Save Money without Shortchanging Your Health - Simple and Easy Ways to Hold on to Your Money without Letting Go of Your Health - As the gas prices continue to rise, you can quickly find your attempt to a healthy lifestyle going in the opposite direction. All the money that may have been going into nutritious meals now seems to be guzzled up by your car. Many people view a healthy lifestyle as a costly thing, however, eating nutritious foods and staying active doesn’t have to clean out your wallet. Here are some simple and easy ways to save money, while living a healthy and happy lifestyle. The Whole Shebang Shopping at a whole foods store and buying in bulk can save you cash at the register while giving you more bang for your buck. Buying items from the bins such as lentils, rice, nuts, oats, etc. will shovel in the nutrients without emptying your pockets. Round the Track When grocery shopping, try to stay along the perimeter of the store which contains most of the whole foods your body needs like fruits, veggies, whole grains, eggs, and meats. The isles are packed with the processed “fake foods” that are pricier on your wallet and your health. A couple bags of potato chips can get you a five pound bag of apples and one box of sugary cereal could buy one whole month’s worth of oatmeal. You do the math. Money Spoils American’s can throw away up to $600 in groceries every year in food that spoils and is not eaten. Save this money by purchasing your fruits and veggies once or twice a week in smaller portions. Keep them separate in the refrigerator and storing them appropriately. Freeze fish, meats, and bread to lengthen their shelf life and save sauces, and leftovers in the freezer to reheat and enjoy later. Cooking the Books Dust off that old cook book and try a new healthy recipe. By limiting your dining out, you can save hundreds of dollars a month as well as inches on your waistline. A dinner for two can sometimes cost as much as a week’s worth of food from the grocery store. Plus, restaurants pack in the fat, salt and calories that will short change you in the nutrition department. So, visit Wellements’ archive of delicious, easy to cook, healthy meals because saving money never tasted so good! Box Please… If you do decide to eat out, and choose the healthy option on the menu of course… take the leftovers home with you for a meal the next day. I always like to ask for the waiter to put half of my meal in a box right away, that way I am not tempted to eat everything on my plate. Most restaurants in America serve well over one serving size, which means if you take my advice you get two meals (sometimes three) for the price of one. Cheap Date It’s Friday night and when you would be driving to dinner and then the movies, try a stroll to the nearest local park for a candle light picnic and a portable video player. Save money on gas, burn some calories, and earn romantic points all in one!
