Budgeting seems to be the biggest problem when you sit down to do the necessary calculations and delegation of funds into various areas of life. Now it is completely understandable to worry about money when you have been spread far too thin in trying to make ends meet, however the key is to remember that smart money management could be started even with a meager amount of the same. Do not make the mistake of being penny wise and pound foolish as at times you spend your hard earned money on food which you think would save money and would be healthy as well, but in reality it is making your candle burn at both ends. And you certainly would not want that. Here are some tips as to how you could limit expenditure on foods and still eat healthy.
See also: Seven Tips for Accessorizing your Favorite Outfits on a Budget
Eat The Seasonal
Ever heard the saying think global and eat local and seasonal. Well, to cut it short, it simply means that eat the natural foods when they are readily available in their season of growth. Naturally grown foods are way healthier and higher in nutrient content than the ones which are grown artificially with chemicals. So eat mangoes, water melons, kiwis and other summer fruits when the weather is hot, and gorge on the citrus fruits, avocados, strawberries etc when the winters set in. Load up on the peanuts, almonds and walnuts during icy winter season as they would be cheaper and naturally equipped with nutrition.
Fill Up With Soup
Now, you are in a hurry and do not have enough time to cook a full meal, so you try to fill up yourself with the instant pastas or bread sandwiches which take relatively lesser time to be prepared. Instead of gorging on those high carbohydrate dishes, boil up the vegetables like broccoli, tomatoes, bell peppers and carrots into a soup and add a dash of lemon and black pepper into it. These soups not only fill you up instantly, but also involve frugal cost and higher nutrition content.
Know Your Priorities And Budget Them Accordingly
All of us have a tendency to feel guilty when we spend on food and when the same amount of money or more is spent on other expenses like house furniture, clothes and accessories then we seem to be quite easy about it. Our diet requires and deserves our attention as well as money. You often find yourself saying, oh salmon has become way too expensive to eat, while you do not mind spending the same amount or even more on hiring a cab to go somewhere as you were feeling too lazy to take the train! So buy food which are high in nutrient which certainly does not mean pizzas and burgers from the famous outlets these days.
Say No To The Ready To Cook Foods
Instantly cooked noodles, pastas, packaged soups and pre cut fruits and vegetables all are a hazard to your heath as they are loaded with preservatives which according to a research are notorious for causing liver failure and cancer. Why do you want to save your time only to go closer to diseases or worse mortality? Prepare freshly prepared soup, and yes that too could be prepared instantly if you manage your time and cut vegetables one night before. Sure, the latter is not fully recommended due to the risk of oxidization however it is still better than those packaged and chemical laden eatables.
Arrange Meal Options For The Week At Home
Cut and refrigerate vegetables like spinach, broccoli, lettuce, cabbage, bell peppers, carrots and even sliced beetroots. Marinate chicken and fish pieces with olive oil, lemon, salt and pepper and store it in a large container which is air tight in the refrigerator. Keep a stock for one week not more than that, and make sure to have this job on your to do list at the weekend. It would save a whole lot of your time and energy.
Choose Farms And Local Gardens Over Supermarkets
Yes, supermarkets seem to look temping with those stacks loaded with stocks of vegetables and colorful fruits so even if you have gone to the supermarket to buy baby food you get tempted to buy some of those greens. However, the packed or a chunk of fruits and vegetables which are present in the supermarket are carefully packed in which the pieces lying at the bottom are not always fresh as the upper ones, and at times they are rotten too. So you only think that you are saving money but actually it costs you more. Local farms and gardens give you freshly grown fruits and vegetables at a low price.
Author Bio:
Adam Evans is a blogger at redstonecatering.com. He likes to write blogs for restaurant reviews, improve catering business and in his free time likes to try various food recipes.
