As I age, I just can’t seem to keep the weight off and when I go to get rid of it, nothing budges. As my weight continues to creep up past the 150 mark, I’m looking for anything I can find, that’s simple, to keep my weight WAY below 200. One simple method that works for me is healthy eating on a budget. The challenge is, food is expensive in Hawaii where I live.
I’ve looked at diet pills, exercise programs, diet drinks, keto, pruvit, purium and so many more. For me and my budget, there’s just one simple way to do this.
If you are like me and you feel challenged trying to eat healthy while sticking to a budget, you’ll find these tips to be very simple, but a great place to start:
1. Eliminate junk food and save money
The easiest way for me to eliminate junk food in my diet is to simply do my shopping on my own. I have a teen at home who can eat anything she wants, and she loves junk food. She is notorious for wanting chips, soda, etc so shopping alone prevents me from buying things I know I won’t be able to stay from (no willpower), and ensure that I only buy the foods I need.
Instead of pizza, chips, and soda… I’m heading for veggies and fruit.
2. Replace soft drinks with water, milk or tea
I cannot drink milk so I replace my cravings for soda with iced herbal tea or just ice cold water. On occasion I’ll enjoy a Dr Pepper as a special treat, but for the most part – you should stay away from soda and if you do drink one, stick with the smallest size when shopping to save money and calories. Easier said than done when McDonald’s has the large soda for just $1.05 (here in Hawaii)
Small children on the other hand need milk or milk products on a daily basis. Milk provides calcium for healthy bones and healthy teeth so if you can’t drink it yourself, be sure to supplement in some way to get the needed calcium.
3. Buy fresh fruits in quantity
To help with a sweet tooth, buy fruits fresh fruits in large quantities and freeze any extras. I especially enjoy farmers market fruits here where I live. Living in the tropics, there is always some kind of fruit that is ready to eat. If you think about it, you can buy several pounds this way, and freeze extras to have them when the fruit goes out of season. Be sure to wash the fruit really well, remove any spoiled pieces, dry it thoroughly, then
freeze in plastic Ziplock bags if you don’t plan to consume it right away.
I do want to mention that too much fruit isn’t good either. Consider the sugar content in fruit.
Of course, you can always get frozen fruit year round if you aren’t particular about what kind of fruit you eat.
4. Meats and beans for protein
Whether you eat meat or you are a vegan/vegetarian, meats and beans are some of the best sources for protein. Lean meat is more expensive than meats with a lot of fat so you can tailor this to your specific budget.
Bags of uncooked beans are a great deal as well, as they give you protein at a great price. Even canned beans can be a budget friendly item that helps you eat healthy and keep the weight off.
Canned beans are a primary staple in my hurricane kit living here in Hawaii as I can buy an entire case of it for around $8 here.
I also keep almonds and almond milk on hand to help supplement my need for protein while cutting down on meat consumption.
5. Beans as a substitute for meat or skip it all together
If you are really trying to cut the budget and keep your grocery bill low, you could substitute beans for meat. Or, instead of eating meat for every meal, eat meat just one meal and throw some beans into your diet.
Beans come in several varieties so you can prepare them in a variety of way, including a crock pot, so when you return home they are ready to consume. You might be surprised to know how much protein you actually get in vegetables that you eat too.
Did you know, the USDA recommends eating beans at least 4 times
per week. If you are concerned about, or experience gas after eating beans, be sure to wash them by covering them with water, bringing the water to a boil, then draining it off and refilling the pot. This one step alone can help cut down on the gassy side effect of beans.
6. Eat More Fish:
If you live in a coastal area like I do, or an area where fresh fish are easy to obtain, make that an integral part of your diet. You can even consider going out to catch them from the lakes or rivers yourself, enjoying the process and saving money at the same time.
Sadly, this is not a habit that I’ve taken to yet. Just not a fan of fish (yet).
7. Peanut butter is great for those on a budget but still wanting to get protein in the diet and, it’s popular with almost everyone. You can use it for sandwiches instead of eating hot dogs, put it on veggies like celery, etc. It does not even need to be refrigerated and the bigger jars can last you for weeks.
If you can’t eat peanuts, there are many varieties of nut butter on the market that give you the same benefits without the peanuts.
8. Get More Water:
Besides just simply drinking more water, you should fill up with foods that have a high content of water. Things like watermelon, lettuce, and even sugar free gelatin (jello) are a few examples.
It goes without saying, be sure you get enough water in your diet. Depending your activity level, you should ideally drink 8-10 glasses of water a day. If you are super active and/or sweat a lot, make a point to get even more water in daily.
This Simple Method of eating healthy Keeps Your Weight Below 200 and is truly something you can’t go wrong with. Depending on where you live, how many live in your household, you can find ways to eat healthy and save a few bucks, which makes it perfect for those on a budget. Hopefully, you now know you don’t need a lot of money to have the lifestyle and health you’ve always wanted.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this article. Leave a comment below with your favorite tip in this simple method. You can also contact me with questions or comments.
