Eating healthy is the one life-improving step that everyone
can take, regardless of budget, schedule, or even tastes. If the body is thought of as a
car, healthy foods are premium, high-octane fuel that helps you get through a
busy day with less stress, less irritability and way more energy than fast food
can deliver.
If you wince at the price of organic produce in the supermarket, however, you're definitely not alone: at first glance, eating healthy looks to be a very expensive proposition! Properly armed with a few shortcuts, though, you'll be able to save money and chow down without "stomaching" a hit to your bank account.
Think Outside the
Grocery Store
When you're trying to spruce up your diet a little, fruits
and vegetables are the first logical go-to. The problem is that they can really
add up when you're grabbing from bins and baskets at the store. You've probably
heard of fruit-of-the-month clubs before—they're a popular holiday present—but
have you ever heard of CSAs?
Short for "Community Supported Agriculture,"
they're a local version of those often-pricey of-the-month boxes with a much
lower price tag, and they're filled with locally-grown produce, many with
robust organic options. Not only is joining one a great way to help farmers in
your region make a living, it's also an excellent way to
expand your culinary comfort zone. CSAs that use a "random" style
subscription will introduce you to unique new produce as the mix changes every
month, and will often include recipes or tips for the more unusual items like
sunchokes.
Think Inside Your
Pantry
The best way to save money is to not spend any. A great idea
for those times that you are staring into your pantry or refrigerator and
seeing pieces of a meal puzzle that don’t quite come together, is to put what
you already have into an internet search. Have artichokes? Look up artichoke
recipes. Have rice and beans? Look for creative ways to jazz up that staple
dish.
Apps and websites like SuperCook will let you enter all of your ingredients (for example: chicken,
onions, olive oil, vegetable broth, carrots) and generate possible recipes for
you, and let you know if you are missing any of the ingredients!
Sales + Kitchen
Appliances = Success
When the growing season arrives, fruits and vegetables are
available in abundance from local producers, driving the wholesale cost down
and triggering more produce sales so that you can shop smart. Thinking ahead
about future expenses can be one of the best ways to make money by actively saving money.
This doesn't mean that you need to pay more to indulge in
those amazing flavors once the temperature drops. Take advantage of farmer's
markets, sales at your local stores, and even pick-your-own farms to get all of
your favorites at the peak of ripeness. Then, take a few hours or even a day to
process your bounty for use throughout the winter.
For berries, wash and dry very well, remove any stems
or leaves, freeze on sheet pans, then pop the whole frozen berries into
airtight zip-top bags for use in smoothies, baking and more. For vegetables
like tomatoes, consider making a puree or sauce and either freezing or canning
the result in mason jars—just leave a little room for expansion when freezing.
Pickling, stewing and dehydrating are other methods that can help preserve
flavors and nutrition to keep your diet healthy and affordable in colder
weather.
Try Out a By-Mail Meal
Kit
Getting takeout every night is a cost that really adds up—both
health-wise and wallet-wise. For some individuals, meal kits—special
subscription plans that mail you a chilled box of ingredients and recipes for
several meals—can be a wiser way to spend that hard-earned money.
If you'd like some menu-planning and cooking guidance along
with a healthy dining option, these kits are an excellent way to broaden your
tastes and pick up a few new kitchen skills in the process. The best part is
that the ingredients are carefully proportioned to prevent waste—which is more
than can be said for those "fallen produce soldiers" in the crisper
drawer that prompt questions like, "When the heck did I last buy okra?"
Your health doesn't need to come at the expense of your
budget or your taste buds if you shop smart and keep an eye out for deals. From the "scratch and dent" produce section of your local
market to farm share subscription boxes, a little savvy shopping and careful
meal planning will keep food bills low and your nutrition balanced—all without
breaking a sweat.
