Healthy living on a budget

There are a million reasons for people to live unhealthy lives, but the fall back excuse tends to be that living healthy is expensive. Healthy foods cost more, gym memberships are expensive, regular exams etc. at the doctor can really add up, etc. The list goes on, some of it true, some of it just a big excuse for living an unhealthy lifestyle. Sure a box of sugared cereal is less expensive than a box of fruit, but that is not a good enough excuse for eating junk. The following is a look at how to live healthy while on a budget.

Tip one: Incorporate beans into your diet. These are low-calorie, high fiber and protein. They are great for your body, and are really inexpensive. You can buy them dry, and soak them to reconstitute them, or you can buy them canned. Adding them to dishes, even salads, can make them healthier, more filling, and for just a few pennies a serving.

Tip two: Choose to snack on peanuts. Peanuts are a great snack food, and do not cost much. You can buy them in the bulk foods section, and pop a few in your mouth when you are in need of a snack. They are full of protein and heart-healthy oils. So, unless you have a peanut allergy, choose this over some expensive granola bar full of sugars.

Tip three: Make your own granola.   Cereals are tasty, but can be expensive, and full of sugars and other things that are bad for you. If you like a bowl of cereal in the mornings, make it healthier by making your own. You can get seeds, nuts, dried fruits, and grains, or whole oats in the bulk food section of the grocery store and make your own, healthy cereals.

Tip four: Buy frozen veggies. If you think fresh vegetables are too expensive, head to the freezer section. These veggies are flash frozen and contain plenty of antioxidants, and often cost half what the fresh version costs. Mix them in when you cook meat, or make soup, and increase your vegetable intake for cheap.

Tip five: Do not eat out. A meal out at a restaurant is going to be expensive, and usually not nearly as healthy as eating at home. In fact, one meal at a restaurant usually contains the sodium amount you need for a whole week. Spend your money more wisely, and eat healthier by making foods from scratch, and eating in. If you need the social aspect of it, invite friends over for dinner.

Besides eating healthy on a budget, you can exercise on a budget as well, you do not need expensive equipment or gym memberships. Take your dog for a walk, play Frisbee in the park with your kids, go for a job, or do a little in home workout like kick boxing.