There’s a new pizza franchise down the street. Vivid boated posters of scrumptious cheese pepperoni pizzas activate the sensory nerves of the palate which probably won’t cease to bother you as you continually coat your floor with a trail of saliva. You step out of your house to confront a plethora of tempting fast food chains, which epitomize instant gratification. They tickle your taste buds for a few good minutes, but the negative repercussions might be everlasting. Yes, junk food not only burns dreadful holes in your pockets, but also greatly clogs your arteries to a threatening extent. Therefore, you must have gathered that whipping up a healthy meal at home is the best remedy to curbing this erroneous routine. By cooking healthy, you shield your body from diseases, get stronger and boost your money savings! Giving up on eating outside is not as hard as it may seem. Although you will have to compromise on convenience, the health and saving benefits immediately balances the equation. Rely on this article to adopt some reasonable healthy budget meal habits.
Healthy Budget Meal Ideas
- The first sensible move to kick-start your health and budget oriented journey is to meticulously chalk out plans for every day meals. This wields a systematic approach as you know well in advance what you need to buy from the grocery and how much money you need to put aside. Sketch a table on a chart and hang it in the kitchen wall for future reference.
- As you progress with your planning, bear in mind the advantages affiliated to buying non-perishable products in bulk. You will limit your visits to the store and save money especially when offers such as “But 3, Get 1 free!” prevail. Always check your pantry for what you already have and might need. It would be stupid to buy a new jar of olives when you already have three!
- Stock up on fruits and vegetables. You can’t buy these in bulk but always indulge in healthy salad dressings, as they don’t entail expensive ingredients, but the outcome is often highly delectable. Avoid loading your shopping basket with processed foods. If you are sincere about keeping fit, you will resist. Invest in fresh or frozen goods instead. If you are an ardent fan of chips and chocolates, close your eyes while passing the junk food section and dash straight to the nutritious food section. Look out for the low-key brands which lack popularity but not quality and are hence, turn out to be cheaper than the ones right in front of the shelf.
- When saving money is your priority, always make extra food every time you cook. The leftovers can be frozen and heated for a later date. This is useful for days when you can't muster time to cook and invariably end up relishing two burgers and a bunch of French fries. Just re-heat what you cooked in excess two days ago and you’ll be rubbing your belly in contentment.
- Note that when you make a list of what to buy and include in your meals, eliminate the expensive and fattening ingredients which can easily be done away with. For instance, mayonnaise is, undoubtedly, delicious but not particularly imperative to a salad or any meal. In fact, it’s high in calories and not very delightful to your wallet.
- It would be a death sentence if a carnivore were requested to do away with meat. Yes, meat is an important part of their lives! However, too much of meat is seldom good for your health! Ponder over it and make a special conscious effort to consume less of meat, poultry and sea food. If your table consistently held enormous dishes containing meat and poultry, try to limit the frequency of this from every week to at least four to five times a week! This way you’ll unquestionably save a lot of money too!
- Oil in excess is man’s poison. What’s worse is that it’s expensive. If dousing every dish in layers of oil was your signature cooking method, it’s high time you make some alterations. Go easy on the oil!
Healthy Budget Meal Ideas
Now you might be scouting for examples of healthy budget meals. Feast you eyes on the list that follows!
Breakfast
- Pancakes
- Waffles
- French Toast
- Potato Cakes
- Oatmeal
- Omelet
- Cereal With Fruits
Lunch & Dinner Meals
- Pasta
- Chicken Sandwich
- Chicken Salads
- Vegetable Stir Fry
- Ramen Noodles
- Mashed Potato
- Pork Roast
- Chicken Casserole
- Macaroni and Cheese
- Baked Dishes
Dessert
- Jelly & Fruit Bites
- Yogurt With Strawberries
- Fruit Salad
- Pudding
- Yogurt Parfaits
Now, give your heart and wallet a rest as you prepare healthy budget meals for you and your family. Have fun!