healthfood conundrum?

Question

so i need to be eating healthier. i love fruits and veggies but it is SO expensive to eat healthy! Fruits and veggies don't keep as long and mac and cheese, and leftovers for me are a MUST cause it's easy to take to work for lunch the next day. and i'm not MUCH of a cook, but i can learn! Also, i'm just feeding ME. i need tips, ideas, recipies or websites that can help cause the crappy food is all adding up in my thighs and heart.

Answer 1

Blanche (part boil) leftover veg and freeze when you have enough make soup, veg bake etc. With fruit freeze as is for a cold smoothie.

Answer 2

I totally agree. The prices for healthy food and the demand for organic foods have gone through the roof, because demand is high. People are getting the message and the suppliers are trying to squeeze every cent they can out of it.

I've been in the same boat as you. What I've found is that if I buy fresh vegs and fruit, I look for the absolut best quality. If the stuff is truly fresh, it'll last a week in the fridge, sometimes two. Put fruit in a "cool" place so it doesn't rot. Only buy about a week supply so that you actually eat everything you've bought. The Macs sort of have to go. How about fixing a whole grain or wheat bread sandwich with a slice of low fat ham, no-fat cheese, no-fat mayo, lettuce, tomato and alfafalfa sprouts. Next day, take a small can of chicken, drain the liquid, add a little no-fat mayo or light dressing, mix and spread on sandwich with a piece of lettuce. The cans last and are only 150 cals per can (makes 2 sandwiches). Ditto with tuna. Chop celery and mix w/tuna and a little no-fat mayo.
One way to cut cost is to put together a food plan for the week and shop ONLY for what you need on your plan. I.e. If you plan on having a banana for a snack on 2 days, buy only 2 bananas, not 3. You'd be surprised how much you can save by not buying more than you absolutely need. Eat the fruits that rot quickest first. Some peaches need to sit a few days to ripen, apples last an entire week. etc.
Hope that helps.

Answer 3

yes eating fresh fruits and veggies is expensive - I think that's why this country is so fat - it's cheaper to eat processed food,
Anyway, you can try mixing some fresh veggies with frozen or canned (I know, not as healthy), but if you get the sodium free ones, not too bad then use it in a stir fry type of dish. For example - fresh broccoli, with canned water chestnuts, baby corns, mushrooms, fresh carrot and onion (and whatever else you like). Then just serve with a bit of rice or some noodles. You can make double the amount and freeze the left overs for use in the next week or two.

Also get fruits and veggies that are in season, they'll be less expensive and if you find a farmer's market, or fruit stand - usually you can get better bargains.

If you get a cookbook from the library you can learn to preserve some fresh fruit and veggies relatively easily and freeze for future use so that when you find a really good bargain you can stock up. Fresh corn can be blanched and then frozen, as can some other items such as green beans (I think). You don;t need to can them or anything, just make sure they are sealed well in a freezer bag.

Hope i helped a bit. good luck

Answer 4

Find a food dehydrater at a garage sale or thift store. If your fruits start turning bad dry them out. I am a big fan of homemade banana chips, apple chips, raisins, mango slices, kiwi slice. I put them on salads, cereals and munch them right of the bag.

Answer 5

veggies last longer than fruits (usually)

try preparing salads for lunch

also eat lots of whole grain (they're rich in fiber)

try tofu, it tastes great (if prepared properly)

I don't think they're that expensive, I suggest buying veggies in bundles and huge packs so as to save money