I have heard every excuse for not eating healthy, ranging from “I can’t afford it!” to “I’m not a vegetarian. I can’t eat healthy.” I have one word for that garbage and it’s not PG. Do yourself a favor and get the idea of salads and low-cal foods out of your head before you screw your body over. It doesn’t have to be that age old expectation of restricting yourself to bland food and tiny portions.
Before I go further I’d like to state that I am a believer in the current school of thought that American portion sizes are huge. I’ve seen people eat thousands of calories in one meal (and done it myself!) and then complain that they don’t know why they’ve gained weight. If you’re eating half a bag of cookies every other day, you will find yourself getting heavier. Do I believe that the only answer to obesity is portion sizing? No. But it’ll help if we stop thinking that we have to fill plates to capacity or go up to the buffet line five times.
Living on a budget, as most of America is due to the current financial climate, is difficult especially given that while paychecks aren’t getting bigger, our food and gas bills are. Parents worry about feeding their children good meals, dieters worry about gaining weight on subpar food, and plenty worry about their bank accounts. But a budget doesn’t mean taking away nutritional content from one’s daily caloric intake. Think outside the box, research recipes, and shop where you can get good deals.
Yes, I am a vegetarian. Do I believe it’s omgthebestthingeva? No. It’s my choice for my health which, partly due to genetics and partly due to ill care of myself in the past, has helped me learn to make better choices. This is something that everyone has to learn to do without excuse when trying to live on a budget. It is not enough to buy a vegetable and say “I’m healthy!” I doubt a doctor would commend you on that alone.
While in college, where living on a shoestring is commonplace, I relied heavily on cafeteria food. Non-cafeteria food included microwaveable meals like rice cups or instant grits. Staples like grits, rice, and other grains remain relatively cheap per portion. I have to do some price checking for future pages on this site, but a serving of rice is less than a dollar a person. To make it even less per serving, add beans or a pound of ground meat – the meal is filling, healthy, and whatever’s left over can be saved for lunchboxes. I take a lunch to work to stop me from spending money everyday on meals and even if I pack it in ten minutes before work, it’s better than stopping at the chinese food place or the deli. (For tips on lunches for children and speed packing, try lunch in a box.)
Vegetables are good for you and compared to the prepared meals found elsewhere in stores, cheaper, but a salad doesn’t generally appeal to construction workers or dieters alike. However, I want to know who said veggies are only for salads? Make a dipping oil with whatever oil is on hand and whatever spices you enjoy to enjoy with zucchini and carrot sticks. Toss corn and peas in a saute pan with asparagus or green beans until just lightly cooked and season with garlic and black pepper. I’ve even made the latter with potatoes for an actual meal; lentils would be great. If my dad ate ham more often, I’d probably make him the meal with dices of it. Don’t be afraid to try something you haven’t before if it’s on sale. Take a small something and cook it, fry it, bake it, or eat it raw.
