1. Eliminate junk food – gawd! This was very hard at first!
Doing your shopping on your own is the easiest way to shop, as children and sometimes spouses are usually the ones requesting junk food. Gotta blame someone, right?
Shopping alone takes some discipline and, once you get the hang of it, will ensure that you only buy foods your body really needs for optimal health.
2. Buy and drink water or milk instead of soft drinks.
You can still enjoy your favorite drinks at a sporting event or night out, although you should cut the number you imbibe. When shopping, stick with the smallest size of that taboo drink, to save money and calories. And, don’t buy the diet cola hype.
Read the label for ingredients and look for syrup content. That’s where the fat devils are hiding.
Children and even adults need milk or milk products on a daily basis. Milk will also help you feel stronger, provide calcium for
healthy bones and healthy teeth, and you’ll sleep better. Calcium has relaxing qualities. Remember the advice – drink a warm glass of milk before bed?
3. Buy fruits in quantity.
When they are in season, buy fruits in quantity and freeze any extras. You can buy several pounds this way, and freeze extras to have them when the fruit goes out of season. Wash the fruit well, remove any spoiled pieces, dry thoroughly, then freeze in plastic zipper bags.
You can even buy apples in season and not freeze them. Just place in a plastic bag in the bottom drawer of the fridge. They will stay fresh for weeks on end. My wife does this and we have fresh apple pies all Winter.
4. Meats and beans are a super health source.
Meats and beans are the best sources for protein. Lean meat is more expensive than meats with a lot of fat but here’s a tip: Buy the cheap stuff, fry the meat in a pan with some water in it so the fat floats. I like to season the meat while it’s frying. The water floats off the excess seasoning. Then, scoop the meat onto a plate lined several paper towels thick to soak up the grease and you have your own version of low-fat meat.
Canned beans are always a great deal as well, as they give you protein at a great low price. Buy the cheapest store brand too. Likely they were canned by a name brand company anyway.
5. Use beans as a substitute in meals.
You should use beans a substitute for meat frequently. There are several varieties. Prepare them in a crock pot so, when you get home, they are ready to consume.
The USDA recommends eating beans at least 4 times per week. If you experience gas after eating beans you should try washing them, covering them with water, bringing the water to a boil, then draining it off and refilling the pot.
6. Cast your fishing line at the dock or at the market.
If you live in a coastal area or an area where fish abound, make that an integral part of your diet. You can catch them from the
lakes or rivers, saving money in the process but don’t overdo it. Mecury, you know? Once a week is good.
7. Peanut butter isn’t just for kids.
Peanut butter is great for those on a budget. as it’s popular with almost everyone. You can use it for sandwiches instead of eating hot dogs. It does need to be refrigerated. Bigger jars can last you for weeks.
One word of caution. Peanut butter contains some mold. If you are allergic, well, you probably already know it and already know to not overdo it. In Canada, candy bars no longer contain peanuts. Imagine that!
8. Water, water, and more water.
You should fill up with foods that have a high content of water. Watermelon, salads, and even sugar free gelatin are all great examples. Water is nature’s elixir and a source of life to the body.
Eating healthy is a lifestyle you will not regret. You can eat healthy for just a few bucks, which makes it perfect for those of us on a
budget.
Now, you know, you really don’t need a lot of money to have the lifestyle and health you’ve always wanted.
Jim DeSantis
Library for Dummy’s.com
Jim DeSantis
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/save-money-eating-healthy-the-no-organic-way-274463.html
#1 by shortgilly on November 7th, 2009
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Have you saved money eating organic?
A lot of people I know are afraid to switch to organic or even healthier eating because they think it costs more. What’s been your personal experience?
My personal experience: I have saved money mostly by shopping smarter. If it’s too pricey I don’t buy it. I base my meals around what’s available and fresh. Shop in the bulk dry good bins (30-60% savings!). Don’t waste as much food. One $1.19 package of tofu lasts 3 meals – how much would I spend on 3 meals worth of meat? I’ve stopped being interested in going out to eat as much. Ounce for ounce fresh food is cheaper than pre-prepared packaged food and stretches further. Yeah I spend a little more on some items, but overall my monthly grocery bill has gone down.
