Eating healthy is a key to achieving fitness goals and getting the most out of your body whether you're an athlete or someone just trying to improve your lifestyle. It may be more expensive to eat healthy foods over processed foods, so if you're on a budget you may think it's impossible to afford better eating choices. Even if you are on a budget, it's still possible to begin eating healthier and purchase quality ingredients for every meal.
If your finances are limited, make sure that you know what your grocery budget is before planning a trip to the store. It's nearly impossible to track and keep a budget if you don't have a specific figure in mind for the cost of your next shopping trip.
If you go into the grocery store with a well thought out list and stick to it, you'll find it easier to stay on target when it comes to your weekly food budget. Make your list as detailed as possible, but be aware that rising costs or availability may require you to make adjustments at the store.
If you find that certain meats, vegetables or other items are out of your price range, it's very helpful to make a list of suitable substitutions on your grocery list. High-priced vegetables can be swapped for affordable ones and red meat could be replaced with cheaper pork or chicken. If you have a written plan for out-of-stock or overpriced food items, you'll still get a delicious meal without the added expense.
Investigating unit prices is a good long-term strategy for sticking to your budget, especially with items that can be stored for extended periods of times.
Bulk foods, store brands and sale items may look like they cost more since you're purchasing them in larger quantities, but oftentimes name brand items and small packages end up costing more per serving or by weight.
Next time you're in the grocery store, be sure to compare unit prices for commonly purchased items to see if you're spending more due to brand recognition or smaller, convenient packages, you may be putting a larger dent in your budget than you realize.
If your dietary plan relies on the crunch of fresh, raw fruits and vegetables, purchasing frozen or canned alternatives is a healthy and cost-effective way to stay on track with your budget without sacrificing nutrition.
Most canned and frozen fruits and vegetables are harvested and processed in large quantities, allowing manufacturers to keep prices lower than fresh products that are harvested in regular intervals and shipped in controlled environments.
Most frozen and canned alternatives have the same nutritional value as fresh, but make sure you take a close look at the sodium, salt and preservative content to make sure you're purchasing healthy items.
Bulk dried foods can greatly reduce the cost of your shopping trip. Dried grains, special flours, dried fruits and beans can be purchased in large quantities at a fraction of the price, and can be tucked away in your pantry for a long time. Many stores will often have a bulk food sale from time too time, so take advantage of these sales to keep a fully stocked pantry.
Meat, especially beef and other red meats, is often the most expensive part of any meal. Consider plant-based alternatives to red-meat ingredients such as beans or mushrooms in stews and chili or consider buying cheaper cuts of meat than you normally would.
If your local grocer has a butcher's counter, you may be able to save on your meat purchases by asking if there's a bulk rate on any items or if they have scraps available to sell to the public. Most butchers are unable to use 100-percent of everything they process, so they may have a discount rate for odd cuts, ends of whole portions or leftover scraps that don't normally make their way into the display case.
Our final tip for shopping on a budget is to keep a close eye out for sales and plan your trips to stores that have lower prices on items you buy frequently.
Many shoppers often choose their favorite grocery store and buy everything on their list at the same time. If you split your shopping trip between multiple grocery stores, you can take advantage of coupons, sale prices and items that are generally cheaper than elsewhere.
This method does take quite a bit of planning, but will be worth it in the end if you meet your budget. Just make sure you are not travelling too far out of your range as the cost of gas may offset any savings.
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- Citrus
- Cherry Lemonade
- Orange
Our Citrus flavor contains 120 calories that allow your body to activate energy reserves for intense workouts, but if you're looking for a low-calorie, zero-sugar option, our Cherry Lemonade and Orange flavors contain only 10 calories.
Regardless of which flavor you choose, every bottle of TapouT contains no artificial flavors or colors for authentic flavor and results. Each bottle also contains natural sodium to aid in hydration and a scientifically formulated blend of vitamins and electrolytes to boost performance and recovery.
