Eating Clean on a Budget

                      Food at it's freshest: farm to table fruits and vegetables at a neighborhood farmer's market. 

Eating well doesn't have to empty your pockets. Sure, buying fresh ingredients will be more expensive than ordering dinner from the nearest drive-thru, but if your health important, the extra cost shouldn't be an issue. All it takes is a little planning, and perhaps bit of saving...but making it a priority in your budget will help. There are plenty of people out there, broke college students included, who live a clean lifestyle without hurting their budgets. Here are a few pointers:

Limit how often you eat out. Start making your own food at home and you will save considerably. There are times, of course, where you will dine out. Here is a list of suggestions for eating clean at restaurants.  

Make a grocery list and stick to it. Don’t buy things you don’t really need.

Don't go to the market hungry. You will wind up buying things on impulse, not because you truly need them. (See previous post for a sample grocery list.)

Some products are smart to buy in bulk at places like Costco or Sam’s Club, because they can be frozen or stored for long periods of time and will not perish. They may also be cheaper.

If you think you won’t be able to get through all of something like fruit, veggies or lean meats, buy them frozen.

Always purchase produce in season. When you start buying off-season produce, the price is much higher.

Shop farmers markets! You can find the farm-to-table ingredients for next to nothing. 

Buy generic, not name brands. You might have to double-check the labels though to be sure they are of the same quality.

Clip coupons and take advantage of sales. If something you eat frequently is on sale, buy more of it. 

Photo Credit:

Farmers Market: http://aoinspiration.com/food-nutrition/farmers-markets-inspired-freshness

A Clean Diet Begins With A Clean Fridge

Eating clean is essentially, exactly what it sounds like. It is choosing foods that are as close to natural as possible, with little to no processing involved, and with no preservatives. People who choose to eat clean usually follow these five simple steps:

1. Eat Lots Of Plants: Eat food that is straight from nature. Some people say “as close to the way nature made it as possible.” Eat mostly foods that are off a tree, bush, plant or vine, and you’ve pretty much got it covered. The idea is to stay away from anything that humans (food corporations) have altered in any way.

2. Include Meats: Eat meats that are whole and straight from the butcher. Try and avoid buying pre-packaged meat products because you never know what’s in them. When possible, buy whole meats and grind them yourself. You’d be surprised what can be found in ground turkey meat! You can also select a few turkey breasts and ask that the butcher grind them for you. Many butchers are more than willing to accommodate.

3. Enjoy Grains: Eat grains that are still complete and haven’t been broken down into “glue." Stick to brown rice, whole wheat and other whole grains. (For a list of foods to stock your pantry with, check out this list.)

4. Read Labels: A lot of foods disguise themselves as healthy by claiming to be whole grain, low fat, low sodium, etc. Next time, before putting the food item in your basket, take a look at the ingredient list. If you can’t pronounce something that’s listed, chances are it isn’t good for you. (Check out this list of 5 harmful ingredients commonly found in food.)

5. Eat Fewer Ingredients: Try not to purchase foods that have more than 3-6 ingredients in the ingredient list. And be sure you recognize each and every ingredient. Again, aim for whole foods; less is more.

This may seem difficult, but it’s really quite simple. Try shopping at local farmers markets, and aim to buy mostly organic and fresh ingredients. It all starts with what you have in your fridge; if you keep healthy foods in your home, you WILL eat healthier!

Photo credit:
Refrigerator Rehab: http://www.deliciouslywell.com/2013/01/04/a-clean-eating-kitchen-part-one-refrigerator-rehab/
Food Heart: http://athleanx.com/for-women/myth-busters-top-8-myths-about-clean-eating