A great way to reduce stress is to eat healthy. Yeah, we all know we should be eating protein, veggies and fruits, but it's easier just to eat the mac and cheese the kids are having. But the kids can benefit from healthy eating as well.
It’s more expensive to eat healthy foods than junk foods. A limited budget contributes to poor eating habits in many ways. Junk food costs less at the grocery store than healthier choices. Even when you’re dining out, it’s cheaper to dash through a greasy hamburger joint than it is to go to a restaurant that offers fresher, healthier options.
There are ways to off set the cost of healthy foods. Your budget crunch doesn’t have to put a complete lid on healthy eating goals. You’ll just need to pursue some creative solutions and think outside the grocery bag.
Some Budget Friendly Tips for Healthy Eating
Tip #1 – Farmer’s Markets
You can usually find a local farmer’s market in the summer time and, if you live in a larger city, you can find them operating year round. You’re going to find the best seasonal deals and you’ll often stumble upon amazing items at prices that are easy on your pocket. The exercise you get from walking around the market helps to reduce stress as well. If you’re not sure where to look for a farmer’s market, try calling your local chamber of commerce.
Tip #2 – Grocery Store Newspaper Circulars
Check the newspaper grocery circulars before making your weekly or monthly shopping trip. You can find deals on fresh produce if you’re willing to do a little homework in advance. Some stores will consistently deliver better prices for certain foods, but you never know who might be having a killer sale, so shop around.
Tip #3 – Cut Your Own Veggies
Don’t be tempted by convenience. Food you prepare on yourself often have more nutrients and are a better value than the already prepared packages you can get. A regular carrot you clean and cut at home are better for you than those baby cut ones. If you have the time, cut up a few extra to use in meals later in the week.
Tip #4 – Cook from Scratch More Often
A homemade soup is healthier than store bought canned soup. The same is true for a savory rice dish made from scratch. Prepared foods usually have more salt and fat. Learn how to cook your own rice and tackle a couple of basic soup recipes and you’ll have a foundation to build on that will feed your family week after week for less. And cooking can become a great stress reducer once you learn to relax and enjoy the process.
Tip #5 – Plan Your Meals Ahead
Make up a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly menu to make healthier meals easier. Do the preparations for several meals at once. Cut extra carrots, onions and garlic and put the extra in bags in the fridge. Save time by cooking meals in crock pots or preparing two meals in one cooking. Think of ways you can double the use of a single cut of meat. Be creative. By preparing and planning you can reduce the stress of trying to put a meal together at the last minute.
The underlying theme here is that you can spend extra time or end up spending extra money, which in turn can cause more stress. The good news is that time spent in the kitchen as a family will do more than just save money and contribute to a healthier lifestyle; it will contribute to better relationships as well. And a better relationship in the family will help reduce stress.
About the Author: For more great mom stress reducers, visit www.momstress.com
