I really try to live my life looking at the brighter side of situations. With the global economic in peril, being optimistic about the state of things may seem close to impossible. Don't fear, there is some good news when it comes to tightening your pocketbook: your health might be on the upswing.
Here are
4 reasons why a tighter budget can help your overall health.
1. You aren't eating out as much. When you go out to eat the portion sizes are huge, much larger than what you would normally serve at home. And because it is so ingrained in our brains not to waste any food, to always "clean our plates" we end up eating all those extra calories whether we really need them or not. You are also more likely to add things to your meal: bread and butter before, sides like french fries, creamy desserts, free refills on your drinks. It's really easy to see how the excessive calories and fat add up, and often without realizing it. During economic downturn we tend to eat out less, and as a result eat less at meals.
2. You look for cheaper options at the grocery store, and packaged food is often more expensive. If you are looking for the bargains ignore the plastic wrapped processed foods, the frozen meals that cost at least five dollars for a tiny portion, and head over to the produce section (or to the farmer's market) and buy in season food (summer fruit like peaches are going to be expensive in the middle of winter, so pay attention to what should be in season). In season fresh produce is one of the best bargains at the grocery store, and also your healthiest choice.
Bulk food like beans and brown rice are affordable, they fill you up, and provide an excellent source of nutrients. I have found that making a type of taco bowl (minus the sour cream and gobs of cheese- remember moderation) with black beans, brown rice, ground turkey, onion, tomato, peppers, and cilantro is a delicious, inexpensive, and satisfying meal. Many people in the nutrition world will tell you that legumes (beans) are an overlooked miracle food.
Fresh=affordable more often than you think. So don't assume that healthy eating means expensive eating. And for those exceptions to the expensive processed food rule, remember that just because Doritos and Coke can be dirt cheap, doesn't mean you should stock up. You don't want to waste money on medical costs due to your poor health down the road.
3. You are starting to walk/bike more places. Gas prices are insane. We all cringe a little each time we have to go fill up our tank, and it has become a topic of conversation to brag about your miles per gallon. If you are like me, you may even glance out your window to see a giant lifted truck and scoff smugly, "Well, I wonder what kind of gas mileage that guy gets" as you cruise by in your 35 miles to the gallon Honda. But I digress.
The truth is, we are finally forced to look for alternative sources of transportation. Biking or walking to work/grocery store/school wherever used to be seen by many as an activity for the hard-core fitness enthusiasts or athletes, or for those who couldn't afford to buy a car. Now, a whole new class of freshman has entered the alternative transportation school, and it's a diverse class. The more we get off our behinds and actually use our legs to get ourselves to a destination, the healthier we will be, even if we have been forced into it.
4. You are looking for activities that don't cost money, and a lot of these are active. As much as I love to go to the movies, one night out to the movies, where you will probably grab something to eat, and you may have to drive there, perhaps also pay for parking, and inevitably splurge for that great deal at the popcorn counter for the extra large popcorn and a big gulp, will put you back both in terms of calories and money. A lot of activities that cost a lot of money also involve food, alcohol, or sitting in one place for a long period of time. As you begin to cut back on these activities, you will look for alternative fun, and a lot of these alternative activities actually stay true to their name: they are active and get you outside. Hiking is free, throwing a football at the park, going to the beach, explore an area of town you've never seen, even walking around a museum can be an inexpensive activity.
See, you feel better about your health already! If you are looking for ways to cut back on your budget, these four can help a lot. Who knows, maybe this economic crisis can end up solving the US obesity epidemic.
I really try to live my life looking at the brighter side of situations. With the global economic in peril, being optimistic about the state of things may seem close to impossible. Don't fear, there is some good news when it comes to tightening your pocketbook: your health might be on the upswing.
Here are 4 reasons why a tighter budget can help your overall health.
1. You aren't eating out as much. When you go out to eat the portion sizes are huge, much larger than what you would normally serve at home. And because it is so ingrained in our brains not to waste any food, to always "clean our plates" we end up eating all those extra calories whether we really need them or not. You are also more likely to add things to your meal: bread and butter before, sides like french fries, creamy desserts, free refills on your drinks. It's really easy to see how the excessive calories and fat add up, and often without realizing it. During economic downturn we tend to eat out less, and as a result eat less at meals.
2. You look for cheaper options at the grocery store, and packaged food is often more expensive. If you are looking for the bargains ignore the plastic wrapped processed foods, the frozen meals that cost at least five dollars for a tiny portion, and head over to the produce section (or to the farmer's market) and buy in season food (summer fruit like peaches are going to be expensive in the middle of winter, so pay attention to what should be in season). In season fresh produce is one of the best bargains at the grocery store, and also your healthiest choice.
Bulk food like beans and brown rice are affordable, they fill you up, and provide an excellent source of nutrients. I have found that making a type of taco bowl (minus the sour cream and gobs of cheese- remember moderation) with black beans, brown rice, ground turkey, onion, tomato, peppers, and cilantro is a delicious, inexpensive, and satisfying meal. Many people in the nutrition world will tell you that legumes (beans) are an overlooked miracle food.
Fresh=affordable more often than you think. So don't assume that healthy eating means expensive eating. And for those exceptions to the expensive processed food rule, remember that just because Doritos and Coke can be dirt cheap, doesn't mean you should stock up. You don't want to waste money on medical costs due to your poor health down the road.
3. You are starting to walk/bike more places. Gas prices are insane. We all cringe a little each time we have to go fill up our tank, and it has become a topic of conversation to brag about your miles per gallon. If you are like me, you may even glance out your window to see a giant lifted truck and scoff smugly, "Well, I wonder what kind of gas mileage that guy gets" as you cruise by in your 35 miles to the gallon Honda. But I digress.
The truth is, we are finally forced to look for alternative sources of transportation. Biking or walking to work/grocery store/school wherever used to be seen by many as an activity for the hard-core fitness enthusiasts or athletes, or for those who couldn't afford to buy a car. Now, a whole new class of freshman has entered the alternative transportation school, and it's a diverse class. The more we get off our behinds and actually use our legs to get ourselves to a destination, the healthier we will be, even if we have been forced into it.
4. You are looking for activities that don't cost money, and a lot of these are active. As much as I love to go to the movies, one night out to the movies, where you will probably grab something to eat, and you may have to drive there, perhaps also pay for parking, and inevitably splurge for that great deal at the popcorn counter for the extra large popcorn and a big gulp, will put you back both in terms of calories and money. A lot of activities that cost a lot of money also involve food, alcohol, or sitting in one place for a long period of time. As you begin to cut back on these activities, you will look for alternative fun, and a lot of these alternative activities actually stay true to their name: they are active and get you outside. Hiking is free, throwing a football at the park, going to the beach, explore an area of town you've never seen, even walking around a museum can be an inexpensive activity.
See, you feel better about your health already! If you are looking for ways to cut back on your budget, these four can help a lot. Who knows, maybe this economic crisis can end up solving the US obesity epidemic.