Can you feed your family good, healthy food for just $5 to $7 a day? Do you think it's possible? The Environmental Working Group says it is. The consumer-interest group recently came up with a list of the best foods to buy on a tight budget.
The EWG considered about 1,200 different kinds of food. They were looking for the cheapest, healthiest foods out there. They picked their top 100 and created a shopping list to give you the most nutritional bang for your hard-earned dollar.
Let's start in the produce section. This is where at least half the food on your plate should be coming from. The first big money saver is in season fruits and vegetables. The group found several fruits and veggies at 44 cents for a cup sized serving. It included bananas, watermelons, pears, and orange juice --though it's not technically a fruit.
If you tend to buy more than you can eat right away, cut it up and freeze it for later.
Some of the top vegetable buys were broccoli and Romaine lettuce. The group suggested veggies than will last for weeks, such as carrots, sweet potatoes, onions and regular potatoes.
As for the meat section, the EWG says chicken and turkey are the two best bets. Buying whole chicken is cheaper than boneless. The group says skip the processed meats, they're usually high in salt and additives.
In seafood, perch and tilapia are both inexpensive. Canned light tuna is packed with protein, and usually cheap.
If you can find a good deal on eggs, they're another great source of protein.
Beans and lentils are kind of like hitting the nutritional jackpot. They are packed with protein, and often incredibly inexpensive.
So the deals are out there, you just have to shop around for them.
The group says another way to save money is to make your own cooking spray. All you need is a spray bottle, and your favorite oil. You can make your own healthy, and cheap, salad dressing with a little olive oil, vinegar and lemon.
Monday, June 17 2013 10:08 AM EDT2013-06-17 14:08:03 GMT
Now, it's time to get ‘phine' – and, yes, that's with a ‘P-H.' Fitness trainer Apollo Nida is here to help you get those arms and legs in tip-top shape for summer!
Now, it's time to get ‘phine' – and, yes, that's with a ‘P-H.' Fitness trainer Apollo Nida is here to help you get those arms and legs in tip-top shape for summer!
