Around the first of the year, a lot of people start feeling guilty about the amount of carb-heavy foods they’ve been consuming and the lack of exercise they’ve had. With all the hype about New Year‘s resolutions, it’s easy to say you’re going to eat healthier, but when it comes down to actually doing it, well, it’s easier said than done.
One of the biggest obstacles in eating healthier foods is the price — healthy food is more expensive than unhealthy food. As much as I hate it, there’s no way around that fact. It’s unfortunate and it fuels the fire behind the “this is too hard, I want to eat a donut” attitude.
Thankfully though, if you’re wise about how to buy food, there are some easy ways to eat healthy without breaking the bank.
7 Ways to Eat Healthy Without Going Broke:
1. Meal Plan
Happy Sunday! Heading back home from a long weekend in Pennsylvania and I'm excited to get back to my routine and in my kitchen. Here is my first dinner plan (week 11) of the New Year… http://www.skinnytaste.com/2016/01/skinnytaste-dinner-plan-week-11.html
A photo posted by Gina Homolka (@skinnytaste) on
Jan 3, 2016 at 7:24am PST
Let’s get down to it. Eating healthy is impossible without a plan.
We all know that after a long day at work or taking care of the kids, all you really want is a big bowl of ice cream or a loaf of bread, but if you meal plan, you won’t have that option because these ingredients more likely won’t even be in your house.
It doesn’t have to be complicated. My best advice is plan for three different recipes, cook in bulk and then eat them for more than one meal.
2. Stick to Simple Recipes
This homemade chicken noodle soup is absolute perfection after a day of playing in the snow. @fredmeyerstores has an amazing natural section and carries everything you need to make this dish at home. Now it's time to get cozy with a bowl of it and watch the @seahawks beat the @azcardinals! Thank you Fred Meyer Stores for making this meal possible!! #sponsored
A photo posted by The Modern Proper (@themodernproper) on
Jan 3, 2016 at 4:07pm PST
As far as healthy the eating is concerned, less is more and the less ingredients are in a recipe, the healthier it is. Not to mention, you won’t have to break your back buying and preparing your meals.
3. Learn How to Prepare Healthy Foods
Good morning everyone! Today's #yolkporn breakfast is two boiled eggs, with an avocado, cooked tomato and red onion guacamole and sautéed tenderstem broccoli cooked in a little coconut oil all seasoned with some garlic pepper and topped with some @munchyseeds ???? @ldn_muscle #eatclean #cleaneating #healthy #healthyfood #fitfam #fitspo #follow #fatloss #fitness #fitfamuk #ukfitfam #protein #macros #recipe #food #girlswholift #foodblogger #LDNMuscle #LDNMLadies #breakfast #eggs #fats #vegetables #motivation
A photo posted by Alice (@clean_eating_alice) on
Jan 5, 2016 at 12:17am PST
Everything tastes better when it’s cooked a prepared the right way. In order to introduce more healthy foods like fruits, vegetables and protein into your diet, do your research and learn how to cook your foods properly. This way, you won’t simply be eating healthier foods, you’ll be enjoying healthier foods.
4. Create a Grocery List
A little sneak peak of tomorrow's grocery trip! #healthyeating #eatbetter #healthyfoods #homemade #fromscratch #foodporn #healthy #weightloss #losingweight #weightloss #losingweight #weightlossjourney #fitnessjourney #healthyeating #healthyhabits #eatbetter #healthyfoods #homemade #gettinghealthy #newme #change #betterme #idwtbat #teampineapple #grocerylist #groceries
A photo posted by Sissaley E. (@be_happy_healthy_beautiful) on
Jan 2, 2016 at 10:48pm PST
Don’t buy anything you don’t have a plan for. I know it’s so easy to pass something in the aisle and think, “this item is vital to my sanity, I must have it in my pantry.” But, no. You really don’t need those extra ingredients in your pantry. Typically, those things you pass in the aisle are not only useless, but unhealthy.
Look at it this way, you’re saving money.
5. Don’t Shop Hungry
I start every week with grocery shopping! I remember leaving the grocery store in tears when I first moved to Idaho. I had just started following a gluten free diet at the time, but I didn't know how to cook and I was disappointed with the lack of prepackaged items. Here are a few of the important things that helped me turn my most dreaded task into my favorite part of the week: 1- Learning to cook from scratch. No label reading necessary! (Most of the time) ???? 2- Branching out to visit new, local stores that offer high quality products. 3- Trying to eat seasonally. 4- Getting connected with @inwfoodnetwork, a local non-profit that connects farmers and consumers. 5- Buying certain products (like meat) in bulk. 6- Learning to meal plan! The last one has saved a lot of time, which is essential since I usually visit 3-4 stores each week to get what I need. Where do you get most of your food? [ @_lindsaylea_ ] #llaip
A photo posted by Autoimmune Paleo (@autoimmunepaleo) on
Jan 4, 2016 at 1:08pm PST
I can’t stress this enough. It’s really hard to be hungry at the supermarket and make good decisions.
This doesn’t have to be a weird thing. Like, you don’t have to religiously eat a meal every time before you go shopping. Just make sure that you’re not ravenous when you get there.
6. Eat More Oatmeal
Guten Morgen ☕️???? ???????? Chia #Oatmeal for breakfast ❤️ – Simple Sachen sind meistens einfach am leckersten ☺️???????? Außerdem schnelle Zubereitung ???????? 100g Haferflocken & 15g Chia Samen mit 375 ml Wasser zum kochen bringen. Dann auf niedriger Stufe weiter ziehen lassen & 30g Queen Protein Snickerdoodle von @gymqueen.de (New Favorite❤️ schmeckt nach Zimt-Creme-gebratener-Mandel-Cookie ???????? Geschmack einfach unbeschreiblich ????☺️) unter rühren, noch ein bisschen geraspelte Kokosnuss darüber streuen und fertig ???? – so lecker, dass man überhaupt keine weiteren Toppings mehr braucht ☺️???????????? Dazu gab's noch ein Glas frisch gepresster Orangensaft ???? & natürlich Kaffee ☕️! Wünsch euch einen tollen Tag! ???? – bei mir macht sich schon langsam der Legday von gestern bemerkbar ????????????… ☝????️mit dem Code "GQJasmin10" könnt ihr übrigens 10% bei @gymqueen.de sparen ???? #startyourdayright #eatclean #Fitnesslifestyle #QueenProtein #Gymqueen
A photo posted by Jasmin L. (@prinzessin_jasmin) on
Jan 4, 2016 at 9:44pm PST
Oatmeal is cheap, filling and nutrient-dense, it’s really the perfect combination.
But, don’t buy the pre-packaged kind. Buy the actual oats and make it yourself. It takes 3 minutes, at most.
7. Don’t Starve Yourself
Is it too early to crown @deliciousmartha's pic as the Best Sandwich of 2016?? Fu@&$%/#!!! Martha, que tengas un año nuevo excelente y te seguire stalkeando fielmente ???????????????? Follow her IG for equally incredible pics!! #sandwich #instagram
A photo posted by Oliver Baik (@showmeyoureggs) on
Jan 4, 2016 at 6:46am PST
Make sure you’re full after a meal and don’t be afraid to incorporate snacks into your diet. Extreme hunger is the easiest way to turn to unhealthy foods and overeat.
Also, don’t be scared of bread. Everything in moderation.
Image Source: BigStock
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