Ah, January. That lovely time of year where Americans join hands and resolve together that this year will be the year we stick to a budget and start watching what we eat.
It all sounds so perfect... So simple... That is, until the pizza joint around the corner starts boasting about their new flakier crust and two for one specials. Or until we make our first attempt at going extended periods of time without letting the "value menu" help us out with a quick and cheap lunch.
I'd venture to say most of us have been there. I know I sure have. I mean, it almost seems like two of the most popular New Year's resolutions in America - eating healthy and saving money - are just becoming more and more incompatible each year. This begs the question: is it possible to eat healthy and stick to a budget? Well, according to the internet, the answer was a resounding, yes.
After reading several articles on this very topic, I found several suggestions being repeated by expert after expert. I'll link to these articles at the end of this post, but for convenience's sake, allow me to go over what seemed to be the more popular tips shared by people who know way more about this stuff than I do.
Processed Shmocessed. Buy Whole Foods.
An experiment to try on your own. If you can, make a list of everything you've had to eat over the last few days. If more often than not your lunch came frozen in individually wrapped containers, or your dinner came in a cardboard box, then you've got yourself a great opportunity to make a turn for the 'cheaper and healthier.' Frozen/Prepackaged sure makes mealtime easier, but more often than not it's a more expensive option loaded with sodium, calories and sugar. Instead, buy whole ingredients and make your meals.
Produce for the Win.
Yeah, this one sounds pretty obvious, but if you're looking to save cash and be healthy, the produce section can be your best friend. Cheap, healthy, and full of options. Additional produce related tips to help save a few extra bucks: buy local, buy in season, and sing to your produce to increase the nutrients contained within. I don't remember who told me about the whole singing thing, but it makes perfect sense. I've found that apples really enjoy "Take it Easy" by the Eagles.
Water, Water, Water.
Drink water. As always, this is probably going to be easier said than done: but if you can replace your daily intake of soda with water - you're looking at a quick and easy way to save a great deal of cash. Also, you really can't get much healthier than water when it comes to a beverage. Buy a nice water bottle, use tap water or buy a filter, and avoid spending $1.50 for a fresh bottle of water every time you're thirsty and you're in business.
Organic?
Hey, that's the healthiest possible option, right? Well, here's the deal. If budget + health is your top priority, then you should probably avoid the organic stuff more often than not. Nutritionally an organic apple is no different from a non-organic apple, but it's gonna cost you more. If you've got the extra dough and feel very strongly about the organic food movement, then by all means... But there are definitely better options out there when it comes to affordability and health.
A Little Planning Goes a Long Way.
If you're like me, half the battle is finding the time to eat right. A Quarter Pounder with Cheese or a frozen pizza is a much faster and easier solution than making your own meal day after day. And sadly, that's just a fact. The healthy stuff is almost always going to take more time and effort than the less-than-healthy stuff. So do your best to plan ahead... Wake up a few minutes earlier to make a sandwich to take to work, plan your dinners out in advance, etc... It's going to take effort and time, but it's possible.
What About Eating Out?
A nice dinner out on the town is always a good time, and I wouldn't expect anyone to cut that from their lives completely. The key here is to not make eating out your staple. Make it the exception, not the rule. Ask the restaurant what their healthy options are though, even though you're spending a little more, you can still eat plenty healthy. If you're just looking for a quick meal on the go, avoid those fast food dollar menus. Always try to check with a site like http://www.dietfacts.com/ to make sure you're not taking in an entire day's worth of calories for a quick and easy lunch.
Make sure to check out these articles among others:
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/17113255/ns/today-today_health/
http://frugalliving.about.com/od/foodsavings/tp/Eating_Healthy.htm
http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/2010/09/07/eating-healthy-on-a-budget/
As with any goal/resolution, the key is to not get frustrated to the point of giving up. Track your progress, rely upon the help of others, and most importantly. Sing to your produce.
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