Getting Fit on a Budget

Ok, I know what you're thinking... another article about getting healthy and eating right for summer. I get it. This article will NOT be just about eating right. I am going to tell you how to eat right and SAVE money. Sound good? Let's get started!

So the first thing I want to talk about, is shopping. Shopping healthy on a budget is not as hard as it seems. You want to focus on the biggest bang for your buck. Veggies and fruits are super important, but depending on where you shop, the fresh versions can become pretty pricey. Especially, if you're shopping for an entire household. Instead of buying all fresh veggies and fruits, replace half of that with frozen or canned. If you do op for canned, make sure it is packed in water. Here are some other staples that you'll need:

1. Oatmeal: high in fiber, heart healthy, and will keep you nice and full. Add fruit, honey, or other healthy toppings for an even more balanced meal.
2. Whole grain bread: much more satisfying than regular white or wheat and comes in a variety of flavors like flax or oat covered.
3. Low fat/lite yogurt: great for snack, breakfast, and even dessert. Eat plain or top with shredded coconut, nuts, fruit, chia seeds, etc.
4. Meat and fish: chicken, beef, pork, salmon, etc. Red meat can be eaten in moderation. Buy lean cuts if possible and marinate in advance and store in your freezer for easy and simple meals.
5. Fruits and veggies. Need I say more?
6. Nuts: Nuts are a perfect snack for on the go. Measure out a serving and put in some zip lock baggies for the week. Be careful with some nuts though. They can be very high in fat. Go for sea salt or unsalted versions.

Now that you know the essentials you need, we can move on to the biggest way you're going to save money: meal prepping. Now, before you say, screw this, I don't have time to meal prep, I am going to tell you how simple this can be. You do not have to meal prep in multiple containers. I repeat, you do not need to meal prep in multiple containers, okay. Literally, all you have to do is make a meal that can be stretched through how ever many days you decide to prep for. I personally do it every four days. A typical meal for dinner for me is some type of meat that has been marinated already (put in a freezer bag days before and kept in freezer), and sweet potato, and when I am ready to eat it I heat up a bag of frozen steam bag veggies and add it to the side. You can choose whatever side you want, but don't go too crazy, haha. You're trying to eat healthy, so adding a bunch of french fries will defeat the purpose. If you want french fries, prep a serving in some freezer bags and keep it ready to go in the freezer.

Breakfast is not typically something I would meal prep, but I have seen a few people who have. It is a preference. Start off with prepping one meal if you're new to it. It can be lunch or dinner and once you get comfortable, do both lunch and dinner.

This is a great way to save money and eat healthy. You won't be buying food all the time, because it will already be done, and you won't have to worry about cooking if you're tired. Just pop it in the microwave and BOOM, all done and ready to eat. Hopefully, you found this article helpful and are excited to start saving some money and get healthy. Happy summer!