When you are restricted by finances it can be hard to stay healthy. Food that may be cheaper is not always necessarily good for you, and it can be difficult striking the right balance between affordable food and healthy food.
With a bit of planning and effort there are some ways you can stay healthy even when you are on a budget:
Shop Seasonal
Fruit, vegetables and other produce are often more affordable when they are in season, this is especially true for fruit and vegetables. Items that are more locally sourced, and readily available will be cheaper than out of season, harder to source foods, so keep this in mind when creating meal plans and also when shopping.
Use Offers and Discounts
There are lots of discounts, offers and coupons to be had from supermarkets and food suppliers. To take advantage of them, most of the time it is just a case of knowing where they are and what the validity requirements are. Signing up to websites, downloading apps, and even sharing on social media platforms can help you get the latest and best offers around.
Saving a few cents here and there does not sound like a lot on its own, but when you add up the savings as you go shopping, you will soon start to see the difference.
Take Daily Vitamins
If healthy meals are hard to plan and cook, either due to lack of funds or lack of time, then you really need to be taking gummy vitamins. Vitamins and supplements can ensure that you are giving your body the goodness and nutrients that it needs every day.
Vitamins are highly affordable and are necessary to ensure that you have the correct energy levels and concentration levels needed to get through the day. This is incredibly important for everyone, but particularly if you are at work or studying. Food gives you energy and helps you to concentrate, so if you do not have food then you need to be taking supplements and vitamins.
Grow Your Own
Whether you have access to a garden, a yard or even just a balcony it is possible to grow your own fruits and vegetables. You can quickly grow things like lettuce and cress, and you can easily get hold of cheap seed packets in local stores and online shops to get you started. When you are on your growing journey you can also join local groups of like-minded people that allow you to share and swap food that you have grown.
When you share and swap what you have, you can make up meals with a more diverse range of ingredients, which you know have been locally and affordably grown.
There are lots of recipes online that show you how to make soups and stews out of virtually any food stuff, and there are also free food swaps both online and in-person that you can attend. When you join local groups and communities you can share the costs of growing your own food, and reap the rewards at the same time.
*Photos by Anete Lusina
