Healthy eating on a tight budget EATING well does not necessarily require that you dig deep into your pocket all the time. With the recent petrol hikes and the rising cost of food, eating healthy is becoming harder. South Africans are struggling to make that pay cheque last to the end of
REPLACE a meal by having a protein shake for lunch. | LEAH ROLANDO Pexels
Lutho Pasiya the month. But the truth is, while it is certainly possible to blow your budget by loading up on every trendy health craze, it is also possible to stock up on healthy
foods without breaking the bank. Eating healthy on a budget is possible, it just takes a game plan and a little creativity. To prove that, Eat Well Live Well Ambassador Arthur Ramoroka, owner and founder of the Harvest Table, Catherine Clark, and dietitian and Geneway practitioner, Bernice Venter outline some of the affordable ways to eat healthy on any budget. Ramoroka’s tips: Storage is the answer It is a little-known fact that storing your fresh fruit and vegetables in the correct way can help to extend their shelf life, while storing them incorrectly may speed up the oxidisation process that may cause them to go off quicker. Onions and potatoes should be stored in a dark cupboard, tomatoes and eggs do not need to be kept in the fridge, while leafy greens should be wrapped in dishcloths or paper towels and stored in a container in the fridge or the crisper drawer to keep them crisper for longer. Set up a vegetable/herb garden Even if you don’t have a garden or balcony, you can set up a DIY vegetable or herb garden on your window sill with your vegetable off-cuts. This is easiest to do with leafy vegetables and root vegetables. Submerge the stems or cuttings of these vegetables in freshwater (which is changed daily) and leave them in a light place to allow them to sprout roots
