Nutritious, Delicious and Affordable?

People often complain that eating nutritiously, deliciously and on a budget is near impossible. With this economy, everyone is looking to save money but wants to stay healthy as well. I’ve picked up a few tips and tricks from my health-conscious pals about eating well on a dime and thought I’d share them with you… Some might seem disarmingly simple or obvious, but you’d be surprised about how much of a difference they actually make.

- Buy a combination of fresh and frozen fruits and veggies. Only buy what is in season because it is often cheaper and tastes better when buying fresh, and opt for frozen veggies during the winter months that are flash frozen (frozen at their peak of ripeness), thereby maintaining their nutrients and low cost.

-Go veggie. As I’ve discussed in other posts, not only is dining sans meat healthy for your body and mind, it’s also easier on your wallet. Delicious, easy to prepare dried and canned bean as well as whole grains, like brown rice and whole wheat pasta are inexpensive and delicious.

-Drink water. This seems like an obvious one, but those alcoholic drinks, sodas and juices add up to a good chunk of change. Not only will substituting tap water refresh your body, it’s obviously free (duh). Invest in an inexpensive Brita pitcher for safer water.

-Stay away from the processed stuff. Items that are prepared are laden with preservatives, added sugar and salt, and artifical ingredients as well as being pricey.

-Use coupons. If you don’t feel like spending your free time clipping them, sign up for a site like Shortcuts.com, which emails you coupons you would be interested in that you can print out and use at your local supermarket. Simple, thrifty and oh so easy!

-Start a garden. If you don’t exactly have a green thumb, start with growing herbs and progress onto veggies. You’ll eventually save a bundle when cooking.