"Healthy" Doesn't Always Have to Mean "Expensive"

I think sometimes when a diet or lifestyle is coined "healthy" that it is also perceived to be a lifestyle that is "expensive" and therefore "unattainable" unless you have tons of money to spend on the newest trend of super food that is sworn to help improve your life and make you look ten years younger.
I am here to tell you that that isn't true. Being healthy can mean expensive, but it doesn't always have to be by any stretch.
Here are seven ways to improve your health on a budget:

1. Eat out less. This is one of the best tips I can suggest. By eating out just one less time a week and substituting it with something prepared at home, it is possible to save upwards of 50,000 calories a year!

2. Shop the sales. There is no need to be a Whole Foods junky. While Whole Foods is an absolutely amazing store, its a little costly, especially for those on a budget! You also don't need to buy the 6 dollar quart sized containers of blueberries to feel like you are benefitting your body. Go take a gander around that produce section of your store and only buy the cheap fruits and veggies. Bananas, apples, romaine, green beans, and oranges always seem to be cheap at least where I live so I consistently stock up on those things because I don't feel like breaking the bank on a 6 dollar papaya ya know? And when those blueberries are on sale, stock up when they are cheap and just freeze the ones you don't eat for smoothies later on! The freezer is a great tool for budget shopping. You can also make lots of veggie soups and sauces with the on sale veggies and pull them out later when you need them. There are all sorts of ways to eat a variety of fresh food and stretch your dollar!

3. Eat an apple instead (or at least before) you feel the 3 pm coffee run sneaking up. Apples have been termed as "natures energy drink" and for good reason. Their natural sugars wake you up without the intense crash that processed sweeteners and caffeine will give you. Studies have also shown that crunching on something when you are tired stimulates the brain and wakes it up as well. Even if you can't bear to skip your afternoon latte, at least include the apple too! Your body will thank you.

4. Drink plenty of water. I know this is very verbatim, but did you know that most people walk around chronically dehydrated without even realizing it? When your body has even the slightest inkling of dehydration, its ability to perform significantly drops, mood swings occur, and brain function decreases! These all cause us to eat more because many people perceive dehydration as hunger, therefore loading on more calories to have to burn off later, when all they really need is a big glass of water to satisfy them!

5. Park further away, take the stairs, or find reasons to move. Sitting is extremely detrimental to our health. Studies have shown that the more you sit, the bigger chance you have of developing cardiovascular disease. So walk! go run! Just don't sit if you don't have to! When you park at work, try parking farther in the back so you just walk a little further. Or maybe when you get an office call stand up while you are taking it instead of staying in your chair. Schedule walking meetings with co-workers so you can get a breather instead of zoning out at a conference table. Exercise doesn't mean just one session of 30 minutes each day, it can be all these little efforts added up too.

6. You don't need a fancy gym membership! You can workout at home. Shocker right? All you need is motivation and determination. Sure the gym is fun to go to and makes you feel a little bit awesome walking in and seeing all those fancy machines. But you really don't need to shell out all of that dough just to break a sweat. I personally believe that if you have shorts, a t-shirt, and a good pair of exercise shoes that you can get in shape just as well as all those gym rats. Go on a jog around the block or grab a friend and walk to the nearest coffee shop and back. Go get on your Pinterest account and pin a bunch of at home work out ideas! Exercise can be free and effective.

7. Substitute. What I mean is this: you do not need to cut out all sugar, processed foods, fats and carbs to get healthier. That's the ultimate goal but honestly, its difficult. So start small. Instead of having a soda every day, substitute it for a flavored sparkling water so you still get the taste and the carbonation that makes soda so enjoyable but without the calories. Or maybe instead of eating white bread sandwiches, buy whole wheat to get the extra good grains. Health food isn't all bland and gross, some is actually really yummy! Again, go onto that Pinterest account or Google ways to substitute your favorite junk foods for ones a little better. It doesn't have to be all or nothing with eating healthy!

I hope you enjoyed these tips and found them helpful!



Credits:
http://haveanamasteblog.com/2011/08/apples-vs-caffeine-how-apples-can-help-keep-you-awake/
http://psychcentral.com/news/2012/02/20/dehydration-influences-mood-cognition/35037.html