LIVE WELL
Ways to Stretch Your Budget this Holiday Season chopped vegetables, or pre-shredded cheese. These are often more expensive than the whole options, so you can usually save money if you’re willing to do a little bit of work. Bagged salad mixes cost more—and might not stay as fresh—as a head of lettuce. Buy a whole chicken and cut it into parts, shred or grate your own cheese, and avoid instant rice or instant oatmeal. It’s no secret that everyone is a bit more conscious about budgeting during the holiday season. Between buying gifts for friends and family, potential travel, and other seasonal costs that may arise, you can’t forget about one area that remains important all year: your food budget. All of our favorite holiday treats that we may only indulge on once a year oftentimes force us to do a juggling act to ensure we’re still serving plenty of healthy and nutritious meals as well. So, how can you stretch your holiday food budget? Here’s a secret: healthy eating doesn’t have to cost a fortune! Here are a few tips from Chef Gary, Director of Healthy Eating at the YMCA of Central Florida. Keep these Grocery Store Tips in Mind Consider store brands over national brands. Quite often they are exactly the same or pretty close to what you normally buy, and are cheaper! Look at the unit price. Even if something is on sale, it’s not always a better price. The small stickers on the shelves don’t just tell you how much the item costs, but they also list the cost per ounce or per pound. Compare these prices to ensure you’re are getting the best value. Convenience often costs more. Think pre-shredded carrots, pre-
Serve Meals on Smaller Plates By serving meals on smaller plates, it creates the illusion of more food and will help to match actual serving sizes of meals. This will help you get the most for your money and may even help you to better manage your fat, sugar, salt, and caloric intake as well as your waistline. This will also aid in avoiding food waste. Cook Larger Amounts Freeze any leftovers you may have and place them in containers that are perfect one- or two-meal servings. This makes it easy to reheat a healthy meal if you have a busy day. Plan Ahead of Time Creating a meal plan for the week may sound like an overwhelming task, but it will help you to buy only what you need, reducing your food waste as well as saving money. Also, try to think of different ways that you can use the same ingredient twice. Chicken, for example, can grilled up and used for pasta dinner one night and overtop salad another day for lunch. Add in Fruits and Vegetables In-season and local fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables are a great and affordable addition to a healthy diet. Local seasonal produce is generally cheaper and is at its peak in nutrition and flavor. Produce that is not in season has often been trans-
ported halfway around the world to get to your store, which is not ideal for either the environment or your budget! Make sure you store your fruits and vegetables properly when you get home so they’ll last longer. Bananas, apples, oranges, cabbage, sweet potatoes, dark green leafy vegetables, green peppers, and regular carrots are typically economical and packed full of nutrition. They’re also rich in nutrients and are quick and easy to use. Take veggies as a side to your lunch. You can heat them up in the microwave and season with some salt and pepper, dried herbs, lemon juice, and a splash of vinegar. Frozen fruits are a great snack when you’re feeling the need for something sweet, or simply throw them into a blender for a quick smoothie! Make Soup This may not sound like a filling meal, but homemade soups are a healthy and nutritious way to use fruits and vegetables—especially those that you might be ready to toss out. Add in some beans or lentils for a protein boost or potatoes for something a bit more fill-
ing. You can even use that leftover grilled chicken. Freeze soup in single-serve containers, which is great for lunch on a cool afternoon. I also encourage you to check out some of our savory soup recipes! You can find them by choosing “Soup” as a category.
Stretching your family food budget doesn’t have to take away flavor or variety. With a little bit of planning, you can avoid wasting food and money while still providing your family with nutritious meals throughout the holiday season. Making smarter choices at the grocery store, eating at home, and bringing your lunch to work are all simple ways to help you to eat better without over-spending, too. If you’re looking for more creative meal ideas, I encourage you to check out the large variety of Healthy Living recipes we have on our website. From our YMCA of Central Florida family to yours, we wish you a very happy and healthy holiday season and start to the new year!
