Losing Weight On A Budget
When it comes to adopting a healthy lifestyle and weight loss, things may seem expensive, especially when you try to figure out stocking up on healthy staples in the fridge, membership in the gym, and new workout gears.
With various superfoods in the market, turmeric elixirs, and fancy protein powders (to mention a few), it looks like losing weight would mean tearing up your budget, right? Well, most times its not. You can lose weight and still be within your budget.
It doesn't matter whether you are a broke student or on a strict feeding allowance; what matters is that you don't have to spend a lot of money to lose weight. These economical, and sometimes free tips will help you lose weight on a budget.
There are several ways to lose weight without stretching your budget thin as well. Here are ways to shed off those pounds without your wallet losing weight.
- Add Beans to the Menu and Stick to Whole Foods
I know, right? Beans? Beans of all dishes? Although beans aren't the most favorite foods, they are some of the cheapest protein foods you can find in the grocery stores. Buying them dried and spending a little extra time soaking them overnight before you cook them can also save you some extra.
Another fantastic thing about the consumption of beans is that they are perfect for your waistlines. Eating daily servings of beans for six weeks has been associated with an extra 0.75 pounds weight loss as compared to other diets.
So, adding pulses, lentils, chickpeas, dried peas, and beans to your daily menu can help you shake off those extra weights. Also, try to ensure that you stock up on protein? Why? Protein makes you feel full, so it prevents you from overeating. Not only that, but it also helps reduce the chances of your body breaking down muscles for energy during the weight-loss period.
Instead of spending money on weight-loss supplements, stick to plenty of fruits and vegetables, healthy fats, whole grains, and lean proteins.
Be a Seasonal Eater
This also helps you save more while losing weight. Instead of spending extra money on getting expensive organic food at the grocery store, just take a trip to the local farmers market and get whatever veggies are in season. Buying veggies that are in season means getting more nutritional value and flavor at the lowest cost available.
They are fresh, affordable, and accessible. Stock up your bowls and plates with non-starchy vegetables ranging from salad greens and cabbages to asparagus. Vegetables offer you more nutritional value and satisfaction in return for few calories.
In colder months, you might try to get fresh cauliflower and Brussels sprouts, while in the warmer months, get fresh tomatoes and zucchinis. You'll get the best results.
So, instead of going organic, just skip it. Stick with conventional fruits and vegetables that contain fewer calories and more volume, as well as fibers to fill you up. More fruits and vegetables mean more antioxidants, fiber, minerals, and vitamins in your diet.
Reduce Food Wastage by Increasing Versatile Dishes
You might want to reduce the amount of food you waste, to keep yourself on a budget while losing weight. In the U.S alone, an average family of four turns over food wastes of about $1,500 per year.
Save more money and increase your budget by buying foods that are versatile enough to be used as different meals throughout the week. Take avocados for instance, you can use some (a quarter, perhaps) for your omelet toppings, take up the rest, and mash it up. Add lime juice and salt to it to turn it into homemade guacamole that would be a perfect comfort your taco salad.
Vegetables could also be used as a spread for your turkey and chicken sandwiches. Take those eggs and hard boil them- this way, at the beginning of the week, they could be eaten as a snack and then as a salad topper at the end of the week.
Waste nothing, instead turn them into other dishes with the help of spices and other ingredients. You can also reduce food wastage by cooking large portions to save you time and money.
This way they can be used for lunch or dinner and can be turned into various recipes. Just think of the burritos, salads, stir-fries, and stews you can whip up from the leftovers.
Buy Canned and Frozen Produce
Not only are frozen produce cheap, but they also have the same nutritional value as their fresh variants. They offer you low calorie and can be used in other meals.
Make sure to select frozen produce without added sauces to keep the calorie level low. Zoodles, Cauliflower Rice, Carrot spirals, and many more are examples of frozen produces with nutritional values and affordable prices.
Go for canned vegetables with lower sodium contents or opt for those without added salts, this helps you have more veggies on hand. Low-calorie content, more nutritional value, less weight, and low budget. It's a win-win situation!
Have a Meal Plan.
Having a meal plan benefits you in more ways than one when you're trying to lose weight and save on budget.
Take a day out of your busy schedule and plan your meals for the best week or weeks. Draft out a list of the ingredients or products you need from the grocery store or the local farmers market. Plan and buy only the things that you are going to use so that you don't end up throwing some away.
Instead of wasting food, just turn them into other dishes with the help of spices and other ingredients. Also, you can reduce food wastage by cooking your food in large quantities and using the leftovers for lunch or dinner. It doesn't just save you time. It saves you money.
Turn the leftovers into burritos, salads, stir-fries or stews during lunch or dinner.
Buy Them in Bulk
Buying some produce or foods in bulk can help you save a lot of money. Dried fruits, nuts, lentils, oats, beans, barley, brown rice, millet, and other staple foods and grains are all available in bulk quantities and are economical. They can also be used in preparing various healthy dishes.
You don't have to lose all the money in your wallet to lose weight, just make sure to stay away from junk eating, plan your meals, cook at home, buy in bulk and reduce food waste by going for versatile options.
Weight loss doesn't have to end up in bankruptcy or money loss. Your health depends on your actions. Eat well and eat healthily.
