Food Balling On A Budget
Shop and Eat Smarter
According to the UDSA the U.S. spends MUCH less on food than most other countries. In 2012 the U.S spent only 6.6% of household incomes on food, the next lowest country was the U.K. at 9.1% and out of 21 countries the highest was Pakistan at 47.7%.
So what’s contributing to this decline? The mass production of conventional food, which is driving prices lower, and the overall rise in income. So wait, we’re making more money but still cutting back our expenses on food?
Even with this low statistic most people will argue that buying organic is TOO expensive. Yet our spending on food relative to our incomes has been declining since 1960 when it was at 17.5%.
The saddest part about all of these statistics is that the quality of our food has also declined. Not only is food mass produced for low prices but the amount of nutrients in our food has decreased drastically, and let’s be frank the taste of a burger out of a box doesn’t even compare to a fresh homemade one.
I don’t know about you but I prefer to be food balling on a budget…
I am a foodie at heart. I LOVE a good steak, things drenched in truffle oil, and crispy brussel sprouts. I long for crisp fruits and vegetables and seek out farm to table restaurants for the freshest in season items. When I first start working with clients and share my love for exotic, authentic and fresh foods they often reply with “I can’t afford that”. That is until they too learn how to be food balling on a budget.
TravelFit coaching paradigm #2- You only know what you know until you know something else.
Eating organic is one of the key essentials for improved or long lasting good health and weight loss. Just like any other item that you would purchase, don’t you want to get the most value out of it? With organic foods you reduce your exposure to toxins, thus improving your digestibility AND organic foods are higher in all kinds of minerals, nutrients and vitamins.
Here are my top 4 tips for becoming a food baller on a budget:
Shop and Eat Seasonally. Growing foods out of season drives up the cost in order to recreate the normal seasonal conditions they usually grow in. When a food is in its natural season during certain times of the year you’ll find it at a bargain rate. Your body actually wants to eat seasonally too; this is why you’ll find yourself craving fruits and salads in the summer or root vegetables and meats in the winter. You need different nutrients during different times of the year.
Buy In Bulk. When I find a good deal I make sure to take full advantage of it and you just might find me lugging around 20 pounds of organic grass fed ground beef when it goes on sale at Whole Foods. Once I get home I portion out my purchase and freeze it. You can do the same thing with fruits and veggies when they are on sale seasonally, simply freeze them to keep them from going bad. Fresh frozen foods can last anywhere from 2-12 months.
Rethink Your Priorities. According to a recent survey of American workers by Accounting Principals, those who buy coffee weekly spend an average of $1,092 per year, that’s 182 cartons of organic free-range eggs (average $6/dozen), that’s 3.5 dozen eggs per week! And those $120 pair of LuLulemon pants could get you 51 lbs of organic apples (average $2.34/lb). Ask yourself what’s more important? The quality of your food, health, and natural energy or that latte or those pants that you want to make you look skinny when you really could be skinny.
Shop Smarter. One of my favorite shopping tools is EWG’s Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen list that prioritizes what foods are most important to buy organically due to high toxin exposure (“dirty” list) and which ones are the cleanest and most ok to buy not organic if you’re on a budget. This helps you to get the most nutrient bang for your buck.
Depriving yourself of the finest foods in life is a sure fire way to find yourself feeling deprived. When you eat foods high in quality and nutrients you’ll feel more energized and satisfied. Invest in yourself and eat responsibly!
In Health –
Jenn
