Healthy Lifestyle = More Money. Part I

Healthy Lifestyle = More Money. Part I.

I strongly believe that choosing a healthy lifestyle will not only make you feel healthy and happier but also will save you some money. And who knows? It might even help you to earn more money.

Let's start with healthy food choices.

Shopping for Groceries and Sales
Walk along the walls of the grocery store and mostly skip the middle section.
When you are at the grocery store before you even start shopping scan store flier for sales. If you see really good sale on chicken or fish and you have some extra money - stock up and freeze. Cook your meals according to weekly sales. Find fast and easy recipes online. Improvise - skip or substitute some ingredients.



Watch for "reduced" stickers at your grocery store. Our Kroger has specific areas for different sections. They have an area for reduce fruit and veggies, bread, organic food, meat. Just check and see if there is something you want to try or something you like to eat.

Try to visit different stores in your area and pick the one, which has most of sales for your favorite products.
My two favorites are Kroger and Aldie. Make sure you sign up for reward program if your store has one. I love how Kroger send me very nice coupons for stuff I really buy - produce, fish, cheese, yogurt, meat, juice, etc. I guess they see that I am buying and they want me to keep buying it from them. :)

1. Fruits and Vegetables
Buy lots of fruit and vegetables and eat it. Always shop by season. It means only buy fruit and vegetables which are on sale at current week. I read about $1 per pound rule in one of books on frugal living.
If your fruits or veggies (with some exceptions) cost $1 per pound - they are on sale. Hah, bananas always less than a dollar. :) Learn to love veggies. Find your favorite way to cook them. Steam, stir fry, bake or add to your soup. If you will keep trying, you slowly will find your way to like them. Buy frozen veggies. Store brands or Dollar store veggies usually cost a dollar per 12-16 ounces bag. If you have a bigger family you can try family size bags. Usually vegetables get frozen at their best ripen time. Just make sure they are not in one solid piece, which means they got defrosted and frozen again.

2. Meat 
Skip or eat less of red meat. Substitute red meat with poultry, beans or fish. By the way, brussel sprouts have lots of protein too... :)

3. Soups
Learn to cook soups. Its good for your waist, stomach health and wallet. I mean cook it from scratch because this way you can control salt and any additive. Make your own Broth. I wrote about cooking chicken broth here. Add some veggies and spices. Improvise with spices and different types of veggies. Even my 13 y.o. already knows how to cook soup. Well, I usually have some broth and he would use a little pot and add veggies he feels good about at that moment.

4. Beans are your friends. 
They are healthy and full of protein and they are super cheap.
Read Moneysavingmom post how to live on beans and rice for a week.

5. Eggs 
Eggs are another protein source and a cheap meal. Make omelets with veggies. Boil eggs and keep them in the fridge for a quick snack. Some days I like fried broccoli with beaten eggs for my dinner... :)

6. Grow your own veggies and herbs
Pick veggies and herbs, which are usually not cheap or your favorites. You know you actually can grow a little pineapple from a top or if you put an onion bulb in water it will grow green leaves. If you live in a house or have a patio grow small fruit trees.

7. Healthy Grains
Find more about healthy grains and try to add them into your diet. Think like brown rice, quinoa, buckwheat, oats, barley, millet, wild rice and lots of other grains. Check and see if you have local businesses selling these grains or search internet.

8. Cook at home as much as possible. 
As I wrote in number 6 cook according to sales.

9. Dollar store
Visit your dollar store and see if they have frozen fruits and berries. Check if you like any of their frozen veggies. Also our dollar store has whole wheat bread and some other food we like.

10. Water
Drink lots of water. Stop buying any soft drinks.

Make sure to check my post about easy, healthy and inexpensive meals here

If you follow these steps you will notice that your food budget will go down, your waist become smaller, you feel healthier and look even younger.

In a long run it means less pills, doctors visits and sick days, more productivity and job offers.

Please share your thoughts and good luck.