7 Healthy ways to eat well and save money
Escalating food costs can reduce the variety of different foods we buy and force us to buy cheaper and less healthy foods.
ASK yourself if food is ‘value-for-money’ but also ‘value-for-health’ before you buy.
1 Skip the ‘health’ aisle. So-called ‘healthy foods’ are expensive. Go back to basics rather than buying costly health foods. Choose unsalted peanuts instead of almonds, oats instead of expensive cereals, sardines instead of salmon, or fruit instead instead of fruit juice.
2 Don’t sacrifice vegetables. There’s no denying that the price of vegetables and fruit is increasing. However they contain many nutrients we can’t get from anywhere else. Frozen vegetables are a good alternative to fresh and are flash frozen when they were still fresh.
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3 Buy in bulk. We all know buying meat or cupboard items in bulk saves money. You can do the same with fresh fruits, vegetables, milk and bread. Buy them when on special and either freeze or share the cost between a few friends. Make sure you check the ‘use by’ date to choose the freshest produce.
4 Go meatless. Meat is a big expense. Replace some meat with beans, lentils, tinned fish or eggs to provide nutritious yet more affordable protein sources. You can also add lentils to meat dishes like bolognese, bobotie, stews and curries to make meat go further.
5 Can the empty calories. Crisps, chocolates, sweets, and sugary drinks provide mostly empty energy sources with few other nutrients. Even though they may seem comparatively cheap, they are neither value-for-money nor value-for-health. A bag of oranges usually costs about the same as a large packet of crisps, so make your money go further and rather keep them for the odd treat.
6 Use your green fingers. Grow your own vegetables, fruit and herbs. Not all of us have enough space in the back garden but you can start with potted herbs, salad or spinach, and pick as you need. Salads, peas, spring onions, spinach, broccoli and garlic are all good choices to grow in the winter.
7 Break the bad habit. If you are struggling to buy healthy food, tobacco is a no-no. Healthy foods will keep the doctor away, while the cigarettes will do the opposite…
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In the long-term, a healthy lifestyle can actually save you money. By reducing the risk of diseases such as diabetes and heart disease, healthy eating leads to medical savings and allows you to keep working and earning as you grow older.
(Information from the Heart Foundation)
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