Cutting down on meat and eating more vegetables will help you keep down the weight. Vegetables cost way less than meat.
MANY people always have the misconception that eating healthy will cost a lot of money but it is not true that trying to trim your body will also slim down your wallet.
With proper planning, eating healthy can actually be done on a budget.
Fitness and nutrition coach and YouTuber Joanna Soh shares 10 tips to eat healthy with a small budget that anyone can practise.
1. Look beyond health claims
When shopping for groceries, read the ingredient list instead of just the health claims for the product.
Buying food without all the health claims but with the same ingredients will provide the same nutrition at a lower price.
2. Buy seasonal food
We don’t always have to eat the same kind of fruits and vegetables every day.
Almost all fruits and vegetables are nutritious. Shop for seasonal fruits and vegetables. A quick search on the Internet will tell you which fruits and vegetables are in season.
3. Pack on the veggies
Cutting down on meat and eating more vegetables will help you keep down the weight. Vegetables cost way less than meat, so why not try adding more vegetables into your meals.
This will save you more money, keep you filled up and at the same time, will trim down your waistline.
4. Buy real food
The term “real food” means unprocessed food. Unprocessed food is definitely cheaper and way more nutritious than processed food.
5. Eat local, shop local
In Malaysia, we are blessed with many fresh and cheap options when it comes to fish, vegetables and fruits.
As an example, tofu is a great and healthy source of protein and it is widely available and cheap in Malaysia.
Cheese on the other hand is expensive here. Educate yourself on what is good and cheap in Malaysia.
6. Make a grocery list Having a grocery list is important.
It will not only help you save money but also help you to maintain your weight or help you with your weight-loss goal.
Write down exactly what you need and estimate the budget for it. When you are in the supermarket, go straight to what you need. Chances are you will be more likely to stick to your list and avoid impulse buying.
You will also be filling your trolley up with good food rather than junk food.
7. Use discount card and coupons
Nowadays, almost all major hypermarkets and supermarkets will have their own membership card. Sign up as some of the memberships are free. They will provide loyal customers with points, discount cards, and vouchers. Make full use of them as they will save you money.
8. Keep it simple
Eating healthy shouldn’t be complicated or time consuming. Healthy meals equal simple meals.
You don’t have to cook three to four dishes for a meal. Instead, start learning to cook one-pot dishes. This will not only save time, but also money as you will spend less on the ingredients.
For example, cook soup noodles or simply stir-fry dishes containing meat and vegetables. Of course, on days when you have more free time, feel free to experiment with different dishes.
9. Freeze your meals
Cook in bulk instead of cooking one portion for each meal. After cooking, separate the food into portions and store them in the fridge or freezer. It will help you cut down expenditure on gas and electricity. In addition, it will help you to plan your meals ahead and keep you on track.
10. Mix it up
Experiment with your ingredients when you’re preparing a meal. Mix expensive ingredients with cheaper ones. In this way, you won’t always run out of expensive ingredients.
For example, brown rice is more nutritious but is more expensive than normal white rice. Mix brown rice with white rice when cooking. This will make a pack of brown rice last longer.
Also, if you don’t really like the taste of brown rice, this is a great way to introduce them into your diet.
Source: http://www.thestar.com.my/
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