Eating Healthy on a Budget

By Ashley Chapman 

Whether you are saving for a big trip or trying to budget better, choosing how to eat healthy without breaking the bank can be challenging.  There is a misconception that it is impossible to eat healthy meals without overspending.  Eating healthy without spending a lot starts with planning and knowing what type of food to buy.

Read more to find out helpful tips on how to eat well without overspending.

Canned Vegetables 

When trying to include more vegetables in your meals, there is always a constant battle of eating them before they go bad. To avoid a waste of money and lack of nutrients, choosing to buy canned or frozen vegetables is a great option.

Choosing canned vegetables allows you to add healthy options into your daily meals without the extra pressure to eat them before they begin to expire. Remember to choose options that do not have any added sodium.

Frozen Fruit 

Similar to fresh vegetables, fruit can also become ripe faster than you can eat it. Frozen fruit can be just as pricey as fresh fruit, but will last longer.

Frozen fruit is great for breakfast smoothies or protein smoothies (for after a workout). Frozen fruit can also be defrosted and added to oatmeal or cereal.

Meal prepping 

While this can be time consuming, meal prepping can help alleviate the stress of not having lunch or dinner ready for those who have busy schedules. This also helps avoid going out for meals, as this can become expensive over time.

Using the frozen fruit and vegetables, you can defrost them in bulk and add them to various containers. Remember to include a protein (tofu, chicken or fish) and your choice of carbohydrate (potatoes, brown rice or quinoa).

Staying in for Dinner  

The hardest part of eating healthy on a budget is limiting trips to restaurants. The benefit of staying in is it allows you to choose healthier options as well as saving money on tips and expensive entrees.

If you do choose to eat out, it is best to do it for special occasions and choose from the menu that offers healthier alternatives.

Buy a Cookbook 

If you are new to cooking at home or need new options, choosing to buy a cookbook may help bring excitement into your kitchen. There are varieties of cookbooks that you can purchase that can give you great new recipes for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Killeen, Tex.