Losing Weight on a Budget

Is the high cost of food getting you down? Do you think trimming your food budget means an expanding waistline?

We are all aware of the bad news that ALL food prices continue to rise. This is especially true for fruits and vegetables - the basics of lower calorie eating.

Here are some of my favorite ways to stay on track with your diet without breaking the bank:

1. Drink tap water: No bottled water, or other low-calorie drinks. Good for your wallet and the environment.


2. Shop seasonally and locally: If it's local, and in-season, the shipping costs are largely reduced, with the savings passed on to you.


3. Look for frozen foods (fruits, veggies, poultry, fish) (without any added sauces): the same nutritional quality as fresh.


4. Buy store brands (private labels): These are often produced by the "name brand" companies.


5. Be flexible with "in-store" specials: Planning a fish dinner, but chicken breasts are a great buy? Change your menu!


6. Purchase foods in bulk from the "Big Box" stores like Sam's Club and Costco. Go in with a friend or two, to save money and reduce spoilage. You might not need 18 pears, but 6 or 9 would be perfect.

One BIG money waster: Driving from store to store for all the "best" bargains. You'll spend extra gas money, for small savings, and lose the frequent shopper advantages. Pick one major market, and become a mindful shopper there. Plus, when you get a "store card', you'll get coupons for frequently purchased foods, and other money-saving perks for your loyalty.

What are some of your money-saving diet tips?

Comments

My biggest money saver is to never buy boneless-skinless chicken breasts. They have little flavor and too much cost. Instead, I buy whole chicken and cut it apart myself with poultry shears, or bone-in split breasts and remove the skin (before or after cooking). It takes very little time to do! The same goes for buying a roast instead of a steak or chops.

Some of the healthiest foods are the cheapest - carrots, cabbage, dried beans, long-cooking rice, whole potatoes, bananas, unsweetened applesauce... Be willing to find ways to cook a new food if the price is right!

I like to purchase organic foods, even if my budget permits me to buy it only for my 2 year old daughter. I live real close to NYC, so it's not like I have farms all around that I can go pick up some organic veggies & fruits. What suggestions do you have for someone in my situation?

Try joining a local community supported agriculture group--you pay up front and get fresh fruit and vegetables every week from May through October or November, which you pick up at an agreed-upon local place, like a church or school. Google Community Supported Agriculture and you should get one. We've belonged to two different ones in Brooklyn, NY. Good luck!

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Here are a couple of tips from a fellow mom with a small grocery budget!

People always think that buying healthy will cost you more, but I have found that I spend the same amount because I'm not wasting money on things like chips, soda, and other unhealthy snacks.

Also, I can't really afford to buy everything organically, so I use the "Dirty Dozen" list from Environmental Working Group. It is a list of fruits and veggies that are the most important to buy organically if possible.

Here is the list:

FRUIT:

1. Apples

2. Cherries

3. Grapes (imported from Chile)

4. Nectarines

5. Peaches

6. Pears

7. Raspberries

8. Strawberries

VEGETABLES:

9. Bell Peppers

10. Celery

11. Potatoes

12. Spinach

To cut on cost of food want to plant tomatoes and peppers on balcony. Does some have experience to share? Website which teaches?
What kinds of tomatoes to get? Do they bring bugs?

Thanks for all information.

I found if you stay on the outer sections in the store and avoid the middle sections where the processed foods are. The outer section has meats,dairy, fruits, veggies and breads.

how do you plant tomatoes, can you only plant it on the outside of the house or can you also plant on the inside, and how would you go about it.

how do you plant tomatoes, can you only plant it on the outside of the house or can you also plant on the inside, and how would you go about it.

I used bottled water when I moved to NJ; then I decided to switch to tap water -- after 2 months, my gastrointestinal system was a mess! I had to go back to bottled water and am currently investigating water filtration systems for our apartment so I can save money, be healthier, & be more environmentally friendly.

