It's being called the Recession Diet, and while it does have a lot to do with changes we are making in our eating habits as money grows tighter, it is really about all the changes Americans are making in their daily routines to conserve money.
We're all doing it...looking for ways to cut back as more and more of our money is spent on the necessities of life...our homes, gas to get to work and back, and food for our tables.
We are a one income older couple with retirement fast approaching and we've been hit with all the above plus much higher deductibles for our medical expenses this year. We've been actively seeking ways to cut our "luxury" expenditures and just being more frugal in general.
This Recession Diet affects our weight loss community as well. People are already complaining about the high cost of "healthy" foods and searching for alternatives to spending money for group meetings and gym memberships. And, while these are decisions a lot of us are going to have to make, we also need to find alternative ways to protect this investment we are making in our health. Now, more than ever, we can't afford the ailments that accompany obesity!
When I looked at the list of ways people were cutting back, I realized that some of those things might actually be blessings in disguise.
The list included eating out less...that's a good thing for most of us who find ourselves eating much healthier at home than we do in restaurants.
People are also eating less red meat due to its being more costly on average than poultry...that's not going to hurt us!
And when people cut back even more severely, they tend to go from buying meat to choosing beans, grains, and pasta...still healthy in the proper portion sizes.
Frugal shoppers look for fruits and vegetables in season...often going to farmer's markets or growing their own! Nothing wrong with that.
When fresh produce is too expensive, many choose frozen or canned products. Many studies have shown that frozen fruits and vegetables may retain more vitamins and minerals than the fresh variety because they are processed the same day they are picked and not shipped long distances.
People tend to cook more of their foods from scratch when times are tough and spend less on processed and packaged items. We all know the value of that choice!
So, if we are cutting back on fast foods, preparing more of our meals at home, perhaps growing our own foods in a backyard garden plot, and performing more of our own chores rather than paying someone else to do them...maybe this Recession Diet could actually turn out to be a blessing in disguise!
Oatmeal is healthy and cheap! Great breakfast.
I love drained and rinsed canned kidney beans tossed on a salad for lunch. Or a pot of soup made with the bits and pieces of all the vegetables that are left in the fridge at the end of the week. No sense letting them go to waste.
Frittatas made from eggs and vegetables with a little cheese are great with something green at supper time. Asian, Mexican, and Italian cuisines are great for using small bits of meat along with vegetables and rice or pasta to make meals that taste great, cost less, and are really healthy.
We don't have to spend a lot to eat better. We just have to be a little more creative and plan ahead.
By the way...the Weight Watcher Core list is a great place to look for frugal food items!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MIKEYWe're all doing it...looking for ways to cut back as more and more of our money is spent on the necessities of life...our homes, gas to get to work and back, and food for our tables.
We are a one income older couple with retirement fast approaching and we've been hit with all the above plus much higher deductibles for our medical expenses this year. We've been actively seeking ways to cut our "luxury" expenditures and just being more frugal in general.
This Recession Diet affects our weight loss community as well. People are already complaining about the high cost of "healthy" foods and searching for alternatives to spending money for group meetings and gym memberships. And, while these are decisions a lot of us are going to have to make, we also need to find alternative ways to protect this investment we are making in our health. Now, more than ever, we can't afford the ailments that accompany obesity!
When I looked at the list of ways people were cutting back, I realized that some of those things might actually be blessings in disguise.
The list included eating out less...that's a good thing for most of us who find ourselves eating much healthier at home than we do in restaurants.
People are also eating less red meat due to its being more costly on average than poultry...that's not going to hurt us!
And when people cut back even more severely, they tend to go from buying meat to choosing beans, grains, and pasta...still healthy in the proper portion sizes.
Frugal shoppers look for fruits and vegetables in season...often going to farmer's markets or growing their own! Nothing wrong with that.
When fresh produce is too expensive, many choose frozen or canned products. Many studies have shown that frozen fruits and vegetables may retain more vitamins and minerals than the fresh variety because they are processed the same day they are picked and not shipped long distances.
People tend to cook more of their foods from scratch when times are tough and spend less on processed and packaged items. We all know the value of that choice!
So, if we are cutting back on fast foods, preparing more of our meals at home, perhaps growing our own foods in a backyard garden plot, and performing more of our own chores rather than paying someone else to do them...maybe this Recession Diet could actually turn out to be a blessing in disguise!
Oatmeal is healthy and cheap! Great breakfast.
I love drained and rinsed canned kidney beans tossed on a salad for lunch. Or a pot of soup made with the bits and pieces of all the vegetables that are left in the fridge at the end of the week. No sense letting them go to waste.
Frittatas made from eggs and vegetables with a little cheese are great with something green at supper time. Asian, Mexican, and Italian cuisines are great for using small bits of meat along with vegetables and rice or pasta to make meals that taste great, cost less, and are really healthy.
We don't have to spend a lot to eat better. We just have to be a little more creative and plan ahead.
By the way...the Weight Watcher Core list is a great place to look for frugal food items!
You'll always be myNASCAR
hero!
