So many people tell me they would eat healthy if it was a little more affordable. They simply believe it costs too much to eat healthy food and almost use it as an excuse.
I hate to break it to you…but you can no longer use that excuse. I’m officially taking it away by telling you how to eat healthier foods without breaking the bank.

Plan Ahead
1. Grab a weekly ad at your grocery store or go to their website to see the weekly specials. Make a shopping list accordingly and stick to it!
2. Only buy what you NEED…not what you WANT. Big difference! Your family needs eggs for breakfast, and vegetables for dinner. Don’t buy the “Buy one, get one free” $5 bag of Oreos because you want them. You’ll consume an insane amount of calories, as you’ll eat both bags, and you’ve spent an additional $5.
3. Plan your meals (breakfast, lunch & dinner) for the week according to the items on sale.
4. If frozen (steamed) vegetables are on sale, STOCK UP! Keep them in your freezer and you’ll always have a healthy side dish or snack on hand.
5. Find a lean source of protein on sale (i.e. chicken breast, turkey breast, ?sh, lean ground beef) and keep in your freezer.

Resist Temptation
1. Beverages. Soft drinks, diet or regular, and powdered drinks are unhealthy, unnecessary, and expensive! Be careful on how much you spend. A case of Coke and a container of Crystal Light will cost over $10! That’s the same as 2 packages of chicken breasts!
2. Sugar. Sugar, whether in the form of cookies, cakes, ice creams, or cereals, are expensive! Substitute one “treat” with fruit or yogurt.
3. If you buy fresh fruit, eat it or freeze it before it spoils. Fruit can be cut up and frozen for smoothies, or blend it with milk or yogurt and freeze for a healthy ice cream!

Start to Cook
1. Reduce the amount of “instant” or 90 second meals. Hamburger Helper, Rice-A-Roni, and most prepared pastas have a ton of sodium and non-natural ingredients. Purchase brown rice in bulk and ?x it yourself (with salsa, or combine with vegetables).
2. Buy foods in bulk. When purchasing oatmeal, the packets are nice and easy but contain a great deal of sugar and cost at least twice as much as plain oatmeal. Buy the large container of quick oats and simply use 1/4 cup per bowl.
3. Lean protein. Lean protein is by far the most expensive item you’ll have on your plate, so only make enough for everyone, or if you’re going to prepare chicken for more than one day, put it aside immediately after cooking. If anyone wants seconds, make sure they opt for the green veggies ?rst. You should have a full freezer of them…so feel free to pass them out! =)