Healthy Living: Get Healthy - Save Money, Part 2

(continued from Part 1)

Use non-fat dry milk in baking and cooking.  It is dirt cheap and has a long shelf-life.

Fortunately some of the healthiest foods remain the cheapest – Examples: 1) Bags of dried beans have megawatt nutritional power, as they are loaded with fiber, B vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and healthy vegetable protein and go for about 12 cents per serving.  2) Large bags of brown rice are a delicious and super-nutritious whole grain.  You can get a serving for 15 cents.

Go for the specials.  Stock up on frozen veggies (no sauces of course) when on sale.

Avoid “convenience” foods – you will always pay more for anything already washed, sliced, or ready-made.  Do it yourself to save.

Make a healthy dinner and take leftovers for your lunch the next day.

Have a meat-less meal once or twice a week.  Beans and rice are an awesome, healthy duo.  Veggie stir-fry over brown rice is another one of my family’s favorites.
Don’t shop hungry (you will buy more) and leave the kids at home (the “whine” factor works).
Go for the “store brands” of staples.  Most palates can’t tell a difference and they are cheaper.

Some of the healthiest veggies are often the cheapest, including: cabbage, dark leafy greens, carrots, sweet potatoes, and Brussels sprouts.

High quality dark chocolate is a truly healthy dessert.  You can buy dark chocolate baking chips (ex: Ghiradelli 60% cacao) and get twice as much for your money versus buying in a bar or individually wrapped pieces.

Make your own salad dressing.  Homemade extra virgin olive oil vinaigrette takes 3 minutes to make, is 100% healthy, and tastes better than the bottled type.

Lastly, don’t consider wasting your money or actually spending your money to purchase bad health.  Sodas and standard junk foods, like donuts, cookies, pastries, etc., have zero health value.  To the contrary, they can lead to weight gain, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and a host of other costly conditions.  Learn to place value in food on the nutrients they can provide versus the calories.  Most of us are in need of nutrients, not calories. An apple and a pastry cost about the same in the grocery store.  Apples are sweet and delicious and provide over 150 health-boosting agents.  The pastry provides nothing of value and is actually filled with things that have been associated with poor health, including excess sugar, refined flour, and unhealthy fats.

For more on the right foods, check out my line of Healthy Grocery Lists.

Related Articles:

8 Steps to Lifelong Wellness and Vitality, Part 1

Healthy Snacking, Part 1