Eating healthier food doesn’t have to be expensive. In fact, eating better food can save you money in the long run, especially when you factor in the savings in medical expenditures that will follow. Choosing nutritious, fresh food will also model lifelong good eating habits for children.
Nutrition counselor at LifeCenter Plus in Hudson, Ohio and registered dietician Marianne Fisher has some “tried and true” advice she gives to clients who are seeking a healthier diet on a budget, and she agreed to share some of these tips with Examiner.com readers:
☼ Never shop without coupons from the Sunday paper or downloaded from online. Manufacturers and stores provide a lot of discounts.
☼ Buy fresh fruits and vegetables in season, when you can, to save money, but don’t be afraid to stock up on frozen ones, too, when they’re on sale. The quality is very good since they are picked fresh and flash-frozen.
☼ Decrease the amount of meat bought and eaten. It is the most expensive item on most grocery bills, and everyone would benefit from a diet that is heavier in fruits, vegetables and whole grains than meat.
☼ Replace meat with protein sources from low-fat dairy and economical plant proteins like kidney or white or black beans, soy products, legumes and quinoa.
☼ Buy only what you know you can consume before it spoils. The average American family throws out too much fresh food that goes bad due to buying too much.
☼ Downsize the “super-sized” portion sizes that have become standard for American families, especially for those who are overweight.
☼ Eliminate or at least cut back on high-sugar cereals and other processed foods. They are expensive and unhealthy.
☼ Pack lunches for family members instead of eating out each day or eating high-fat schoolcafeteria food.
☼ Eat out less often and make it more fun eating at home. (See the Go Green article on this page for suggestions to include kids in good nutrition and shared meal-planning fun.)
A lot of change can seem overwhelming, but try making just a few new good diet habits at a time. When you see the benefits that result, and the new habits become second nature, it’s easier to incorporate a few more. Happy, healthy eating!
You can contact MarianneFisherdirectly at mfishdiet@live.com.
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