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Healthy Eating

Let’s Prioritize Your Health While Eating on a Budget

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So you want to start eating healthier but you cannot afford the expensive name brand items offered at Whole Foods. Though it is beneficial to consume these organic food items, it is not the only way to be healthy! Following a healthy diet is more than buying overpriced groceries once a week; it is a lifestyle change! Here at Sweet Life Wellness Inc., we believe that every person should have a healthy relationship with food no matter the cost. We want you to feel satiated after every meal and to enjoy the food that you are eating. Creating healthy and delicious meals is the best way to start your healthy lifestyle. Some may believe that these nutritious meals are expensive, but the opposite is often true.  Some of the most nutritious food items, such as beans and edamame, are cheaper than you may think. For now, let’s learn how to prioritize your health while eating on a budget with these 4 tips and tricks!

Tip # 1: Learn to Love Beans!

Love them or hate them, beans are the cheapest way to get nutritiously dense food into your body. A singular can of Bush Reduced Sodium Black Beans at Target is only a dollar and provides you with 3 servings of nutritious goodness. Beans are also high in protein, low in fat, low in calories, a great source of iron, and has been correlated to good heart health. If you are not a fan of black beans, don’t worry! These little seeds come in many shapes, sizes and tastes. I recommend giving legumes and chickpeas a try if you are looking to prioritize your health while eating on a budget!

Want to try a tasty and cheap bean recipe? Click here to create a heart healthy and savory buffalo chickpea wrap!

Tip #2: Plan Your Meals for the Week Before Grocery Shopping

Though this may seem like an obvious tip, many people go grocery shopping without a plan and just buy on impulse. Obviously you cannot buy whatever your heart desires on a budget, so plan the meals and snacks you want to consume during the week before shopping. Most supermarkets have websites that allow you to search for the price of different food items before buying. This can help you properly budget your money and allow for you to buy the healthiest food items at a low price. If you are lucky, you may even score some coupons to use at checkout! 

Tip #3: Buy Your Meals in Large Quantities 

It is usually cheaper to buy a large amount of food at once. You may feel like you are spending a lot of money by buying in bulk, but when you break down the cost of these food items per serving you will be saving a lot of money in the long run. Basic everyday essentials are safe to buy in large quantities because you know that these items will not go to waste. Don’t work harder when trying to eat healthy- buy food smarter. This will benefit both your physical and mental health as well as your wallet. 

Tip #4: Create Your Own Garden

If you cannot regularly buy fresh fruits and vegetables, why not grow them on your own? Creating a garden in your backyard is not only beneficial for your health, but also your wallet. The process of creating a garden can be as cheap or expensive as you would like. You can get a 30 pack of vegetable seeds for only $17 on amazon. With this 1 time purchase, a little maintenance, some love, and patience you can grow fresh fruit and vegetables from the comfort of your own home for dirt cheap. I recommend watching a few “Create Your Own Garden” videos on YouTube if you want to learn more about the process. 

Want to learn more about how to prioritize your health while eating on a budget? Click here to watch an informative video from the Dietitians at the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics on how to eat right while trying to save money!

Need more help towards reaching your goals and becoming your best self? Don’t worry. Give us a call and follow our Facebook page. We’ll make an appointment to talk via Zoom or by phone. Together, we’ll find a way to make your day a little healthier and happier.

Call 301-869-1787 or click here to set up an appointment as my free gift to you.

Announcement: Living Your Healthy Sweet Life Podcast Series

Be sure to check out our Living Your Healthy Sweet Life Podcast Series! In this series, we discuss how to break out of your old habits and form new healthy habits while still being able to enjoy cookies from time to time. Could you imagine a life not controlled by food or other cravings? It would be much easier to enjoy the moment you are in. Let’s make a fresh start together this week with Episode 5 on Enjoy Mindful Eating!

While you’re watching our Podcast please leave a comment and subscribe to our YouTube Channel!

To your Joy and Health,

Kay Loughrey, MPH, RDN, LDN

This blog post is written by Bailee Richman, Dietetics Student from the University of Maryland