Whether you live in Totowa, New Jersey or any place else in the world, eating cheap and healthy is possible. Too often, clients complain that it simply is too expensive to put healthy fare on the table. One of the reasons is that they believe that healthy food has to be garden fresh. While fresh fruits and vegetables are delicious, they’re not necessary for a healthy diet. In fact, there are ways to eat healthy that are far cheaper than opting for the inexpensive processed food you’ve been consuming.
There’s nothing wrong with frozen or canned.
Frozen fruits and vegetables are the easiest to use without fearing additives. Don’t worry that they don’t contain all the nutrients that fresh alternatives provide. They may even have more! Frozen fruit and vegetables are picked at their ripest and rushed from the field and processed immediately. They remain frozen until you choose to eat them, releasing their nutritious goodness. Unlike fresh veggies and fruit that are often picked before they’re ripe and transported green. They often sit on the grocery shelf for a while before you buy them and even longer before you eat them.
Canned goods can be just as healthy, but you have to read the label.
Sometimes, there are additives in canned vegetables and fruit. Check the label. For fresh fruit, look for those packed in their own juice, without preservatives or added sugar. Do the same for vegetables, but look for added salt, instead. If all you have available are vegetables with added sodium, drain and rinse them, heating them in fresh water to lower the sodium level.
There’s nothing cheaper than dried beans, when it comes to making a healthy meal.
Beans are a great source of protein and make a great option for meatless meals. They contain micronutrients such as, magnesium, potassium, iron, folate and zinc. Beans are low on they glycemic index, too. Beans provide antioxidants, plenty of fiber and lower your risk of heart disease. You can lower the potential for gassiness when you eat beans by soaking them with water that has added baking soda to lower the acidity and discarding the water. Sprouting the beans also lowers the amount of gas you’ll get when you eat beans.
- Beans are legumes. There are a number of different types of legumes, such as chickpeas, kidney beans, black beans, peas, lentils and pinto beans. You’ll have a lot of variety from which to choose.
- Cutting the cost of meals can be as easy as using the leftovers to make soup every few days. You can air fry, broil, grill, boil or bake a chicken, use the meat on salads, as a main dish and even use the bones for bone broth.
- Planning meals ahead will help you save money. It’s a good way to ensure everything you bought is used while it’s fresh and nothing goes to waste. You can double recipes and freeze half, to use later and save time.
- Shop for in season produce and buy enough to freeze. If you pass a farmer stand, stop and see if the prices are good. Often, these small stands provide a lot for your money.
For more information, contact us today at Prime Fitness