In today’s world, the cost of living is on the rise. Food prices have increased significantly in recent years and are expected to continue growing. As a result, many people struggle to control their grocery bills. In fact, a report by the Food Security and Environment Analysis New Zealand (FSE ANZ) has stated that one in six New Zealanders is food insecure; that is, they struggle to afford enough food at some point over a year. There are several reasons for this increase in the cost of food—including climate change and wealth inequality—but what can we do about it? How can we eat healthy and cheap at the same time?
Change What You Buy
Before you even start to consider changing how or where you shop for food, it’s important to first change what you buy. The easiest way to save money when shopping for food is to buy cheaper products. You can do this by choosing ingredients that are on sale, but also by choosing cheaper ingredients in the first place. For example, you can buy more affordable non-organic produce than fancy, organic ones. Rather than purchasing high-quality cuts of meat, you can buy cheaper cuts on sale. There are many different ways to do this, but the overall message is that if you want to eat healthy on a budget, you need to change what you buy.
Eat Seasonal Produce.
One of the easiest ways to save money on your grocery bill is to eat seasonal produce. Produce is cheaper to buy when it’s in season and healthier too. Plus, there’s usually a wider variety of produce available during certain times of the year. For example, during the summer, you can eat watermelons; in the winter, you can eat butternut squash. Eating seasonal produce is also good for the environment because it reduces carbon emissions caused by transportation, which means a healthier planet. Eating seasonal produce is easy and can save you quite a bit of money, so there’s no excuse not to do it.
Grow Your Own Food
Though it might seem overwhelming, growing your food can save you significant money. Not only is it cheaper to grow your produce, but it’s also healthier. As mentioned above, growing your food benefits the environment by reducing carbon emissions. Growing your food is easier than you think and can be done anywhere. You don’t need a big backyard to grow your food; even a small indoor garden can provide you with significant produce. Growing your food can be overwhelming for beginners, but it’s something that anyone can learn if they want to.
Find Cheap Sources of Protein
On average, New Zealanders spend around 15% of their food purchases on meat, fish, and poultry. These are some of the most expensive food purchases, so it’s important to find cheap protein sources. One way to do this is to buy in bulk. You can buy beans and grains in bulk and then use them to make affordable, healthy meals that can be eaten throughout the week or frozen for later use. Another good way to find cheap sources of protein is to use leftovers. For example, you can use meat cooked in a casserole as a source of protein for a salad the next day.
Plan Your Meals
Another easy way to eat healthy and cheap is to plan your meals. Although this might seem counter-intuitive at first, it has several benefits. It forces you to think about what you’ll eat in advance, which can be helpful if you have diabetes or another dietary restriction. It can also help you save money by buying ingredients on sale and using them to make meals throughout the week. Planning your meals can be as simple as writing down what you want to eat for each dinner or even creating a meal plan on your phone.
FAQ
1. What is the difference between a low-carbohydrate diet and a ketogenic diet?
The ketogenic diet (or Keto) is a low-carbohydrate, high-fat, protein-rich diet. It involves eating a very high amount of fat and protein (more than 90% of your daily calories), but it’s not as strict as the low-carbohydrate approach. The keto diet has resulted in many people losing weight, and has even described it as their new normal. However, health concerns are associated with this kind of diet because it does not include carbohydrates or sugar.
2. Why should I take care of my body before I go on a keto journey?
There are several reasons you should take care of your body before going on any nutritional journey. First, if you want to get rid of your diabetes or other health issues, you will need to eat more healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
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