BeforeI get started on this article, let me first say thanks to my friend cindyinsd for the picture of the lemons. It is actually a painting done on a velvet matboard. You can visit cindyinsd's blog at http://cindyinsd.wordpress.com/We all know that we should try to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables. Buying fresh produce can get pretty expensive in a hurry, though. You can eat plenty of fresh fruits and veggies even on a budget. There are just a few tricks you can try to keep the cost down and your intake of this fresh goodness up.
1) Check your weekly grocery ads. Usually the best deals will be printed on the front and back pages of the flyer.
2) Buy produce when it is in season. It will be at its freshest, and at most likely the lowest prices of the year. For example, buy your watermelons in July and August when they are $2.50 each, versus buying one in December, where a watermelon may cost you $8.00, or possibly more.
3) Check your local farmer's market, sometimes they have better deals, sometimes they don't. One advantage of the farmer's market is that you can usually speak with the farmers themselves about exactly how they grow their food, this is good if you prefer organic foods and pesticide free produce.
4) When the growing season comes, plant your own garden and fruit trees. The fruit trees may take a few years to get going, but it will pay off in the end. If you get a good garden crop, you could always share and trade with your neighbors, friends, and family. Another benefit of having a garden is that it will help your children in the veggie eating department. My kids are more willing to try the veggies that they helped grow.
It is possible to eat healthy on a tight budget. It's just a matter of making a plan and knowing how to buy fresh produce at the right seasonal times. Your family will be healthier, and you will feel better knowing that they are eating well!
1) Check your weekly grocery ads. Usually the best deals will be printed on the front and back pages of the flyer.
2) Buy produce when it is in season. It will be at its freshest, and at most likely the lowest prices of the year. For example, buy your watermelons in July and August when they are $2.50 each, versus buying one in December, where a watermelon may cost you $8.00, or possibly more.
3) Check your local farmer's market, sometimes they have better deals, sometimes they don't. One advantage of the farmer's market is that you can usually speak with the farmers themselves about exactly how they grow their food, this is good if you prefer organic foods and pesticide free produce.
4) When the growing season comes, plant your own garden and fruit trees. The fruit trees may take a few years to get going, but it will pay off in the end. If you get a good garden crop, you could always share and trade with your neighbors, friends, and family. Another benefit of having a garden is that it will help your children in the veggie eating department. My kids are more willing to try the veggies that they helped grow.
It is possible to eat healthy on a tight budget. It's just a matter of making a plan and knowing how to buy fresh produce at the right seasonal times. Your family will be healthier, and you will feel better knowing that they are eating well!
thethriftyhousewife
P.S. The lovely picture of the lemons is actually a painting done on a velvet matboard, painted by a friend of mine. You can view her blog at http://cindyinsd.wordpress.com/
ReplyDeleteOK, so I got to credit cindyinsd twice, as a result of some formatting issues I was having :)
ReplyDelete