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Eating Healthy on a Budget
Cut Costs While You Shop Without Sacrificing Health By Cheryl Loux
Your children are hooked. The lure of fun, artificial colors, sugary tastes and the promise of greasy fats and carbohydrates reel them in. Temptation calls to your children as you high-tail it past the snack aisle, the cereal aisle and the candy aisle.
You know your family cannot maintain a healthy lifestyle if you are feeding them these types of foods. As a parent on a budget, you know there must be cheaper and healthier alternatives. So how do you win the battle of preparing simple, healthy meals for your family while on a budget?
"Feeding a family tasty, home-cooked meals on a budget can be challenging, but it can be done," says Michelle Jones, publishing editor of BetterBudgeting.com.
Fast food may seem like the cheaper way to go for parents on a tight budget, but it really isn't. Nor is it very healthy. Surprisingly, healthy foods can be less expensive than some junk foods. Making simple changes not only can trim the amount of money spent on food but can become healthier alternatives your family will enjoy.
"A bag of apples can cost less than a container of ice cream,"Jones says. "It just takes time for kids and their parents to adjust to a healthier way of eating." Jones also suggests switching to more filling, whole-grain breads and drinking water instead of sodas. These simple steps can save you a few dollars each week.
Buying in-season produce is another useful tip to eating healthy on a budget. Oranges, for example, are cheaper during the winter. Berries are cheaper during the summer and can be purchased frozen year round.
"Canned fruits (packed in juice) and vegetables these days are healthy," says Diane Peck, a registered dietician at Albertson's in Fort Worth, Texas. "They are processed differently and retain a lot of their nutrients." Peck suggests rinsing canned fruits and vegetables to get rid of excess syrup and sodium if needed.
Growing your own vegetables is another great money saver. Sarah Allen, a mother of one from San Antonio, Texas, did just that. "I grew three tomato plants and two bell peppers in pots in my back yard last year," she says. "I had fresh produce all summer, and it only cost me about $10 for the original plants."