sometimes you can even use a manufacturer’s coupon on top of that. Which leads me to my next point: clip coupons. You can even sign up for emails from stores like Whole Foods and they’ll send weekly deals and coupons straight to your inbox. 2. Shop at bargain stores. There are grocery stores that are specifically designed to offer products to the consumer at a lower cost. For example, where I am in Florida, the grocery store, Aldi provides deep discounts on food. It’s possible to get a five pound bag of sweet potatoes for $1.99. You can also shop for other health food items at places such as Marshall’s, Ross, Big Lots, etc. All it takes is keeping an eye out for unlikely places. 3. Shop local. Not only will you be adding money to your local economy, but a lot of the times local produce is cheaper than they are in the big chains. For an even deeper discount, you can also keep up with deals and weekly
specials from local farmers and stores.
down on the use of plastic.
4. Invest in a water filter. If drinking water straight from the faucet doesn’t sit well with you (and some of us live in places where it simply isn’t possible) then you should invest in a water filter. According to TLC, the bottle water industry makes more than 4 billion dollars a year. A family of four who switches from bottle water to tap, can potentially save $2,878.57 a year. Additionally, you’ll be helping the environment by cutting
5. Eat foods that are generally cheap. There are many fruits and vegetables that are not on the expensive end of the spectrum. Certain fruits and vegetables have prices that are usually consistent. Some of these include, but are not limited to: bananas, avocado, watermelon, kiwis, pears, grapefruits, carrots, apricots, papaya, cabbage, cauliflower and celery. 6. Buy frozen fruits and vegetables. The trick here is to make sure that there are no additives or preservatives. (Read your labels, folks.) Studies have shown that if vegetables and fruits are frozen properly, they can actually contain more nutrients than fresh ones. What it all comes down to, is that we can either spend a little more now, or pay a great deal of money later for medical bills. Eating healthy won’t guarantee that you will never get a disease, or never get sick, but it can increase your chances of sustaining overall health. It takes some effort and dedication, but if we try harder, we can all eat well regardless of our budgets. La Mensajera Spring 2014
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