grubbin’
My new thing is trying to eat smart for better health. I’ve always been happy with my body, but lately… notsomuch. I’m out of shape - too little muscle tone and strength, not enough energy and flexibility. Also, relatives of mine have chronic health problems that I want to avoid, like high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes. For myself, for Mister Ant, and for the family we want to have, I’m trying to eat more fruits and veggies, drink more water, eat less grease and heavy starches, and refrain from heavy eating too late at night. This is hard. Most particularly at lunch. Since Mister Ant and I haven’t been to the store in what seems like forever (actually, now that I think about it, it has to have been at least two weeks by now), I’ve been eating lunch out instead of eating those frozen meals. I guess that’s good for me, because those frozen meals have lots of sodium. But it’s not so great for my wallet, because I can get those meals for $1.00 a piece when they’re on sale, and they often are.
What have I been eating? Well, let’s see. Turkey sandwiches with lettuce and tomato on wheat. Fruit salads. Mango smoothies. Dried cranberries. Fruit cups. Chicken Caesar salad. Tacos with lettuce and tomatoes. And the occasional breakfast croissant with egg, sausage, and cheese. Some of these things are better than others. The lunchmeat in the sandwiches has sodium in it. The fruit cups have added sugar. The Caesar dressing has fat in it (I use the dressing sparingly). The taco meat has some grease in it. And do I really need cheese on the croissant? But all told, I don’t think I’m doing too badly. But man, all this eating out is hurting my allowance. I actually like to get through the week with most of my allowance unspent. But this week, food ate up quite a bit more than it usually does, and I’m not happy about that.
How do you guys eat healthy for less? (That is, if you’re trying to eat healthy.)
Update: Just to give some more perspective, I’ve been eating healthier and healthier as times pass, but I haven’t made it a PRIORITY. That’s what I’m trying to do now.
I eat healthy becuase it’s cheaper, not necessarily because I want to be super healthly. Although as the years go by that is definitely more on my mind.
I usually have turkey or PBJ sandwiches for lunch with fruit and a small bag of pretzles. For dinner I have mostly cut out steak and have chicken/fish with a veggie and rice. We have really gotten hooked on brown rice now. And I always just drink water. It’s easier, cheaper, and I like water a lot.
I actually eat dinner much like how you do, sans the brown rice and water - we prefer white rice and non-sweetened apple juice. We are considering wild rice, though.
Comment by L@spillingbuckets — July 16, 2008 @ 8:56 am
Sistah, I am a 52 year old guy who has taken his lunch to work for years. It is simple, when we cook main meals; we make a lot and freeze extra in containers. Yesterday I had Penne Pasta with squash, artichokes and onions. If I fix meat, I slice up some in small strips and add that to a salad. So many recipes online to enjoy and sometimes on Sunday we have fun drinking a bit o’ wine and cooking up a storm.
I work with folk that buy their breakfast and lunch everyday! Crazy waste of money and bad for your health (burgers fries, sausage biscuit, fried food – Yikes! So get out that crock-pot, recipes and have some fun with the mister.
I’ve never understood when people eat every meal out - that is so wasteful when it comes to money! But I haven’t been taking leftovers to work for lunch because I’d rather save the leftovers to eat for dinner instead… If I took leftovers to lunch, I’d have to cook more often, and I don’t know if I’m up for that. I used to like to cook before I lived in a place with the tiniest kitchen in all of Philadelphia. Maybe after I move I’ll be more inspired to go back into the kitchen… Oh - and Mister Ant broke the lid to my Crockpot, and we haven’t replaced it yet. Guess it’s time, huh?
Comment by John Nee Boy — July 16, 2008 @ 11:40 am
For months now I have been eating better. At lunch I try to eat salads and fruit, drink at least 2litres of water a day and only meat and veggies at dinner. It is so hard but I am trying something. Like you, there are numerous health problems in my family that I am trying to avoid like the plague. I also try to work out once a day with walking/jogging.
I don’t even want to talk about working out. I can’t really do it at home, I’m too scared to walk/jog around my neighborhood as the sun sets, and I’m avoiding paying for gym membership as long as my main source of income is temporary. One of the first things I’ll do when I start working is pay for a gym membership again.
Comment by Rhona — July 16, 2008 @ 1:55 pm
I cook and bring leftovers almost every day. Two of my favorite leftover dishes to eat are beans and rice or rice and veggies. I have started to read labels and no longer buy snacks with high fructose corn syrup. I also drink lots of green tea (sweetened) when my sweet tooth catches up to me. Green Tea is also good for a jump start your metabolism.
Mister Ant won’t let me buy stuff with high fructose corn syrup, either. You guys are really basically telling me to suck it up and cook more often. You know I’m going to find that hard, right?
Comment by Small Budget, Big Style Chick — July 16, 2008 @ 2:15 pm
It’s always gonna be cheaper to eat @ home (although I’ve been eating out this week too).
I like to try and duplicate meals I have at restaurants at home. Like the Cosi Signature Salad that I absolutely adore (w/ reduced-fat dressing - otherwise it packs more calories/fat than a cheesburger). Instead of paying $8-9/day I usually buy the ingredients (or similar if I can’t find exact) and make @ home.
When I’m thinking of what to buy & eat, I try to go for natural foods. I ask myself if what I’m eating has been processed, breaded, fried, etc. You usually can’t go wrong w/ a steamed, grilled, or baked lean meat, beans, rice, veggies, fruit, salad greens, water, whole grains. Low-cal condiments when necessary, get creative w/ herbs & spices, etc.
Of course, those chocolate cookies I just ate don’t qualify
Generally those foods generally aren’t that pricey (unless it’s coming from Whole Foods) and I buy frozen what I can.
You sound like me and Mister Ant - when you leave the grocery store, you need to have more ingredients in your cart than ready-to-heat-and-eat foods. I like Whole
FoodsPaycheck, but I shop at Pathm*rk, though it’s probably not much cheaper. I’m about to start shopping at the Reading Terminal and Italian market ‘cause the food is probably both fresher and cheaper. I’m sure to come out with only ingredients shopping there.Comment by K. — July 16, 2008 @ 6:51 pm
I shop @ Pathmark too b/c it’s just around the corner. You don’t think they’re much cheaper than WF? It’s been a few years since I’ve been there so I think I’ll check it out.
If you live near an Asian or international market they may be a good alternative for fresh reasonably priced produce & meat too.
Comment by K. — July 16, 2008 @ 11:13 pm
Reply to your comment on exercise..
I found it hard to do it in our apartment too, and gym was expensive (plus I didn’t like to go after work when I was really tired/hungry/missing Ry) We took $200 and got an exercise bike and adjustable weights. It’s great - doesn’t take up a lot of space, has present training programs, and with weights let me do other strength training too. Now that it’s nice out I’ll run outside, but when it’s raining or winter the bike is awesome to have. Plus it was a one time payment rather than monthly gym membership.
I don’t know what stuff you like to do when you work out, but I’d recommend a bike.
Comment by L@spillingbuckets — July 17, 2008 @ 8:16 am