Five Ways To Eat Healthy for less Dollars

 There are so many restraints calling to us on long day and after school activities it

makes it hard for us parents to give whole some meals that taste good and are

satisfying. There are so many junk food items in the grocery stores and on priced cheaply

to get us and children alike to buy them.

 First: Bulk up. Skip the packaged food and scoop up the dried soups, pasta, nuts and grains from the bulk bins that most grocery stores and organic stores now have.

Yes, I do realize there are many allergies sufferers from food out there which makes it all that much harder to feed our families and still stay on our budget.

Buying by weight can cost 20 percent less than packaged versions because you are not paying for the label or packaging plus you get the amount you need and not more where it get wasted. I do not know about you but I really hate wasting food when there are so many people who do not have food etc…

If your item is not available in bulk than look for “in-house”, or “private” labels when possible. Many grocers now carry in-house lines of organic or natural foods and some are mixed together.

Second: Shop in season. Follow the harvest of the farmers and what is locally grown and you cannot go wrong. If the fruit or vegetable is in season, chances are plentiful and less expansive and if you know how to freeze the items it makes the food last even longer. Some examples are cucumbers, peaches, corn, squashes, zucchini, tomatoes… where can you wrong making big batches of tomatoes sauce for quick night called quick spaghetti. There are the canning, jams and jellies. Yes, I know it may take longer to do this but bottom line it is fresh and not from another country and less pesticides on the food. There are books on the market that will show you how to freeze and make the jellies or jams etc. When Produce is not in season it a lot more expensive and there are hardly any coupons for fresh fruits or fresh vegetables either.

Third: Plan Ahead: easier said than done. I know with being single and raising two daughters. There are many times I forgot to put out the meat the night before to defrost the next meal or put in the refrigerator when it is summer time… I just forgot again today… I usually end up eating out but I determined not to do that anymore. I will put chicken in the microwave for 5 minutes just enough time thaw it out to cook it. Here is some website to view for making meals ahead time. Also learning to use leftovers helps make a second meal later on the week like a Friday a snap.

Food View.com, Rachael Ray Show, ragu website,  Campbell soup website

Fourth:  Skip meat make salads which are quick and easy and practically anything goes in a salad anymore from chicken strips to ham strips and chip steak slices and making taco salad who wholesome and economical and very healthy and fast. You may want to try 2 nights a week without meat and that savings can go long way on your budget.

Fifth: Last but not least is look local farmers market. One it local outing for your family and they children get to pick as well and to learn what is good piece verse not a good piece of fruit and see how it grown and picked. You are getting exercises without realizing it and getting vitamin D if it is sunny outside and bonding time… that could not use more bonding time with family members. Also consider a local co-op, where you buy in to the store and share discounts and the profits. The fee to join is often as low as $25.00 per year and some offer lifetime membership for several hundreds of dollars. Here is website for finding local co-ops and farms markets: Eat Well Guide

All text, descriptions, and pictures used here by Lee Nessa are owned and copy righted by Lee Nessa and may not be used without the express written permission of Lee Nessa!

Thank you for reading my article.

Have a wonderful day.

Sincerely Lee Ness