Five Ways I Plan to Eat Healthier on an Extreme Budget

Thinking of a Master Plan

Let's face it:

The system is rigged. BIG TIME.

Those in charge often do not serve the public's best interests and blatantly fail to consider the basic needs of the people.

In turn, the economy suffers and the healthiest foods end up being the least convenient and the unhealthy foods the most convenient (and fulfilling).

As harsh as it sounds, I am slowly but surely learning as we face a new level of inflation that if you want to survive you literally have no other choice, but to ADAPT OR DIE.

That being said, here are the top five ways I plan to eat healthier on an extreme budget, as advised by the CDC

1. Planning My Recipes in Advance

A wise man once told me, I should never go shopping while I'm hungry. If I do this, I will end up selecting foods based on my cravings in that moment rather than what is actually good for my health in the long run. In learning this, I plan to be more intentional about shopping smartly. Preplanning my meals and using recipes with common ingredients are excellent ways to make food "stretch" for a longer period of time and will also give me the opportunity to shop with my personal health needs in mind (especially since diabetes is on the horizon)

2. Buy Store Brands

In my family, we have always believed that there is a strong correlation between the quality of a product and the brand it is sold under. I recall there being a time when there was a vast difference between top brands and store brands, however today, in many cases, you really can't tell the difference between the two (unless you're some sort of connoisseur.) Personally, I have no shame in my game and unless the ingredients significantly differ, it shouldn't be such a huge deal.

3. Cut Cost With Coupons

Cutting coupons just doesn't sit well with my impatient spirit. It is truly a daunting task to find out if you qualify for certain deals. On the contrary, I've seen people save boatloads of money by taking that additional time and effort so see how they could save, and let's just say those savings add up. A fifty-cent savings may not seem like much, but if you saved .50 on an item each time you went to the store each week, you would save $2 a month, which is $24 per year. Imagine saving fifty cents on five or more items each time you shop, and now you've saved over $100. That's how much fifty cents can add up. By couponing, you can change your perspective on money and learn how to make every penny count!

4. Buy Frozen or Canned

There are times when I feel like I'm committing highway robbery when I shop in the frozen or canned sections. There are so many amazing deals to take advantage of that will allow me to rack up on foundational fruits and vegetables. Granted it may not be "fresh" off the stem, but it's one of the few things in the grocery store that costs less and lasts longer.

5. Grow a mini "garden"

They say money doesn't grow on trees, but I beg to differ. Saving on things like lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, strawberries and herbs can save quite a bit of money if you're willing to research and endure a little trial and error. I actually believe this to be the most useful tip whether you would be growing your food in your backyard or in a pot on your balcony. It is ABSOLUTELY worth the trouble.

Summary

In order to reach our health goals, I believe that these five ways to eat healthier on an extreme budget will be a great help to both you and me, and that if we take a moment out of our busy schedules to plan and strategize our dealings with food, we will not only save money, but we can also save our own lives.