{"id":4588,"date":"2018-09-26T08:39:45","date_gmt":"2018-09-26T15:39:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/howtobefit.com\/coach-blog\/?p=4588"},"modified":"2024-10-04T17:00:35","modified_gmt":"2024-10-04T23:00:35","slug":"eating-healthy-on-a-budget","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/howtobefit.com\/coach-blog\/2018\/09\/26\/eating-healthy-on-a-budget\/","title":{"rendered":"Eating Healthy on a Budget"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Tips<\/p>\n

Eating healthy on a budget versus what you hear, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Healthy food is expensive.<\/em>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

It’s an excuse we’ve all heard (or told ourselves!), but cost more than what?<\/p>\n

A gym membership that you never use? Juice cleanses? Packaged foods and fast food? Eating out every day?<\/p>\n

Buying food \u00a0any<\/em> \u00a0food can be expensive if you don’t plan ahead. But with a little creativity, you can fill your fridge and pantry with healthy, whole foods without breaking the bank!<\/p>\n

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1. Grow your own herbs and produce<\/h2>\n
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We get it: It can get expensive filling your grocery cart with fresh fruit and veggies every week the costs can add up if you’re not strategic about the types of fresh produce you buy. (Hello, packaged greens that end up in the trash\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6unopened.)<\/p>\n

Experiment with growing your own produce no matter where you live, as long as you have sunlight and water, you can grow your own herbs, veggies, and maybe even fruit!<\/p>\n

Small herb plants and vegetable seeds generally cost less than $5 apiece, and a window box, patio, or fire escape can provide all the light and space you need to grow a few items.<\/p>\n

Another option: Find a community garden and start your own plot, city farmers!<\/p>\n

A good place to start is to do a search \u00e2\u20ac\u0153[your city] community garden\u00e2\u20ac\u009d in Google Maps. Or \u00a0start your own community garden<\/a> \u00a0with a group of like-minded green thumbs.<\/p>\n

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2. Don’t Avoid Canned and Frozen Produce<\/h2>\n
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Fresh fruits and vegetables are ideal but don’t forget about the freezer section when you go grocery shopping.<\/p>\n

Canned and frozen produce<\/a> \u00a0are picked at their prime and either flash-frozen or heated\/pasteurized and packaged immediately, so they can be just as healthy as their fresh counterparts.<\/p>\n

Bonus? A frozen bag of spinach will last longer than a bag of fresh, which cuts down on food waste, which can mean more money in your wallet in the long run.<\/p>\n

Studies on the nutritional value and cost-effectiveness of canned, frozen, and fresh produce have found that \u00a0canned produce retains the similar nutritional value as fresh, \u00a0<\/a>and the heating process can make the fiber in canned foods more soluble, or usable, when digested.<\/p>\n

Just make sure your bag of veggies is just veggies skip the ones that come with butter or sauces. Same goes for frozen fruit make sure there are no added sugars, just fruit.<\/p>\n

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3. Start Your Own Food-Sharing Cooperative<\/h2>\n
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Pull together a few health-conscious pals or your neighbors and start a mini food-sharing co-op.<\/p>\n

Here are some casual, low-stress ideas to get started:<\/p>\n