Here are 6 simple tips to help you save time and money with food.
Meal plan. Shop on a budget. Buy store brand items. Find fresh and frozen produce. Buy bulk bin bargains.
Meal planning allows you to invest in your own health since meals prepared at home are cheaper (and usually healthier) than eating out. You can be more productive with your time, shrink your food budget and reduce food waste. In addition to the time savings, meal prep has many health benefits. Studies show meal prep adds dietary variety and is a preventative tool against obesity. When it comes to food savings, make a list before you go shopping, buy what’s on sale, take advantage of BOGO’s and buy store brand products. They are usually the same ingredients without expensive marketing.
I’m painfully aware that every community in the country is home to families who face hunger and rural communities are especially hard hit by hunger. Meanwhile we have a significant problem with food waste both at home and on farms. These tips for saving time and money are directed at those who can and want to find ways to reduce their food budget while eating healthy.
After years of ingesting copious amounts of CRAP, I finally changed my diet and eating habits. It started with reading books on farming, nutrition and health. I stopped pouring a bottle of salad dressing on my salads and learned how to eat a wide variety of foods. Stop making excuses and start creating healthy habits.
There are numerous benefits to mindful eating including better digestion and nutrient absorption. Slowing down during meals and really focusing on 'how and why' you’re eating reduces overeating and binge eating, helps manage weight, cope with chronic eating problems and reduces anxiety about food and body image.
Trust me when I say it’s worth making the effort to learn, practice and embrace it.
When you have a healthy relationship with food, it is a balance of moderation and variation, not deprivation. It's about getting in touch with your body and hunger signals in order to feed your appetite not your emotions.