The New Year is just around the corner, and so is their resolution. Many of them involve adopting a better diet in the New Year, but tend to lose steam with the idea that you have to break the bank to have a healthier diet.
According to Hope Anderson Frugé of Hope with Hope in Monroe, people tend to think that a healthy diet costs more and they tend to be defeated and unable to start.
“Nutritive foods don’t have to be expensive,” Frugé said.
The secret to healthy food is to cook it yourself. This is the best way to slice your food bill.
Eating out often can be fun and easy, but even the most economical restaurant meals are more expensive than home-made meals. Taking the time to create a grocery list and plan your meal preparation is the first step to eating both a better meal and a more affordable one.
“If you plan your diet around comfortable food, it’s an easy way to save money,” she said.
Here are some ways to eat well while keeping your grocery bill low.
Batch cook
Plan in advance to make more of what you normally cook in a single meal for your family.
“You can pack your kids’ lunch and have your own lunch the next day,” Frugé said. “Some people like to do batch cooking on weekends to make large quantities. Stop impulse buying.”
Stop going to boutique grocery stores often
You don’t have to go around for nutritious food. You can shop at the Walmart Neighborhood Market to buy generic brands that are as healthy as those sold to luxury shoppers.
“It’s a place for my family to shop, and we can do so within our budget and still have a healthy diet,” Frugé said.
Find fresh food at a discounted rate
Find fresh, marked down ingredients and be creative, even if you’re not on the shopping list.
“If you have a banana, then mix it in or freeze it and add the smoothie,” she said. “For pears, you can put pears in a salad and put them in oatmeal to find high quality edible fresh fruits and vegetables at a discounted rate.”
Buy frozen foods and vegetables instead of fresh
Frozen foods and vegetables do not deteriorate as quickly as fresh fruits and vegetables.
“You can make smoothies and put them in cereals,” says Frugé. “I always tell my clients to throw frozen berries into your cereals and oatmeal. Make whole grain muffins with them. These are some ways to add nutrition that isn’t expensive.”
Color half of the plate
If you’re looking for a healthier diet, a simple tip is to add colored foods to half of the plate, including fruits, vegetables, leafy vegetables, and plant-based foods.
“The more colors the plate has, the better,” Fulje said. “Here in the US, if you go to a restaurant and order a double-sided entree, this part will be distorted. For example, a ribeye with potato stuffing and fried okra. The ribeye occupies half of the plate. The other two will occupy a quarter of the plate. “
Fulje said redefining the appearance of the dish could have a significant impact on overall health.
“This is an easy way to get the 9-11 servings of fruit and vegetables you need each day, without counting one serving,” she said. “I don’t do that, and because I’m a nutritionist, even nutrition experts lose track of what they had, but if I’m coloring half of my dish, I Is rich in the necessary antioxidants and fibrous minerals to ensure that you are getting enough of those plant-based foods. ”
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