Many people believe eating healthy is expensive, or saving money means eating beans and rice, but when done right, that’s really not the case. Healthy eating doesn’t have to mean that you have to have all organic, all grass-fed, special expensive ingredients, or stick to a “diet.” What matters most is looking at labels, and knowing what you’re putting in your body. This is where sites like buoy health come in.
Dairy
Aldi’s is our go-to store for almost all of our groceries, and basic dairies like Australian milk and cheese are no exception. For a frugal alternative to chocolate milk, make your own with coco powder (or Hershey’s syrup) and regular milk. (But overall, chocolate milk should be avoided if you are trying to eat healthy.) Keep that coco powder on hand for those splurge moments though! (It also makes the best hot chocolate!) Yogurt can get interesting. Many people purchase the flavored yogurts, single serving, maybe with added fruits? Check the sugar content on these, most of them are filled with it! Yoplait just announced they are removing aspartame from their products, which, makes it taste better and last longer on the shelf. And at over $1 a piece for most varieties, you can save money by purchasing a large container of plain yogurt (no sugar!) and add in your own fruits and flavors and some honey as a sweetener.
Cheese
Sliced cheese is almost never real cheese, with the exception of a few brands. Buying a block of REAL cheese and slicing it yourself will be far healthier, and you will notice the taste difference. You should also shred your own cheese to avoid the chemicals added into pre-shredded cheese to make it not stick together. Real cheese doesn’t have to be expensive either, you don’t need to buy the aged or specialty varieties, just as long as it’s real and not filled with chemicals.
Bread
Bread is an easy one to purchase a healthy variety. Although bread only needs flour, water, salt, yeast and a natural sweetener like honey, most stores won’t carry something that simple and healthy. What you want to find is something that has minimal ingredients that you know about and can pronounce, and with “whole” wheat as the first ingredient. If you really want to save money here, make your own at home. A simple recipe of wholesome ingredients makes the best bread!
Soda
I’ve been trying a soda-free diet. By switching to water you will not only save money weekly, but you will also be on the right track to getting healthier. Soda is caked full of sugar and chemicals. If it’s the carbonation that you want, try out a Soda Stream or similar product. It’s a wise investment to save money long term.
Fruits and Veggies
Fruits and veggies should stay on the list! Organic when you can, but fruits and veggies as a whole are healthier than any other snack around. Fruit snacks and fruit roll up type treats are often times full of dyes and sugar. Try making them at home. If you have a dehydrator this is very easy with fresh fruits, but it works just as well in the oven at a low temp. Real fruits and veggies will be healthier than this snack, and cost less in terms of cost versus quantity.
Cereal Bars/Cereals
Cereal bars and cereals are a main culprit when it comes to hiding behind the “healthy” label. Cereals that claim to be healthy have high sugar contents, children’s cereals have dyes, and granola bars have sugars and chocolate. Make sure to read the label, buy a good brand of cereal that doesn’t have many additives and add in your own fruits. For granola bars, make them at home. You can buy a large container of old fashioned rolled oats for the same cost as a box of 8 cereal bars and it will last five times as long. All you need is some butter, honey, and your favorite dried fruits and you can have yourself homemade granola bars!
Overall, eating healthy doesn’t have to be expensive. Make wise choices and read your labels. Start eating healthier and saving money now!
This post contributed by Samantha from Le Chaim on the Right
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