A practical way to save money is to buy whole meats and trim them yourself. You could find an easy roast chicken recipe and have dinner on the table for half the price. According to the USDA , the leanest cuts of beef are round steaks, roasts which include eye of round, top round, bottom round, and round tip , top sirloin, and chuck shoulder. The leanest cuts of pork include pork tenderloin, tenderloin, ham, and center loin.
Tuna is a good source of lean protein, and it costs less per ounce than many other meats. You can often save even more if you purchase canned tuna in bulk. Beans and legumes are affordable and high in protein. There are plenty of ways to incorporate more beans into your diet.
For more ideas on incorporating non-meat protein into your diet, invest in a vegetarian or vegan cookbook or borrow one from the library. Your slow cooker can be an invaluable companion in the kitchen because it allows you to turn inexpensive cuts of meat, like roasts and sirloins, into delicious and healthy meals for your family.
You can also purchase less meat and stretch it farther by adding more beans, vegetables, and rice. There are plenty of easy slow cooker recipes that will help you save money and eat a healthier diet.
When you make these items at home, you can reduce or eliminate the sodium and fat and cut the calories found in prepackaged products. Homemade sauces and dips are inexpensive to make, and they add spice to your healthy eating plan. This popular whole-grain snack is low in calories, high in fiber, and cheap. The loose kernels cost much less than pre-bagged popcorn, and buying them enables you to skip the extra calories from the butter as well as the high salt content of prepackaged popcorn.
Making stovetop popcorn at home is easy and fun. Granola is full of heart-healthy whole grains and plenty of nuts and dried fruits, which makes it a perfect breakfast or snack. You can also customize the recipe to reduce your sugar intake and add whatever nuts and dried fruits you like.
Most of the time, you can make granola using ingredients you already have in your pantry. You can change out the nuts, nix or mix the sweeteners, swap the dried fruits, change up the spices, and even add extras like chocolate chips or toasted coconut.
However, the food you eat at restaurants is often higher in calories, sodium, and saturated fats. However, eating out is a treat.
There are ways to save money and make healthier choices when you visit a restaurant. Before meeting friends or family at a restaurant, have a healthy snack at home. You can stave off cravings and reduce hunger by eating an apple or a banana 30 minutes before you leave. This tip also works well during the holiday season, when food-laden parties are scheduled every week.
Most restaurants have their menu readily available online, and some even have nutrition charts posted on their websites. You can also call the restaurant and ask if they have healthy or low-fat meals available.
Two great websites to review include Yelp and Zomato. Restaurant and fast food meals often contain high amounts of fat, salt, and calories. Most restaurants have added a special section to their menus that makes finding healthy choices easier than ever. Your server can provide more details about healthy options on the menu.
You can also ask for a child-sized portion at many restaurants. Some restaurants, including Olive Garden, allow diners to order a lunch portion for dinner.
You can also save calories and money by dividing the food at a restaurant. Ask for a to-go box, and divide the food into two portions before you eat. You can get reasonably sized meals at smaller, independently-run restaurants. You might get a healthier meal since many smaller restaurants, especially those in bigger cities, source fresh produce locally. Because many of the smaller restaurants use fresh, local produce, the food often tastes better. Instead, they may use lower-quality ingredients and rely on salt and fat to improve the taste of the food.
The cheapest way to buy chicken is to buy a whole chicken. From a whole chicken, you'll get 2 breasts, 2 thighs, drumsticks and wings, plus a carcass for making stock.
Consider using the deli counter for cheese and cured meats. You can get exact amounts, which is cheaper and less wasteful. Stores know that consumers want to buy in bulk, so they mix it up: sometimes the packed produce is cheaper, sometimes it's more expensive.
If your regular shopping basket tends to include fizzy drinks, crisps, snack bars, biscuits and cakes, try trimming down on these non-essential items. Many of these are high in sugar and fat, so you'll be doing your waistline and your bottom line a favour.
They can also contain a lot of salt. Think about cheaper and healthier alternatives, such as sparkling water and fruit juice instead of cola, or fruit and plain yoghurt. Only buy items you actually need and are likely to keep and use. Tinned or frozen fruit and veg, or rice and pasta, are good examples. But make sure the item gets used before the use-by date and does not go off sooner than expected.
If you have a toddler in tow, get them used to eating the same meals as you instead of relying on costly pre-prepared toddler food.
Simply blend or chop up their portion to suit their age and freeze extra child-sized portions for later. Search for supermarket price comparisons that let you select a basket of products and then choose the cheapest supplier. The price differences can be significant. Unlike going to the shops yourself, you'll know how much you have spent before going to the till, which can make it easier to stay within budget. But with longer opening hours, it's a case of finding out just the right time to grab those bargains.
If you time it right, the "reduced to clear shelves" can save you big money. Always check use-by dates. Page last reviewed: 29 March Next review due: 29 March Why 5 A Day? What counts? Fat: the facts Salt: the facts Sugar: the facts Top sources of added sugar What does calories look like? Try to plan some meals around featured items and pick up some extra canned goods or staples that are on sale.
And check the expiration or use-by date. A product might be on sale because it is almost out of date. Choose items with dates farthest in the future. Read and share this infographic to learn more about lifestyle changes you can make today for healthier aging. There are several ways to learn more about programs that offer help with meals or food costs. Use one of these services:. No matter how careful you are, the cost of food can still eat up a big part of your budget. There may be additional help.
Eldercare Locator toll-free eldercarelocator n4a. BenefitsCheckUp www. NIA scientists and other experts review this content to ensure it is accurate and up to date. Healthy Eating and Alzheimer's Disease. While shopping, make use of these budget-wise 10 tips.
Ask about discounts. Ask your local grocery stores if they have a senior discount or a loyalty or discount card. Besides getting items at a lower price, you may also get store coupons.
0コメント