Eating healthy in the “off season” - without breaking the bank.
Posted by: SueI normally love winter. Unfortuantely, due to the total lack of sunshine, and continual slimey, drippy weather, I am not loving this winter. I am ready for it to be over, for many reasons. Aside from the weather, it’s a sad fact that it seems much easier to frugally maintain a healthy diet in the warmer months. For starters, there’s my organic gardens. And farmers markets to fill in what I don’t grow (have I gone into enough detail about farmers markets in prior entries?)
But the fact remains, it’s February, and I live in Wisconsin - where we have gotten measurable snow as late as May. It’s not snowing today (rare for this winter) but it’s -5 degrees and incredibly windy. Reminds me that it’s going to be a while before I even start my (indoor) plantings, and harvest time? A far and distant time in the future.
My husband and I eat lots of veggies and fruits, for many reasons - the main ones being it’s good for us, AND we love most fruits and veggies. And, as I said, it’s pretty frugal when I can just step outside and pick a cloth bag (or several) of tomatoes, cukes, peppers, lettuce - salads at the blink of an eye. Pico de gallo superfresh when I want - for free, or just about.
If I go out in my garden today, the only thing I can bring in the house is snow.
Obviously, the garden’s out of the question. So it’s time to get creative and come up with less expensive ways to get fresh produce (and preferably organic).
I’ve previously talked about my favorite high-end grocery store. And wowee, that continues to be a great source! Both for sales on regular produce (NONE of the other grocery stores can beat some of the loss leader prices) and for markdowns on slightly older stuff. I buy whatever I think we’ll use, and freeze the excess.
There’s a great newer healthy foods market that we’ve recently discovered. And I’ve found occasional great sale prices there. For example, organic portabella mushrooms for cheaper than regular mushrooms at any grocery store around me. I may not have needed mushrooms that day, but hey - cooked up in a bit of olive oil with a little garlic and flash-frozen, they will be a great frugal deal when I need mushrooms. Point being, when you see a great bargain - grab it!
Now, on the topic of eating healthy - while at first glance it may seem that eating healthier comes at a high price, does it really? We don’t buy junk food anymore. So, the previous junk food money goes for fresh, healthy food. That can free up a lot of money, because some junk foods are anything but cheap. Cooking from scratch, rather than buying processed foods, can also be a big money saver. I’ve already mentioned - again and again - loss leaders, other sales, etc. And here’s something else - eating LESS. I’m not talking starvation, I’m not talking going hungry, I’m just talking common sense portion size. Sure does make food last longer in our house!
Eating healthy doesn’t have to break the bank any time or season. Although as I sit here and listen to the wind howl, I most definitely am missing summer!
February 10th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
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February 10th, 2008 at 6:07 pm
[...] Eating healthy in the “off season” - without breaking the bank. [...]
February 10th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
Nice blog! We learned a few years ago that if we stopped buying junk food and don’t eat out as much, not only do eat better but the money saved can go to buying more organic groceries.
Lola Kern, Internal Energy Plus™ Consultant
February 10th, 2008 at 9:31 pm
[...] Posted by as Uncategorized Aside from the weather, it’sa sad fact that it seems much easier to frugally maintain a healthy diet in the warmer months. For starters, there’s my organic gardens. And farmers markets to fill in what I don’t grow (have I gone into …article continues at Sue brought to you by diet.medtrials.info and conSALSITA [...]