Eating On the Dime During the Holidays
Thanksgiving & Christmas On A Dime
Most people look at the short term costs of eating whole foods instead of considering the long term benefits. I know that choosing from the whole foods menu is more costly than the dollar one. However, in the long run, you will not have to spend money on expensive medical bills. You will also have a more fulfilling life when you do not have to spend most of the hours in a hospital. That said, you do not need to break the bank for simple meals. I have spent years and made some bad money choices, but I have also learned several tips on how to find the needed ingredients from the grocery stores at an affordable price.
Sure, going all organic is great, and a really healthy option but the truth is that only a few people can afford that. Here are a dirty dozen and a clean fifteen list that you will see some of the cleanest non-organic options you have and how you can reduce the amount of pesticides consumed.
Dirty Dozens
Apples, celery, strawberries, peaches, pears, nectarines, spinach, potations, tomatoes, cherries, and sweet bell peppers.
Clean 15
Eggplant, cabbage, papayas, avocadoes, cantaloupes, grapefruits, sweetcorn, pineapples, frozen sweet peas, mangoes, kiwis, melons, and cauliflowers.
Shop Local
A great way to save on costs is to go to the markets near you and find farmers selling their produce. In warmer climates, there will always be farmers throughout the year. For people in areas with four seasons, the markets will be open on all seasons except winter. This way, you can save big on production costs and still support the local economy. You will also find out from farmers about how they grow their produce and whether they are keen on avoiding pesticide use.
You Will Never Go Wrong With One Ingredient Foods
Go back to the basics when you start with healthy eating. So buy vegetables, nuts, meat, and fruits. There are snacks that look and smell great, and they are overflowing at grocery stores. It is easy to spend way over your budget when you choose to buy them. This is why you need to ignore them and only go for the ingredients that are simple and that you use often.
Buy In Bulk
Buying in bulk is a lot cheaper, and you also end up getting discounts. So instead of that $12 scoop of almonds, but them in bulk. You will find some fantastic deals that you have always missed out on. On that same note, it is always better if you buy ingredients that are on sale. You get more nutrients and will have different ways to store the ingredients. This way, even if they are not on sale, you will always have some in your fridge.
You also need to make use of coupons because they give you discounts and allow you to save more money. As far as saving is concerned, buy a water filter instead of investing money on bottled water. For women, especially, bottled water is not great for their hormones.
Shop Sales at Different Stores
While this may be time-consuming, it allows you to save big. Most shops will have sales on different items on different days. So you can benefit from all these sales, save money, and still enjoy whole foods. You can also go to Costco for deals on meat and organic foods. During sales, remember to stock up so you won’t have to buy expensively the very next day.
Cook At Home
Meal prepping is an excellent way to avoid spending unnecessarily by eating out. It will allow you to know that you are eating fresh vegetables and fruits and it will save you time. All you need is to dedicate a few hours a day and prepare food in batches that you will eat throughout the week. For instance, I often back my chicken and fish on Mondays, refrigerate it and eat it during the week. This way, I always have meat for my salads and don’t have to sleep late after a long day at work.
If you can avoid eating out, do. Cooking at home allows you to control the hygiene and the costs of what meals you eat. You also know exactly where the foods came from and will not have to pay the chef. Use the slow cooker; it is an excellent way to make meals. But, you can always eat out a few times a year to relax your mind and change the setting, but not every week.
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