by Cheryl Conklin
Eating clean and living healthy is often touted as an expensive ordeal. However, in reality, consistently eating out and spending on packaged snacks and ready-to-eat meals turns out to be more expensive. In this article, we’ll provide you with a guide on how to live healthily on a budget.
- Create a Shopping List and Buy in Bulk
The key to consistently eating healthy is to plan ahead. Before visiting the grocery store, dedicate 10-15 minutes to creating a shopping list. Having a list in hand will reduce the chances of impulse purchases, potentially saving you a good chunk of money monthly.
Additionally, plan to buy your groceries in bulk. While fresh fruits and vegetables can be purchased weekly, here is a list of items that can be bought in large quantities without the risk of spoilage:
- Whole grains – brown rice, barley, quinoa, millet, etc.
- Lentils of various colors, such as red, yellow, brown, and orange — each of these provide a host of health benefits.
- Eggs, while they can get spoiled within two weeks, can easily be incorporated into most dishes.
- Proteins like chicken, fish, turkey, lamb, bison, ground meats, steak can easily be frozen for later use.
And always eat before you go grocery shopping. Going on an empty stomach or hungry will increase the probability that you make unhealthy buying decisions.
- Get All Hands on Deck for Meal Prep
According to Meal Prepify, on average, households spend a whopping $3,008.00 on eating out each year. By being smart with groceries and meal prepping, you’ll be able to save upwards of $3,000.00 annually.
Rather than cooking alone, get every member of the family to pitch in. Simple tasks such as peeling and washing vegetables can be assigned to children. While harder tasks such as cutting and cooking dishes can be divided between you and your partner.
Take a look at these family friendly recipes that everybody can help with.
- Brew Your Own Coffee
If having a cup of coffee is a standard inclusion in your breakfast, brewing it at home can help you save up to $840.00 annually, as reported by Financial Freedom Now. Additionally, coffee bought from commercial outlets often uses tap water and filters with bleach and chlorine in them. The coffee also has high sugar content, which is something to steer clear off.
If you’re interested in learning more about how to measure your daily caffeine intake and learn about the various coffee drinks, Caffeine Gurus is a great resource.
For everything else about coffee check out these additional tips.
- Engage in Free Physical Activities
One of the best ways to stay fit as a family is to spend time in the great outdoors. Compared to joining a gym or a fitness program, all activities you do in nature will be 100% FREE! What’s more, spending time outdoors is known to promote happier moods, reduce stress and play a key role in the physical development of kids.
Here’s a list of healthy outdoor activities for the whole family:
- Trekking
- Cycling
- Bike Riding
- Hiking
- Swimming
- Yoga
- HIIT Workouts
Living a healthy lifestyle as a family doesn’t require breaking the bank. By being smart with groceries, meal prepping, and brewing your coffee, you’ll significantly cut down on spending while eating well daily.
Visit 3natural Bionutrition for all-natural resources and solutions that can help you achieve all your nutrition, fitness, training and health goals.
