Let’s face it: amongst trying to excel at work, maintain a balanced social life, and keep on top of daily chores, it can be extremely difficult to achieve a healthy lifestyle. When faced with the onslaught of hip cafes and restaurants heralding ‘slow’ and ‘organic’ as the new wonder diet, it can seem prohibitively expensive to join the movement of nutritional converts with their quinoa and green smoothies. However, the good news is, healthy eating doesn’t need to complicated or expensive! That is why we have compiled these three easy health hacks for eating healthy on a budget, so you too can feel the benefits of fuelling your body with quality nutrition.
1. Plan your meals
It might take a little time, but invest an hour or two each weekend looking and bookmarking healthy recipes online. Compile a list of ingredients. You might be surprised to see that most are relatively cheap and available at your local store. Draw up a table of your meals each day and stock up on fresh vegetables, legumes, herbs and bulk healthy carbs like brown rice, kumara and quinoa. These staples can be used across the week, and you can prepare large meals that can be spread out for lunches and dinners.
2. Shop seasonally and smart
Consider adjusting your shopping to buy produce that is in season, and change out expensive cuts of meat for cheaper cuts, or non-meat proteins such as legumes, eggs or tofu. You will be surprised at the delicious and satisfying meals you can achieve, giving you the same nutritional value, without the hefty price tag.
3. Enlist help
Sometimes the best way to stay motivated is to enlist someone to help you on your way. An online trainer or nutrition coach is a much cheaper alternative to face to face specialists and they can share their extensive knowledge about the things you need to consider to achieve a healthy and balanced diet for your lifestyle.
Sometimes, it can be easy to resort to old habits, like eating out constantly or opting for fast and easy instant meals. However, you will continue to find yourself low on energy and craving something more. Get started on your own healthy journey today by following these easy health tips suited to any budget!