#2 by simm101 on November 7th, 2009
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I’m yet to see anything that’s been called organic cost less, quite the reverse in fact.
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#3 by whsgreenmom on November 7th, 2009
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Yes, mostly because I buy directly from the growers. In the grocery stores most fresh organic produce costs a little more than conventional.
I’ll be saving more next spring after I plant my veggie garden.
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#4 by railsavant on November 7th, 2009
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Of course it costs more and its a scam. It is amazing how little people know about what they eat and how it is marketed. I never would have dreamed that someone could market vegetables grown in a swill of animal waste (feces) as being more healthy than fertilized produce. No one ever died of salmonella or e-coli from chemical fertilizer. Also, what is the ethical thing to do when a milk cow gets an ordinary udder infection? Would you give it antibiotic to cure the infection or simply let it die painfully with no intervention?
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#5 by earthlover7 on November 7th, 2009
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When I buy from the store I am spending a little more now to save on healthcare costs later and to help make the planet a healthier place. However, I also grow some of my own organic veggies which saves me plenty of money to be able to afford the extra cost of grocery store organics in the first place!
In my experience, the better I eat, the better I feel, the happier (and hopefully longer!) my life will be!
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#6 by Lissy on November 7th, 2009
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I started buying organic right about the time the grocery bill started going up anyway. I plan out my meals for the week and buy minimal snacks. My spending at Whole Foods though is quite high.
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#7 by smashing ash on November 7th, 2009
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Well…when you start eating organic you are probably trying to eat healthier. So when you eat healthier, you cut out junk food, and unhealthy EXPENSIVE stuff like that. So you can then spend the money you save from buying junk food and switch that over to your organic food buying.
Does that make since? Trying telling your friends that.
ahh good luck
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#8 by MasterPython on November 7th, 2009
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The only way it could cost less is if you live in a place where there is localy produced stuff most of the year and you can buy directly from growers.
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#9 by Sean B on November 7th, 2009
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organic food costs more.
all organic means is that is was grown in animal manour (poop)
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#10 by Ras I.B. on November 7th, 2009
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Yes, because i grow my own food. Also in the longer run, it will save money on doctors bills. Eating whole foods (not processed garbage) will help make us happier, healthier, and more productive- thus able to produce more (money, food, etc). Local and organic is best- bringing organic produce from thousands of miles away is counterproductive.
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#11 by davidspikespal on November 7th, 2009
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Yes! I grow my own vegetables including sweet corn. Until you have tasted sweetcorn cooked within 2 minutes of being cut, you have no idea what it should taste like. I used to consider sweetcorn only fit for fishing bait but the stuff I grow I would not sell never mind throw to the fish.
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#12 by donfletcheryh on November 7th, 2009
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It can be possible to produce organic produce with less cost than producing non-organic. In general with lower production we have higher per kg cost of product, with the exception of grass fed beef.
But when it gets to a supermarket, the price of organic product is always higher. If the organic producer is not offered a premium price they will sell it without the organic label or find some other way to market it.
For example, with such high prices for walnuts, we find it difficult to get the organic premium, so we will circumvent the supermarket chains.
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#13 by foxy on November 7th, 2009
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Save? It cost more.
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#14 by contrarian45 on November 7th, 2009
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It does normally cost more because the government is not subsidizing the organic industry. The true savings is that you are not ingesting the chemicals and hormones in your body so you should be healthier long term.
We shop for many organics at Trader Joe’s which is an affordable Whole Foods.
You can also find more affordable organics if you have a CSA Farm near you so you are not paying for transporting across the country. You are also helping the environment. CSA stands for Community Sponsored Agriculture. Google it for your area to find one.
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#15 by Uncle Dud on November 7th, 2009
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I grow my own and it’s dirt cheep.
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