By Roz Jones
Finding healthy ways to feed your loved ones can often be challenging because it’s not always the most affordable option, and can make nutrition feel overwhelming for a caregiver. However, with just a little creativity, it’s very possible to find healthy, budget-friendly food choices so your loved ones and your wallet can reap the benefits!
Tips That Can Instantly Save You Money!
Consider the following tips that are sure to cater to your wallet and your palate:
- Eat out less often. Limiting eating out has two wonderful benefits:
- In one instance, your expenditure on food will be significantly less because eating at a restaurant is often pricier than you might realize.
- In the second instance, eating out doesn’t allow you to control the ingredients in your meals. Even if you order something that sounds healthy, there’s a strong likelihood that the overall meal won’t be healthy enough for your liking.
- Grow your own veggies and herbs. You’d be surprised at how much savings accrue if you grow your own vegetables and herbs at home. Even if you have a small home with very minimal outdoor space, it’s still possible to have your own garden in pots.
Fresh herbs and vegetables are tasty and healthy, yet quite expensive if you buy the organic versions at the grocery store. By growing your own, you’ll know that they’re organic, picked at the peak of perfection and nutrition, and you’ll save money as well.
Cooking Techniques That Are Affordable and Healthy
Try these healthy cooking ideas for a change of pace and more change in your pocket:
- Go grilled, not fried. If you have kids in your household, then there’s a great chance that they will want kid friendly meals like fish fingers or chicken nuggets. While those items may not necessarily be very expensive in the supermarket, they’re not as nutritious as their grilled counterparts.
It’s easy to avoid the unhealthy way of preparing these things for your kids by grilling or oven-cooking their favorites.
- Use homemade condiments. A great alternative to unhealthy store-bought condiments is to make your own relishes and sauces at home. The added benefit is that they’ll be much less expensive than the grocery store variety.
- Make your own juices. You’d be surprised at how much sugar or artificial sweetener is contained within many of those “zero sugar” juices on the market. Why not save yourself the extra dollars and your family the extra calories by making juices yourself? Fruits are relatively affordable – especially if you buy them locally and in season – so buying your own and making your own juices is a healthier and more affordable option.
Many people end up choosing the more expensive and less healthy eating options for their loved ones simply because they assume healthy eating is more expensive. While it can be more expensive in certain instances, a little creativity and imagination can definitely allow you to have a healthier option on a budget.
So now is the time to put your thinking cap on and find smarter ways to eat with healthier and money-saving outcomes! Your limited pocket doesn’t have to equate to limited nutrition; find creative ways to make “1+1” equal healthy and affordable alternatives!
I’ve just launched Shop With Roz, my online store filled with supplies and gifts for every caregiver. You can find a wide variety of products in the store to help yourself and your loved one. Check it out here!
After you have a look through the store, see any products you use and love as a caregiver, and think we should share them with everyone? Let me know!
It’s here, I am so excited to share a new caregiver app called CircleOf….This app will allow you to surround yourself with resources and experts from your community including ME!!!! As you are looking through the app, you will see my familiar face. I’m excited about this partnership and new ways to support you as you support your loved one. Here’s the link so you can explore the app. I would love your feedback and spread the word by sharing the link to family and friends.
Visit http://www.rozjonesent.com for more information on addressing mental health as a caregiver and check out my upcoming book!
The Caregiver Cafe 