Junk foods like pizza, ice cream, cookies, chocolate or donuts can be very tempting – they feel good in the mouth and are relatively easy on the wallet. The problem is they offer very little in terms of vitamins, minerals, fibre, and amino acids – they are nutrient poor. While such foods might be cheaper than quality produce, they most definitely aren’t healthy. If you want to cover your nutritional needs properly, you will have to branch out.
My advice: buy foods that are not advertised
It might sound strange but the fewer ads you see for a given food, the higher the chance that it’s healthy and affordable. Think about it – broccoli, carrots, dry beans, rice, raw meat, none of these have big marketing teams pushing sales and profit. These primary ingredients carry a lot of vitamins and minerals and they are very filling and satisfying to eat. So, if you want to eat healthy on a budget, build your diet around wholesome ingredients from the following food groups – vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, nuts and seeds, eggs, meats, and fish.
This series is all about teaching you the right habits and tactics to make it happen. If you think you already know how to keep your meals healthy on a tight budget, you can try our quiz.
How do you store bananas to make them last longer?
Which is better to buy: chicken breasts or whole chicken?
How do you best store onions to make them last?
What foods should you buy in bulk?
How often can I eat out?