The "safety" of water varies greatly from one area to another. New York City water is good, and Chicago water was "safe" when I lived there.

I used bottled water when I moved to NJ; then I decided to switch to tap water -- after 2 months, my gastrointestinal system was a mess! I had to go back to bottled water and am currently investigating water filtration systems for our apartment so I can save money, be healthier, & be more environmentally friendly.

The "safety" of water varies greatly from one area to another. New York City water is good, and Chicago water was "safe" when I lived there.

I used bottled water when I moved to NJ; then I decided to switch to tap water -- after 2 months, my gastrointestinal system was a mess! I had to go back to bottled water and am currently investigating water filtration systems for our apartment so I can save money, be healthier, & be more environmentally friendly.

The "safety" of water varies greatly from one area to another. New York City water is good, and Chicago water was "safe" when I lived there.

Drink tap water?
Have you been reading the reports on tap water?
I would drink it only if you have a double emulsion filter system in your home, otherwise I wouldn't.
My local tap water is a wasteland!!

When you plant tomatoes buy a patio tomato - use a large pot because the plant will develop a large root if it is healthy. Your garden center will have this info too. Use a vegetable fertilizer as directed. They need lots of sunlight and like warm weather. have fun!

Tomatoes are one of the easiest veggies to grow. When we lived in an apartment we grew tomatoes in a large pot. A trick to produce more fruit is to take a small paint brush and gently brush the blossoms. It stimulates the fruit. We had tomatoes through January.

If you shop at "big box" stores like Sam's club and costco, bring a calculator! The prices are not always cheaper, plus add in the price you paid to be a member. You can end up paying more for your purchases than if you shopped at a store you don't have to pay to patronize them. I used to belong to Sam's Club until I brought a calculator and compared their prices with other grocery stores. Sam's was more expensive, even without figuring in the added cost of membership.

If we think back in history, those who ate "gourmet" died of such wonderful illnesses as gout, diabetes and hypertension.

If you eat simply utilizing herbs and spices, not only will you save money, but you will be healthier for it.

It does take time to "plan" and you won't be known as a "gourmet" but your skin, hair and good health (and breath) will be very attractive to those around you!!!!!

If your not a fan of tap water or any other water try using crystal light or another low calorie drink mix, you'll end up drinking more water in turn making you healthier.

My little trick to making tap water (or any water in this case) safe for drinking is adding just a single drop of lemon essential oil for a glass (more drops for larger quantities)(use only the highest grade quality for ingestion and theraputic uses- the brand i use is Young Living).the lemon kills any harmful "parasites" bacteria or anything else that could be lurking, and it adds great flavor. you can also add any of the mint oils for a wonderful cooling drink in the summer! add mints and other flavors to bottled/ filtered water only not sure of the cleansing/germacidal effect of those oils. ALWAYS USE A GLASS OR GLASS CONTAINER when using any true essential oil because they will break down anything "inorgnaic"- i would want to drink broken down plastic bottle and im sure you wont either.

We buy whole chickhens on sale. Cook them in the crockpot, remove, skin and bones and freeze for several meals as needed. We do the same thing with Londen broil, we cut in up and freeze for several meals. Having a large freezer allows up to stock up when meats are on sale.

To go along with eating cheaper, you can exercise cheaply too. Body weight exercises can be just as good as spending the money on a gym membership. In fact, body weight exercises can sometimes be even better.

Here are some of my tips: buy fruits and vegetables which are in season; for your drinks try hot or iced tea with various kind of flavors; try also oatmeals/cereals in different kind of flavors; these are all healthy foods yet delicious and most of all it fits your budget...promise!
P.S.
problem with tap water? before drinking, boil it first then let it cool

Having survived the depression & wartime rationing, I suggest you search for your grandmothers' cookbook to learn how to create inexpensive one pot meals from cheaper vuts of meats and serving lots of whole grains and beans. Yummie!