Healthy Eating On A BUdget
Eating healthy doesn't have to break the bank
DAILY TIPS
You have probably heard this one before, but I feel like it is so important to include! The perimeter of the store contains whole foods that are healthier for you to eat but they are generally thought to be the most expensive foods in the store. That doesn't have to be the case, though, as you can often find ways to save money here. There is the obvious thing such as looking for sale items and comparing different types/brands (take apples for example: a Honeycrisp apple is DELICIOUS but it may be more budget friendly to purchase a Fuji apple on a regular basis for half the price with 80% of the delicious taste). Less obvious things to look for each week would be "quick sale markdowns" that either have money off stickers or are on a quick sale produce cart. If you are planning to cook with those items within a few days, why not get them at a discount? They are usually perfectly fine and just on their last few days. There are also markdowns like these often in the meat department (first thing in the morning or late at night) and if we aren't able to cook the meat immediately, we will freeze it for a later date.
Tip #4 - Expand your culinary horizons
Oftentimes, meals that originate from other countries and can be cheaper AND healthier. Every Tuesday, we have some form of Taco Tuesday. I know what you're thinking - tacos? Most of the times we end up making fajitas, Chipotle inspired burrito bowls or a cheesy taco skillet and we have a few tortilla chips on the side. Instead of making the starchy carb be the star of the show, we focus on flavorful vegetables like red onions and bell peppers. Indian food can also be a budget friendly choice with options like rice and chickpeas.
GRAB AND GO BANANA BREAD SHAKE BREAKFAST
- 1 scoop vanilla protein powder (we use Shakeology)
- 1/3 cup dry oats
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 frozen banana
- Handful of spinach
- 1 cup liquid (milk / water)
- Ice to taste
Add everything to a blender and mix it up. This is our favorite quick and healthy breakfast to grab and we will often prepare it the night before with everything but the frozen items so it is even easier to blend in the morning.
We love trying different shake flavors and ingredients, including using flavored extracts like almond, coconut, lemon, and peppermint.
HOMEMADE CHIPOTLE GUACAMOLE
Ingredients
- 2 ripe avocados
- 2 tsp lime juice
- 2 tbsp chopped cilantro
- 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
- 1/2 jalapeƱo, including seeds, chopped finely
- 1/4 tsp salt
- Cut avocado in half, remove the pit, and scoop the avocados out and place in a bowl.
- Toss and coat with lime juice.
- Add the salt, and using a fork or potato masher, mash until a smooth consistency is achieved.
- Fold in the remaining ingredients and mix well.
CHIPOTLE BURRITO BOWLS
- Veggies - red onion, mushrooms, tomatoes, green and red bell peppers
- Meat - we have used pork (carnitas), chicken, ground turkey, ground beef or shrimp
There isn't a specific recipe here but we make some variation of this every Tuesday! We saute the peppers and onion in a pan using a lime flavored olive oil until they are the desired crispness we prefer.
We cook the meat in a homemade Southwestern seasoning and then combined everything in a bowl. Sometimes we will put it all on top of rice or lettuce and we always top with guacamole and salsa. Other mix-ins you can try are tomatoes, corn, black beans, cheese, or plain greek yogurt (in place of sour cream).
HEALTHY LIVING TIP
Drinking water acts like an appetite suppressant, keeps you hydrated, helps flush out toxins, and is a calorie-free drink.