Eating healthy is often considered a very expensive habit, but in most cases making healthy choices actually leaves your budget in good shape. For example, dining in is usually always cheaper than dining out, so while you will be avoiding those overly large portions and excess calories from the restaurant, you will also be saving money.
You may also find it a great idea to skip the costly movie theater snacks on date nights, and instead rent a movie and watch it at home alongside some air popped popcorn in a much cozier setting. This will save you a few pennies.
Making healthy choices doesn’t have to come with a big price tag. It is very possible for you to make healthy, frugal choices within your food budget. Though it might need some extra planning, the end results will always be worth the effort you put in. If you wish to commit to saving money while eating healthy at the same time, there are different ways of doing so as outlined below.
1. Eat vegetarian at least once a week
Wild-caught fish and pasture-raised meat may be among the most expensive items sold at the local grocery store, but you do not have to completely give them up to save money. Instead add a few vegetarian meals to your weekly diet and you will be able to enjoy significant savings on the grocery bill, while at the same time adding a healthy variety of foods to your diet. Lentil and sweet potato curry, for example is an affordable and filling meat-free alternative!
2. Brown bag it
Bringing along your own healthy lunch or snacks to school or work will not only produce massive savings on unnecessary additives and calories, it’s also way cheaper compared to buying something every day. For instance you could try packing the protein rich quinoa salad which should keep you comfortably going for several days!
3. Skip the coffee shop
Fancy coffee drinks served in restaurants or coffee shops have been shown to be notoriously high in the amount of refined sugar, calories and fat — and their price tag is equally as shocking. To save a little money, you can instead brew your own coffee drink at home for a fraction of the price.
4. Stick to a meal plan
Simply choosing whatever you will be eating per day can be a grueling challenge in itself; therefore planning the week ahead of time can be a great way of making healthier eating a no-brainer. When you make your diet plans in advance, you will only buy what you require from the grocery store and avoid excess purchases.
5. Repurpose your leftovers
You could also avoid food wastage by finding wise ways of reusing your leftovers. For example, by making curried soup for your dinner, you may want to serve any leftovers over a plate of rice the next day in a creatively different meal.
The bottom line is that eating healthy is not only good for your wellbeing — it can also cut off a very significant portion of your budget. You can save several dollars each month on the food budget by following these easy guidelines. Anyway the tips discussed above will help you to remain financially fit while you work towards healthy living goals!
Sourced from: sheknows
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