3 Ways to Eat Healthy .. without Spending a FORTUNE!
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Farmers' Markets
This is a GREAT time of year to visit a local Farmers Market. Lots of produce is being harvested, which means FRESH, nutrient dense foods - for a lot less! You can get to know your local farmers, ask about their farming practices and let them know what matters to you. Not only can you find excellent quality foods much cheaper at Farmer Markets but you are supporting your local community and sustainable agriculture!
JOIN A CSA
Many communities have CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture) which are basically farms that share their harvest with the community instead of just selling to big companies. Many CSAs offer organic produce, and some even offer other farm products like cheeses, jams etc. For an annual fee you can become a member of the CSA and receive a portion of each crop as it is harvested.
BUY in BULK
We are all familiar with Bjs and Sams Club and the idea of buying in bulk. The good news is that the same concept applies to whole foods, like rice and beans. Check with your CSA or your local health food store to see if they offer bulk buying of some of the staples in your diet. I typically buy a 5 pound bag of beans, and the same in rice and other grains. Not only is it cheaper, but I also have less packaging to recycle than if I had purchased individual bags at the store. Think about the foods you use on a regular basis and see if you can save by buying them in bulk.
And .. you can do this with produce too. It is much cheaper to buy produce when it is IN SEASON. So . if you wan to eat strawberries in December, plan ahead by buying lots of them in the Spring and freezing them! I Know .. it sounds like WAY too much work .... but it takes a lot less time than you imagine, and it is so worth it.
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| Greetings! |  I was spending some time at my sister's home last weekend when I noticed that my brother in law had been reading, and taking notes from a book I had given them a few years earlier. The book, REFINED to REAL, written by my friend and colleague, Allison Anneser, CHHC is a fantastic guide book for anyone looking to transition to healthier eating. My brother in law (a former engineer) loved the detailed explanations and practical step by step approach the book offered but his big question for me was "Will eating healthier totally blow our food budget?"
If you know me at ALL, you realize that money is never a factor for me when it comes to food. I would rather pay twice as much for something that I know was grown organically, or sustainably or by a local farmer than eat processed, chemicalized, nutrient lacking food. For me, food is where I put my luxury money. :-) That being said, I do realize that some people have harder choices to make and more limited resources to work with, so I have offered a few tips in this newsletter to help make eating healthy ... more practical. And .. anyone can follow these steps - regardless of how big your budget is .. because they simply make sense!
Kelly
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Put Your Money Where your Mouth Is!
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People are always saying it is TOO EXPENSIVE to eat healthy. It is hard to argue when you look at the price of organic vegetables in the grocery store, or when you look at how fast food chains are offering meals for less than it costs to buy a can of beans. But my counter to that argument is ...
You either pay for it in your food, or you pay for it at the doctor.
If you know someone who truly cannot afford to buy healthy food, please share their story with me. I will see what I can do to help!
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How to FInd a CSA or Farmers' Market?
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check out this web site to search for a Famers' Market or CSA in your area!
http://www.localharvest.org/
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Other Tips for Eating Healthy on a Budget
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- Learn how to COOK creatively! There are lots of great meals that can be made with inexpensive vegetables, grains and beans. You just need to know HOW to use them! Check out cooking classes in your area and if cost is a problem, contact the instructor and ask if they offer any "scholarships". Most educators will do whatever they can to make learning possible for someone who shows real interest. - Team up with a Friend If you want to get the benefit of buying in bulk but don't have the cash to lay out for it (or cannot use the quantity in a reasonable time frame), team up with someone else and split the bulk order! This can make the process more fun too - Order Allison's BOOK!Allison offers great recipes and ideas for transitioning to healthy eating without going broke! Click here to ORDER! |
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