วันพฤหัสบดีที่ 23 กันยายน พ.ศ. 2553

Tips on Eating Healthy on a Budget

Drink More Water

One simple way to improve your health is to drink more water. By drinking at least eight glasses of water a day, you can help clean out your body and keep yourself hydrated. Dehydration can cause you to feel tired, achy and trigger headaches. By getting enough water every day, you will find that not only do you feel better; you may even start to lose weight.

Choose Your Foods Carefully

Cut out some of the junk food and sugary things that you eat on a daily basis. It may help to plan your meals. If you know you are having spaghetti on Monday and a stir-fry on Tuesday, you are less likely to splurge on a last minute stop at the local fast food joint. Look for some interesting recipes online to expand your menu. Preparing new recipes gets you excited to try new things.

Keep your pantry stocked with some staple items that are easy to prepare, like lentils, beans, rice, and pasta. Any of these staples could be made into a main dish, a side dish or a soup by combining them with meats, vegetables and seasonings. Keep frozen fruit and vegetables in the freezer to supplement the fresh versions you buy each week.

Think of meat as a side dish instead of the main dish. You can get a lot of flavor for your buck by adding the meat to a sauce rather than requiring an entire chicken for a main dish.

Explore new seasonings to make your food exciting. Miso adds a unique Japanese flavor to many dishes, while curry powder can bring you the flavor of India. Keep your cupboards stocked with your favorite herbs and spices so they are close at hand.

Saving Money

Make extra food when you cook so you can use leftovers for lunch or freeze them for a future dinner. It is simple to double recipes on the weekends so you can simply reheat on busy weeknights.

Buy in bulk if you can. The prices are almost always cheaper, and perishable items can be frozen in quantities that are easy to use.

Cheaper cuts of meat can be delicious when braised slowly or cooked in the crock pot. Add in vegetables and beans to stretch the meat and make your meal go further.

Don't be afraid to choose generic brands at the store. Compare the ingredients. In most cases, you'll find that they are almost identical to the brand you were going to buy. This will help you save money while you still use the ingredients you love.

Stock up on staple items when they are on sale. Canned broth, pasta and rice all keep for long periods of time.

Don't be afraid to be creative. Not only will you get to try new foods, but you can eat better on less money. Bargains are out there; you just have to look for them.

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